Cycling across the USA: 10 weeks. 11 states. 4,373 miles
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- Cycling across the United States of America, solo and unsupported, in a bid to create unique journalism about the 2024 Presidential Election. As seen at the gentle pace of a bicycle...
I'm British travel writer, Simon Parker, and in 2023 I cycled 4,373 miles across the USA for my second book: Fractured States (published July 2024). You can pre-order it now.
This journey was all about investigating some of the biggest issues in American society ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election, as seen at the gentle pace of a bicycle.
My book will include hundreds of interviews with fascinating people I met along the way. There will also be a 2024 live theatre tour. Keep an eye on my website: www.simonwparker.co.uk for tour dates.
I passed through 11 states: Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida - on my journey from Cape Flattery, Washington, to Key West, Florida.
In this final film you'll get a taste for the thrills and spills of a life on the road.
X: @SimonWIParker
Website: www.simonwparker.co.uk
Instagram: @SimonWIParker
Facebook: simonparker1987
Pre-sale of Fractured States: www.amazon.co.uk/Fractured-States-Miles-through-America
Loved your first book Simon
Can’t wait to start this book
That's great to hear. It's on sale now and I'm about to tour the UK speaking all about it, if of interest?
How does this only have 127 likes? This man's a beast!
Ha - book out soon. Much more my focus than YT
www.amazon.co.uk/Ride-Across-America-Issues-Adventure/dp/1914613597/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
The feeling of sadness near the end is common. I felt it acutely on my own bicycle trip, as I approached my end point in Newport OR…
Sounds epic! I've done it twice now: www.amazon.co.uk/Ride-Across-America-Issues-Adventure/dp/1914613597/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Very inspirational video!
Thank you! Book out soon
Well done.
Thank you - it was an awesome trip. I'm currently working around the clock to get the book finished ASAP, ahead of publication next summer.
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
Brilliant work. Loved following your journey from start to finish.
Thanks y'all.
I enjoyed that.
Thanks for taking us along with you.
Fantastic, thanks for watching!
The book is available for pre-order now:
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
This is awesome!
Thank you
...and I just thought you'd popped out to get a coffee! Incredible stuff. Well Done.
Ha - thank you!
Congrats.. really enjoyed following you on your journey. Looking forward to the book!
Thank you, Mr Wade.
CONGRATULATIONS! Not on the bike ride (any fool can ride a long way 😉), but on riding a long way AND filming it AND editing it all at the same time! Very impressive!
Thanks mate - Once I'd committed to it, I must admit to regretting it somewhat, but it's done now. And glad I did it. I find it easier to work on the content as I go, rather than returning home with 100s of gb of footage and not knowing where to start. Now it's time to shift into writing mode and switch off socials for a few months.
Great achievement Simon, have enjoyed following the journey!
Thank you, mate - it was an awesome trip. I'm currently working around the clock to get the book finished ASAP, ahead of publication next summer. So won't be back in CT this time, but back in a year's time.
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
First thing - well done! I enjoyed that. I look forward to reading the book when it comes out.
Hi Norman, thanks so much for letting me know. I'm currently writing the book in double quick time, ahead of publication next summer. It's available for pre-order now:
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
Congratulations! I enjoyed watching
That's great to hear, thank you.
What an absolutely incredible achievement, and what an absolute joy it has been to follow along the whole way.
I am in awe!
Enjoy the rest. Here’s to the writing ✍️ 📖
🙌🚲🙌
Thank you, Alison - was an epic adventure but looking forward to a bit of downtime/writing now.
Well done indeed. Very interesting video.
So glad you enjoyed it. Was en epic trip. Working on the book at the moment, which will be published next year.
Congratulations!
You ended about as close to Cuba as you were to Vancouver Canada when you started.
Aha! Yeah. Closer to Canada I think.
Awesome adventure. This is what life is all about, doing something that you love.
Thank you - it was an awesome trip. i'm currently working around the clock to get the book finished ASAP, ahead of publication next summer.
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
Hats off. Very interesting and unusual route choice going from the most north western point down to the Florida keys. Any chance you will release your book covering this journey as an audio book? You have a great voice for narration.
What an incredible journey - I have been following along and am looking forward to the bus already!
Thank you! You're looking forward to the bus?
