Going the distance

Photo courtesy of Calvin Pletcher Calvin Pletcher, 61, poses for a snapshot at Lolo Summit in Idaho, one of the more challenging climbs on his 4,000+ mile cross-country bike trip.

Calvin Pletcher intended to make his first cross-country bicycle ride in 2006, but responsibilities at work prevented him from taking the necessary time away.

This time, the 61-year-old Chesterfield resident was determined to make it happen - even if he didn't have a job waiting for him when he got back.

"If they hadn't granted [the request for a leave of absence], I would've gone anyway. I think they knew that and wanted me back," Pletcher said, resting at a hotel after Day 74 of his three-month odyssey.

Pletcher flew out of Richmond on May 31. There he met 13 other hearty souls who had signed up for the Bicycle Adventure Club's journey from Astoria, Ore., to St. Petersburg, Fla.

He's been riding ever since, covering an average of 60 miles a day through sun and rain and stifling humidity, over mountains and rolling hills and terrain as flat as a table top.

Asked why someone four years shy of retirement age felt compelled to participate in such a physically demanding endeavor, Pletcher suggested a different question: Why not?

"I just love to get on a bike. It's me, my bike, the wind and the road; it's what I do for fun," he said. "I figured I'm 61 years old, and I can still do it. There's no time better than now."

Pletcher, who fell in love with cycling about 10 years ago, said his wife, Donna, never tried to talk him out of the more than 4,000-mile ride.

"She said, 'Go do it, and get it out of your system,'" he added with a laugh.

As of last week, Pletcher's group was down to 11, having lost a Florida couple who called it quits after encountering a series of "nasty" hills in Missouri.

Pletcher's had two flat tires, and he's on his second bike chain, but he remains doggedly committed to the mantra "EFI" - every friggin' inch - as he pedals his way toward the Sunshine State.

"You have to have your wheels on the road every friggin' inch of the way. You never let anybody give you a ride," Pletcher said. "It's a challenge I don't want to lose."

Pletcher is scheduled to reach St. Petersburg on Aug. 30. He'll fly home the next day, in time for a Labor Day celebration with his wife, three children and one grandchild.

Oh, the stories he'll have to share.

"I've seen things I had never seen before," Pletcher said. "It's been a great experience."

Pletcher's been keeping a blog of his crosscountry adventure. Below are a few highlights. To read more, visit http://cycal.blogspot.com.

Day 61 - July 30

Potosi, Mo. to Koinania Cottage

 

A foggy morning on good roads through the Mark Twain National Forest. The route was a relief for all as we enjoyed less challenging climbs and a shorter ride. Some big trucks were intimidating on Highway 32, but fortunately we only had about seven miles on that road. The highlight of our ride was meeting Duane and Mary Wiltberger from the Koinania Cottage Bread & Breakfast. To cool us off in the hot afternoon, Mary made us some sweet raspberry tea and iced tea. For supper we had a delicious home-cooked meal including pasta with meatballs, salad, cherry cobbler and ice cream. Our breakfast was superb with eggs, sausage and bacon, fresh cantaloupe and so many delights I can't remember them all. Thank you, Duane and Mary! Check them out at www.koinaniacottage.com.

Day 66 - Aug. 4

Elizabethtown, Ill. to Grand Rivers, Ky.

 

Another 5 a.m. alarm to get wheels up by 5:30 a.m. Our ride begins by cycling about 10 miles to catch a ferry across the Ohio [River] taking us to Kentucky. In Kentucky we are greeted by canopied roads with low traffic and modest rolling hills. We expected to find services in Carrsville about 30 miles from the start but found only a small town with a Coke machine. Our breakfast was delayed for 50 miles when we found the Levee Restaurant open in Smithland. Our arrival time in Smithland was about 9:45 a.m., and breakfast was finally served. We arrived in Grand Rivers before noon and found our rooms waiting for us. Later in the afternoon, Ron and I stopped at a health clinic in town to weigh ourselves and were told that the heat index in town was 110. Thank goodness we arrived early. By the way, when I started the ride in Oregon I was 217 pounds. Today I was 204 pounds. In the evening we had dinner at Patti's 1800s Restaurant. Today was another splendid day for cycling.

Day 69 - Aug. 7

Dover, Tenn. to Waverly, Tenn.

 

Today was another ride through the Tennessee countryside. We started a little after 6 a.m. and had breakfast about two miles up the road from the motel. Grits were on the menu here too, so I guess we have finally arrived in the South. Our ride was on back country roads through some rolling Tennessee hills to Waverly. The cloudy skies kept the temperature down, and the early start got most folks into Waverly before noon.