Tag: cycling

Day 13, Pilgrim Spokes – Western Ohio

Finding Dave Again

We ride 123 miles across central Ohio, experiencing what might be the most spectacular sunrise of the entire journey as the fog and mist lift over western Ohio. A wonderful breakfast at Waffle House with a group of Amish caps a perfect morning, then I get us a little lost heading through Dayton, but we end up in the right place to ride for many miles along a wonderful paved bike trail. In London we meet Bicycle Bob (or Bicycle Bill?), who seems to be an unlikely town elder. Our day ends with a large dose of very rude drivers around Columbus, and a sleepless night thanks to a softball team full of party passion on our floor at the hotel.

A cross-country bicycle adventure is the canvas for this tale of discovery along the winding backroads of America’s heartland. The second book in the “Cycling Reflections” series, Pilgrim Spokes tells the story of the eastern half of the trans-American trek, continuing the saga begun in Neil’s award-winning previous book—Pilgrim Wheels—which reconnoiters the western half of the journey.

More than just a journal of a bike ride across the country, Hanson’s delightful and beautifully written story takes the reader on an engaging pilgrimage of observation and reflection. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always inspiring, it’s a must-read adventure that will stir your soul.

Day 11, Pilgrim Spokes – Western Indiana

Crossing Covered Bridges, Meeting Ann in Greencastle, Confronting Shuddering Gremlins, and Dinner with Cathy

One of my favorite days of riding in my trek across America are described in several chapters of Pilgrim Spokes. The early part of my day lets me explore several old iterations of the National Road, leading up to an hour or so spent exploring a couple old covered bridges that I go several miles out of my way to see.

Had I not opted to detour off my route for many miles to explore the old bridges, (of which there are many in Indiana), I wouldn’t have ended up in Greencastle where I met Ann, and wouldn’t have discovered shuddering gremlins. It was this conversation that set me up for the important (if painful) discussion the evening dinner had in store for me in Indianapolis with my old friend Cathy.

And of course, it helped me find a slightly more charitable light to shine on the unfortunate series of events at the motel…

A cross-country bicycle adventure is the canvas for this tale of discovery along the winding backroads of America’s heartland. The second book in the “Cycling Reflections” series, Pilgrim Spokes tells the story of the eastern half of the trans-American trek, continuing the saga begun in Neil’s award-winning previous book—Pilgrim Wheels—which reconnoiters the western half of the journey.

More than just a journal of a bike ride across the country, Hanson’s delightful and beautifully written story takes the reader on an engaging pilgrimage of observation and reflection. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always inspiring, it’s a must-read adventure that will stir your soul.

Three Top Images From The Day

The Hauke Bridge - One of many covered bridges in Indiana, and one of the two I explored on this day.
The inside of the Oakalla bridge in Indiana.
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Day 9, Pilgrim Spokes – Southwestern Illinois

A Little Drizzle, a Little Misery, Some Perspective

My night in the Butler’s Quarters at the Beall Mansion was delightful, and my next day begins with a drizzly ride down the Great River Trail along the Mississippi as I leave Alton and begin my journey through Illinois. Eventually I find my way along several miles of the Madison County Transit Nickel Plate Trail through Edwardsville.

The morning drizzle is light, but continues to get heavier all the way to Alhambra, where I transition from the trail over to the highway for the final miles of the day. It’s a miserable ride though the cold rain, making my room at the B&B in Greenville even more inviting.

This chapter in Pilgrim Spokes allowed me to do a little storytelling of a winter night in the mountains of Arkansas from years ago, when Bubba and me got our 18-wheeler stuck high on a mountain and survived freezing rain and a long walk out. I also explore that whole “the darkness defines the light” thing, or maybe something more like “it’s only through misery that we can truly appreciate joy.”

Best summed up, I suppose, in this quote that I include in the book:

The lust for comfort murders the passions of the soul.  ~Khalil Gibran

A cross-country bicycle adventure is the canvas for this tale of discovery along the winding backroads of America’s heartland. The second book in the “Cycling Reflections” series, Pilgrim Spokes tells the story of the eastern half of the trans-American trek, continuing the saga begun in Neil’s award-winning previous book—Pilgrim Wheels—which reconnoiters the western half of the journey.

More than just a journal of a bike ride across the country, Hanson’s delightful and beautifully written story takes the reader on an engaging pilgrimage of observation and reflection. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always inspiring, it’s a must-read adventure that will stir your soul.

Three Top Images From The Day

Leaving the Alton Bridge behind, riding along the Great River Trail
Long straight miles along the Madison County Transit Nickel Plate Trail
Another beautiful midwestern farmstead along the trail, this one in the drizzle of a rainy day.

Day 5, Pilgrim Spokes – Off The Road and Onto the Katy Trail

From a crummy morning in rain and heavy traffic to a delightful coast onto the Katy Trail

Now in Missouri, my day starts in Warrensburg, along a very busy US-50 into Sedalia. My day ends well into the Katy Trail, with friends who I’ll spend the next couple days with at a leisurely pace along this national treasure of a rail trail.