Again from your virtual peleton here in the UK massive congratulations. We've loved every update/video/mile of your journey. We crack a beer and toast your epic 10 weeks and all the success this will bring with your book/tour 🤞... 👏👏🍻 well done Simon
Amazing to hear - and thanks for all your support. Means a lot. Now time to write the book.
Thank you so much for the inspiration. I hope to do a similar bicycle journey next year, 2024.
You absolutely should - you won't regret it. My book will be out middle of next year, so hopefully that will provide some more inspo.
I only wish I had your equipment. My trip would not have been so miserably difficult.
I also did it in 2016 and it was a different story! Book our July 18th.
Fabulous video series! I hope that overall your experience with us was pleasant. As much as I agree with some of your people that you came across ,,I too believe that overall, people are still good. Divided in our political,religious and moral views,,,,but I still have this belief that we mean well towards humanity. As a Mexican American, butcher by trade, vegetarian by choice, fine arts major and Buddhist Christian,,,I test the boundaries of our divisions on a daily basis. Living in Chicago does make it a little easier to share my opinions here. Had your tour gone through my city,,,,it would have been a pleasure to ride a few miles with you! Looking forward to your book! Om Yo!!!
Thank you so much for your message. I totally agree - there is a lot that divides, but also a lot that brings us together. Especially in the US where generosity is hardwired into the collective psyche. I'm working hard on the book now, available for pre-order:
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
These American highways are 24/7 convoys now. Just unreal. I like the old days when people everywhere slept at night.
True, America is BUSY!
Well done. New sub. American.
Thank you! Book out next summer
Congratulations Simon on your epic undertaking and successful journey. It was fascinating, the photography was beautiful and loved your commentary. Well done sir, Rick in Seattle (actually Snoqualmie, WA). Simply amazing!
Thanks for following Rick! Was quite the ride...
Respect! Buen Camino. Thank you for sharing. Taking notes to follow!
What an awesome adventure and great story. Congratulations! In 2022, I biked from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Key West and covered much of the same country that you did. Your video brought back some great memories. I can't wait to read your book. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe, Scott
Ah awesome! Thanks Scott. More info on the book here:
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
Perfect. I can't wait to read it. Thanks
Congratulations on completing your fantastic journey. Thinking of doing the Transamerica route next year if I can get fit enough. Really enjoyed your videos & looking forward to reading your book!!
You should! I've cycled quite a bit of that route. The western half is prettier but you'll go faster on the flats further east.
I love the retrospektive way to tell your story. So good😜👍
Greetings from Læsø, Denmark
Congratiulation to your journey and the way you presented it. Breathtaking! What i am thinking about is how you managed to continue your journey after this huge pice of metal disturbed your back tire. Did you go on with the same tire after repairing the tube? Thank you. Greetings from Michael
Hey Michael - I managed to patch it and then limped to the nearest town. Full story in my new book: septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
You should have biked into NYC, where I live now. Damon Roth from Ritzville is my younger brother.
Would have been great to meet, however somewhat off my route...
Wow nice!
Thank you. Fancy it?
@@simonwparker yes 👍
Lovely Video. Awesome Photos..
Thank you! Was an amazing trip. Currently writing the book, which will be published next year:
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
@@simonwparker Awesome thanks for update.
such an amazing journey and experience. What a privilege to experience your story in such a cinematic way. Thank you sir. I would love to share a bit of my story. I flew in from London to New York and hired a little Kia soul which would be my abode for the next month. From New York I drove down to Miami, going through D.C, Carolinas, Georgia. Then from Miami through the Everglades, the gulf of mexico, New Orleans and into Texas. From Waco TX, through Colorado and into Yellowstone. Montana then through a little slither of northern Idaho and into Washington state through route 2, (Wenatchee and Leavenworth were gorgeous.) I would shower at truckstops and use the restrooms at McDoanalds and Walmarts.
