Journal Archives


Bike America '96 completed its 3500 mile, 50 day trek on June 30th when we arrived at the capitol steps in Washington DC at 2:00 in the afternoon. This is a consolidation of the "Daily Journals" that were being kept during the Bike America '96 Tour. Click on the date of a specific journal to view its complete contents.
We received literally hundreds of e-mails from people around the world as we were biking across the country. Most were pats on the back encouraging us, reminding us that people were "watching" and riding vicariously through the daily journals.
We are already putting plans together for next year's tour. The route will basically be the same as this year, leaving from Everett, Washington and finishing in Washington DC, 50 days later. We learned a couple things this trip that will make next year's even more exciting.
We missed several events by ONE DAY! Now that we know what the time schedule is on the Volksmarch at Crazy Horse and the Rodeo Schedule is in Wyoming, we can include those as part of the trip.
Some of the new side roads we discovered will be a permanent part of the tour. Check out the journal that goes from Ucross to Spotted Horse. It was voted the best ride of the trip.
If you would like a short overview of the tour, go to the "Best of..." page. This will give you the links to the places and people that we thought were the heart of the trip.

So...that's it. I hope you enjoy the journals. I will be updating the site with color photos as they come in from the various riders. If you would like me to e-mail you as I add pictures to the site, please drop me a note.
I look forward to hearing from you. But right now, I'm in Kennebunk, Maine and there's still a lot of riding to do. Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island are too close to pass up. See you there...

Mark Miller
Keeper of the Journals
Bike America '96


The Daily Journals


Sunday, May 12, 1996
Day 1
Everett, Washington to Skykomish, Washington
Miles: 51
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Lightly Rolling



Monday, May 13, 1996
Day 2
Skykomish, Washington to Leavenworth, Washington
Today's Miles: 54
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 105
Degree of Difficulty: Medium to Hard
Terrain: Long Climbing Grade with Gradual Descent



Tuesday, May 14, 1996
Day 3
Leavenworth, Washington to Coulee City, Washington
Today's Miles: 83
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 188
Degree of Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Terrain: Long, Graceful Downhill turning to Rolling Farmland



Wednesday, May 15, 1996
Day 4
Coulee City, Washington to Davenport, Washington
Today's Miles: 63
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 251
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Rolling Farmland to Lighly Forrested Areas



Thursday, May 16, 1996
Day 5
Davenport, Washington to Deer Park, Washington
Today's Miles: 55
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 301
Degree of Difficulty: Very Easy to Very Difficult
Terrain: Rolling Farmland to Heavily Forrested Areas



Friday, May 17, 1996
Day 6
Deer Park, Washington to Sandpoint, Idaho
Today's Miles: 63
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 364
Degree of Difficulty: Easy to Medium (because of weather)
Terrain: Heavily Forrested Rolling Hills



Saturday, May 18, 1996
Day 7
Sandpoint, Idaho
Today's Miles: 0
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 364
Degree of Difficulty: No Riding, Rest Day
Terrain: Lakes and Forests



Sunday, May 19, 1996
Day 8
Sandpoint, Idaho to Libby, Montana
Today's Miles: 104
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 468
Degree of Difficulty: Medium/Difficult
Terrain: Lakes and Mountain Peaks



Monday, May 20, 1996
Day 9
Libby, Montana to Kalispell, Montana
Today's Miles: 95
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 563
Degree of Difficulty: Medium/Difficult (because of weather)
Terrain: Heavy Forests and Large Forestfire Burn Areas



Tuesday, May 21, 1996
Day 10
Kalispell, Montana to Seely Lake, Montana
Today's Miles: 93
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 656
Degree of Difficulty: Medium
Terrain: Flat Farmland to Rolling Forests



Wednesday, May 22, 1996
Day 11
Seeley Lake, Montana to Helena, Montana
Today's Miles: 101
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 767
Degree of Difficulty: Medium/Difficult
Terrain: Flat Farmland to Continental Divide



Thursday, May 23, 1996
Day 12
Helena, Montana to Belgrade, Montana
Today's Miles: 96
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 863
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Flat, High Mountain Plains



Friday, May 24, 1996
Day 13
Belgrade, Montana to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Today's Miles: 88
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 951
Degree of Difficulty: Difficult (because of weather)
Terrain: Climbing into the Rockies



Saturday, May 25, 1996
Day 14
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Today's Miles: 0
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 951
Degree of Difficulty: Rest Day
Terrain: Yellowstone National Park



Sunday, May 26, 1996
Day 15
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Today's Miles: 0
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 951
Degree of Difficulty: Rest Day
Terrain: Yellowstone National Park



Monday, May 27, 1996
Day 16
Yellowstone National Park to Cody, Wyoming
Today's Miles: 51
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1002
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Rolling



Tuesday, May 28, 1996
Day 17
Seeley Lake, Montana to Helena, Montana
Today's Miles: 44
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1046
Degree of Difficulty: Very Easy
Terrain: Flat Farmland



Wednesday, May 29, 1996
Day 18
Byron/Lovell, Wyoming to Sheridan, Wyoming
Today's Miles: 91
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1135
Degree of Difficulty: Extremely Difficult
Terrain: Mountains, Steep Grades



Thursday, May 30, 1996
Day 19
Sheridan, Wyoming to Buffalo, Wyoming
Today's Miles: 41
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1176
Degree of Difficulty: Very Easy
Terrain: Slightly Rolling Farmland



Friday, May 31, 1996
Day 20
Buffalo, Wyoming to Gillette, Wyoming
Today's Miles: 99
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1275
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Rolling Pastureland



Saturday, June 1, 1996
Day 21
Gillette, Wyoming
Today's Miles: 0
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1275
Degree of Difficulty: Rest Day
Terrain: Campground



