Old Man on a Bicycle: A Ride Across America and How to Realize a More Enjoyable Old Age

176 Pages·2014·2.55 MB·English

by  Don Petterson

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the
opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or
legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
Old Man on a Bicycle
A Ride Across America and How to Realize a More Enjoyable Old Age
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2014 Don Petterson
v6.0
Cover Photo © 2014 Don Petterson. All rights reserved - used with permission.
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Part I
Chapter 1: Outward Bound
Chapter 2: On Health, Aging and Adventure
Chapter 3: Before the Ride
Chapter 4: New Hampshire and Vermont
Chapter 5: New York and Pennsylvania
Chapter 6: The Midwest
Chapter 7: Beautiful Kansas and the Great Plains
Chapter 8: Colorado and the Rockies
Chapter 9: Utah
Part II
Chapter 10: Basin and Range
Chapter 11: Up and Over the Sierra Nevada and Down into California
Chapter 12: The Last Day
Epilogue
Route—Brentwood, New Hampshire, to San Francisco, California
Prologue
Wispy streaks of cirrus clouds, floating six miles up in the cobalt sky above east-
central Utah, provided no defense against the unrelenting sun. I had ridden over
100 miles the day before and figured that today’s 64-mile ride between Green
River and Price would be easy. But by noon the temperature had climbed almost
to 100°, and the heat was sucking away my energy. The heat, an unexpectedly
long climb, and a headwind for part of the morning had combined to make it a
tough day. As I approached a turnoff into Price, where I would spend the night, I
was thinking of the hot shower and subsequent cold beer I would soon be
enjoying. At that moment, with no warning at all, I heard a loud whomp and
simultaneously felt myself propelled forward by a tremendous force.
Instinctively, I knew a car had hit me. Separated from the bike, I flew through
the air, smacked into the ground, and rolled over several times before coming to
rest. Lying there, stunned and unable to move, all I could do was wonder how
badly I had been hurt.

Heading West