Then I headed to the coast of Washington, and headed strait down through the 101 and the 1 roadway. Along the pacific coast of Oregon and California were just so spectacular I cannot express with words. I spent my 24th birthday sleeping in that little Kia soul I had hired about 2 weeks ago in New York, in a redwood forest grove near the avenue of the giants. I remember it being pitch black except from a little bonfire another camper had made and was cooking marshmallows on as he sat next to his motorcycle and tent. I used hoodies and shirts that I would hang from the windows making a little fort inside the car which was really comfortable. Then into San Fran along the Golden Gate bridge, spent a night there, spoke to the locals and explored Haight-Ashbury. Went to use the toilet at a museum on a hill but was pleasantly surprised that i just so happened to go in that day when entry was free of charge so I took in all the magnificent art. A local spoke about the tenderloin so I drove down to see that too. After I drove down and made it to Malibu and into LA. I used the beach and sea to my advantage and most mornings when I felt grotty, would take a dip in the sea in Santa Monica beach, then use this as an excuse to have a shower at the fountains where people would use to wash the sand off their feet and surf boards, (with my boxers on of course)
Got bored then decided to drive to Vegas with just enough money to get back. My diet manly consisted of fast food (McDonald's saver menu cheeseburgers) as it was the cheapest I could find while on the road all the time. Vegas was great but not so great. First day I went in, pulled out 60 bucks from the atm and played some black jack which I wont 270 bucks first time. I was ecstatic. A few short hours later I would lose it all and try to make it back again. I could have sat down and had a nice meal with my winnings but I had succumb to that evil temptation again. I hate gambling and will never do it again. I made the money back on the next day and vowed I'd never gamble again. I had to get out of that horrid sinful place so I drove back to LA after 2 days. I spent the rest of my time In and around LA. I slept in my car on Mulholland drive right next to beautiful mega mansions, but also in the parking lot of Target.
Throughout my journey, I loved it all but the west coast is just such a special place. Notable places I would recommend in LA are Studio city, Mulholland Drive, Benedict Canyon, The Bird Streets, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Laurel Canyon, Malibu, Topanga, Tuna Canyon, Santa Monica, Calabasas. Also In California, I would recommend following the Pacific Coast Highway either south to San Diego, or north to Santa Barbara. 30 days and around 7 thousand miles. If anyone reads this to the end, I would urge you to go on the wildest adventure of your life, do something dangerous, something you'll never forget.
That's great to hear, thank you. Book out July 4 and available for pre-order now, with a LOT more.
www.amazon.co.uk/Ride-Across-America-Issues-Adventure/dp/1914613597/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CKFTD7KHFZWL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OdCQUddNy7dOxKybi8ayTA.jsKnO9feExcFSmHANldHMauuq2aQv689kg4t2tfHwRE&dib_tag=se&keywords=a+ride+across+america+simon+parker&qid=1709998995&sprefix=%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1
Enjoyed your trip, On your Dutch bike :)
Re: the busy cities, I reckon when I do this I'll try to steer clear of the big cities or, if I can't, most urban trains allow bicycles on board..But then it's also the case that some of the best trails are in the urban areas.
Yeah that's a good idea. The USA is so car-oriented that cycling anywhere near a city is potentially very stressful/dangerous.
Planning my xc bicycle trip now. Seattle to Washington DC. How many miles did you average? Did you take any zero days? Trying to figure out how much time to take off work. My plan is ~50 miles a day in the west. 60-70 when the country flattens out.
Hey, coincidentally, only today am I writing about a man in my book who did that route. He's in one of the first films in this series. Yes I took 1-2 days off a week. 50 miles a day is fine, but you'll need to do more/less dependent on where the towns are. There's only so much food and water you can carry. There will be heaps more practical info in my new book:
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
You probably found that you had a lot of headwinds once you got into Nebraska. All the winds come out of the gulf across the great plainsn
When I crossed in from Wyoming I had an amazing tailwind, but then that started to shift and turned into a tornado!
You will be able to read the full story in my new book, out next year:
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
13 46 - Jesus IS the King of kings, and the Lord of lords...
Great camera work and story telling, thank you, Simon!
What kind of camera do you use? Congratulations and thank you for sharing.
Hi Chris I used a very small but good Sony RX100
@@simonwparker Thanks!
How much money you needed every day for doing it?
I guess it's all about what you can afford. I've now cycled the USA twice. First time I did it on the cheap - probably about £1,000 and camped a lot. This time I spent a lot more, but needed to stay in hotels in order to make the films and write the book:
septemberpublishing.org/product/a-ride-across-america-hb/
@@simonwparker thank you very much for the information.
Did you see any pythons?
That would be telling...
No helmet
WOW! "People would rather believe in aliens than believe in God" That is the real problem!
Probabilities man.
You forgot your helmet!