Sunday, June 2, 1996
Day 22
Gillette, Wyoming to Custer, South Dakota
Today's Miles: 115
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1390
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Flat to Rolling



Monday, June 3, 1996
Day 23
Custer, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota
Today's Miles: 42
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1432
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Rolling



Tuesday, June 4, 1996
Day 24
Rapid City, South Dakota to Badlands, South Dakota
Today's Miles: 99
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1531
Degree of Difficulty: Easy to Medium
Terrain: Rolling



Wednesday, June 5, 1996
Day 25
Badlands, South Dakota to White River, South Dakota
Today's Miles: 74
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1605
Degree of Difficulty: Easy to Medium
Terrain: Rolling Indian Reservation



Thursday, June 6, 1996
Day 26
White River, South Dakota to Burke, South Dakota
Today's Miles: 90
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1695
Degree of Difficulty: Easy to Medium
Terrain: Prairie Land



Friday, June 7, 1996
Day 27
Burke, South Dakota to Niobrara, Nebraska
Today's Miles: 84
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1779
Degree of Difficulty: Easy to Medium
Terrain: Prairie Land to Slightly Rolling Hills



Saturday, June 8, 1996
Day 28
Niobrara, Nebraska
Today's Miles: 0
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1779
Degree of Difficulty: Rest Day
Terrain: Campground



Sunday, June 9, 1996
Day 29
Niobrara, Nebraska to South Sioux City, Nebraska
Today's Miles: 102
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1881
Degree of Difficulty: Easy to Medium
Terrain: Flat Marshlands to Rolling Farmland



Monday, June 10, 1996
Day 30
South Sioux City, Nebraska to Blackhawke State Park, Iowa
Today's Miles: 90
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 1971
Degree of Difficulty: Medium
Terrain: Rolling Farmland



Tuesday, June 11, 1996
Day 31
Blackhawke State Park, Iowa to Story City, Iowa
Today's Miles: 90
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2061
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Flat, Newly Planted Corn Farmland



Wednesday, June 12, 1996
Day 32
Story City, Iowa to Vinton, Iowa
Today's Miles: 87
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2148
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Slightly Rolling, Newly Planted Corn Farmland



Thursday, June 13, 1996
Day 33
Vinton, Iowa to Anamosa, Iowa
Today's Miles: 52
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2200
Degree of Difficulty: Very Easy
Terrain: Slightly Rolling, Newly Planted Corn Farmland



Friday, June 14, 1996
Day 34
Anamosa, Iowa to Morrison, Illinois
Today's Miles: 87
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2287
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Slightly Rolling, Newly Planted Corn Farmland



Saturday, June 15, 1996
Day 35
Morrison, Illinois
Today's Miles: 0
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2287
Degree of Difficulty: Rest Day
Terrain: Rest Day



Sunday, June 16, 1996
Day 36
Morrison, Illinois to Starved Rock State Park, Illinois
Today's Miles: 87
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2374
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Slightly Rolling Farmland



Monday, June 17, 1996
Day 37
Starved Rock State Park, Illinois to Kankakee, State Park Illinois
Today's Miles: 75
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2449
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Rolling Forests to Rolling Farmland



Tuesday, June 18, 1996
Day 38
Kankakee, State Park Illinois to Tippecanoe State Park, Indiana
Today's Miles: 83
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2532
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Flat Farmland



Wednesday, June 19, 1996
Day 39
Tippecanoe State Park, Indiana to Huntington, Indiana
Today's Miles: 75
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2607
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Flat Farmland



Thursday, June 20, 1996
Day 40
Huntington, Indiana to Van Buren, Ohio
Today's Miles: 116
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2723
Degree of Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Terrain: Flat Farmland



Friday, June 21, 1996
Day 41
Van Buren, Ohio to Willard, Ohio
Today's Miles: 57
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2780
Degree of Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Terrain: Flat Farmland to Rolling Hills



Saturday, June 22, 1996
Day 42
Willard, Ohio
Today's Miles: 0
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2780
Degree of Difficulty: Rest Day
Terrain: City Park



Sunday, June 23, 1996
Day 43
Willard, Ohio to Doylestown, Ohio
Today's Miles: 66
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2846
Degree of Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Terrain: Rolling Hills



Monday, June 24, 1996
Day 44
Doylestown, Ohio to Guilford Lake State Park, Ohio
Today's Miles: 60
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2906
Degree of Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Terrain: Rolling Hills



Tuesday, June 25, 1996
Day 45
Guilford Lake State Park, Ohio to Washington, Pennsylvania
Today's Miles: 85
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 2991
Degree of Difficulty: Medium
Terrain: Rolling Hills



Wednesday, June 26, 1996
Day 46
Washington, Pennsylvania to Ohiopyle State Park, Pennsylvania
Today's Miles: 60
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 3051
Degree of Difficulty: Difficult
Terrain: Steep, Rolling Hills



Thursday, June 27, 1996
Day 47
Ohiopyle State Park, Pennsylvania to New Germany State Park, Maryland
Today's Miles: 42
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 3093
Degree of Difficulty: Difficult
Terrain: Steep, Rolling Hills



Friday, June 28, 1996
Day 48
New Germany State Park, Maryland to Paw Paw, West Virginia
Today's Miles: 60
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 3153
Degree of Difficulty: Difficult to Easy
Terrain: Steep, Rolling Hills to Flat, Railroad Beds



Saturday, June 29, 1996
Day 49
Paw Paw, West Virginia to Purcellville, Maryland
Today's Miles: 59
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 3212
Degree of Difficulty: Medium to Easy
Terrain: Rolling Hills



Sunday, June 30, 1996
Day 50
Purcellville, Maryland to Washington DC
Today's Miles: 58
Cumulative Miles for the Tour: 3270
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Flat, Rails to Trails




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