Camilla Buchanan and Debra Hill are leaving today on a group cross-country bike ride from Yorktown to Oregon — one Buchanan has wanted to take since the 1970s.
Back in September, the Williamsburg couple signed up for a van-supported tour with Adventure Cycling, a nonprofit dedicated to driving people to cycle.
They are part of a group of about 16 people who will cycle across the 1976 Bikecentennial Trail, or TransAmerica Trail, which Adventure Cycling established for people to see the country by traveling through the heart of it.
Buchanan said though they could take a quicker route across the country rather than this 4,180-mile, three-month trip, this route is the one she wants to take.
“It’s kind of a neat path. They really designed this path to celebrate America,” she said, explaining it “wanders” around Virginia, passing scenic spots. When it reaches Pueblo, Colo., the route follows the Rocky Mountains north to Florence, Ore., the ending point.
“We’ll see Yellowstone. It’s just a beautiful, beautiful way to see the country,” said Buchanan, who has been “bi-coastal,” visiting people on both coasts but never spending much time in the middle.
Hill retired in 2008 – she was William and Mary’s winningest volleyball coach – and Buchanan, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Williamsburg, followed with her retirement in December. This adventure will mark the first they have taken since both being retired. To prepare, they have been cycling since January, riding about 3,100 miles in the past five months.
“If you’re going to do this without too much pain, you really should train for it before you go,” Buchanan said.
Hill and Buchanan will be the only ones in their group to make the trip on a tandem bike. Buchanan noted the big advantages of riding tandem are always someone to talk to, and not having to be anxious about the other’s whereabouts or safety — they’ll be together for the whole trip.
“On a tandem you have to pedal together … it’s really fun, I’ve gotten so that I really actually enjoy it,” Buchanan said; typically she rides more competitively and less leisurely and said Hill has been very patient with her changing gears.
The tour will require the group to pedal about 50 miles a day, with some days off. They will be staying in various campsites, stowing items like tents and clothes in the van riding along with their group.
Camping will provide little access to the technology most people rely heavily on, but they have committed to blogging their adventure as much as possible. Click here to see their blog page.
They will be checking and updating the page so people can communicate with them to find out about the trip.
“It’s going to be kind of fun for the first time in 40 years … to just have nothing to do but get up in the morning, eat breakfast, get on my bicycle and ride. That’s it, that’s all I have to do,” Buchanan said.