  • I’m once again impressed by the warmth and friendliness of Midwesterners, as a young woman stops her car in the rain and offers to help me as I fix a flat.
  • Breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe reminds me that I’m entering a part of the country where cigarette smoking in a diner is socially acceptable.
  • A missed shift causes me to get help, taking me back to a bike shop in Sedalia before moving along to Hartsburg.
  • I meet Dan and Susan who’re traversing the Katy Trail on their Tandem, and we chat about careers and marriage, and what it takes to make either last.
  • Arriving at The Globe Hotel, I meet Rick, who doesn’t have a thing for cats, and for whom cats likewise have no thing.
  • I’m pleased to recall the story of “please” in Cincinnati… Please, you say?
  • It’s Thursday, so no food is available in town. Well, except the pizza. Because it’s Thursday.
  • Did I mention the cats?

A cross-country bicycle adventure is the canvas for this tale of discovery along the winding backroads of America’s heartland. The second book in the “Cycling Reflections” series, Pilgrim Spokes tells the story of the eastern half of the trans-American trek, continuing the saga begun in Neil’s award-winning previous book—Pilgrim Wheels—which reconnoiters the western half of the journey.

More than just a journal of a bike ride across the country, Hanson’s delightful and beautifully written story takes the reader on an engaging pilgrimage of observation and reflection. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always inspiring, it’s a must-read adventure that will stir your soul.

Three Top Images From The Day

Sunrise along US-50 after riding through drizzle for the first hour of pre-dawn light.
Onto the Katy Trail
One of many cut banks along the Katy Trail

Pilgrim Wheels Honored as INDIEFAB Finalist

Foreword Reviews Picks Pilgrim Wheels as Finalist in Adventure & Recreation, Body, Mind & Spirit, and Travel categories.

We’re delighted and honored that Foreword Reviews has picked Pilgrim Wheels as a finalist in three categories for the 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award. There’s an impressive array of what appear to be really high quality indie books on their finalist list, and I feel great to be among them.

Thanks to the team at Foreword Reviews for this really excellent recognition! I really appreciate it.

A cross-country bicycle adventure is the canvas for this tale of discovery along the winding backroads of America’s heartland. The second book in the “Cycling Reflections” series, Pilgrim Spokes tells the story of the eastern half of the trans-American trek, continuing the saga begun in Neil’s award-winning previous book—Pilgrim Wheels—which reconnoiters the western half of the journey.

More than just a journal of a bike ride across the country, Hanson’s delightful and beautifully written story takes the reader on an engaging pilgrimage of observation and reflection. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always inspiring, it’s a must-read adventure that will stir your soul.

Day 3 – Cottonwood Falls to Ottawa

Out of the Flint Hills and into eastern Kansas

A fog hangs just above us as we begin our next day before dawn, continuing north in the heart of the Flint Hills along K-177. It’s a chapter of transition in Pilgrim Spokes, as the actual chronology of the ride was such that 2 years elapsed between the morning ride and the completion of the day in Ottawa. I couldn’t take the month+ off work to complete the cross-country journey in a single year, so needed to split it up. Dave had the same issue, so our miles across the country were broken chronologically in such a way that we rode about half the journey together and about half of it alone.

But this day of transition is more than just about chronology, as I explore in Pilgrim Spokes. Highlights include:

  • A foggy start through the beautiful Flint Hills shrouded in mist.
  • Breakfast at the Saddle Rock Cafe.
  • That point of transition where on Ride 1 Dave and I continue north through the Flint Hills, and back out into Western Kansas.
  • Ride 2 which I pick up in this section, experiencing a second Kansas sunrise, this time alone.
  • Riding east out of the Flint Hills on the first day of the final leg of the journey.
  • Talking to Jeff in Osage City, and his experience getting hit by a pickup truck while cycling.
  • Dinner with Bubba in Ottawa.

A cross-country bicycle adventure is the canvas for this tale of discovery along the winding backroads of America’s heartland. The second book in the “Cycling Reflections” series, Pilgrim Spokes tells the story of the eastern half of the trans-American trek, continuing the saga begun in Neil’s award-winning previous book—Pilgrim Wheels—which reconnoiters the western half of the journey.

More than just a journal of a bike ride across the country, Hanson’s delightful and beautifully written story takes the reader on an engaging pilgrimage of observation and reflection. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always inspiring, it’s a must-read adventure that will stir your soul.

Three Top Images From The Day

Morning ride through the Flint Hills
Flint Hills farmstead
Sunrise in eastern Kansas headed east on the final leg of the journey

Day 2 – Pilgrim Spokes, Wellington to Cottonwood Falls

Into the Flint Hills

Our morning ride east from Wellington along 160 is treacherous with morning traffic and thick fog. We enjoy breakfast at a diner in Winfield, then let the south wind decide our route for the rest of the journey at this fork in the road. Admittedly, the Flint Hills feel like “home” to me, and I really want to share this wonderful region with Dave.

The heat and traffic lead us to ask for a little help across the busy section of US-77 through El Dorado. Starting to pedal again on the NE side of El Dorado, we journey forth into the July Kansas swelter and through the Flint Hills. A wonderful ride through this gorgeous region leads us to Cottonwood Falls, where we decide to end our day at the Millstream Resort Motel along the Cottonwood River.

The next day is a wonderful rest day there in Cottonwood Falls, and we enjoy the local color and style. I spend a good deal of time talking about this color and style in Pilgrim Spokes, along with discussions with several of the people we met along the path from Wellington to Cottonwood Falls. I learn that pie fixes everything, catfishing is alive and well, and spend a little time hunting with Beethoven. I also introduce readers to the concept of tennis on the back porch.

A cross-country bicycle adventure is the canvas for this tale of discovery along the winding backroads of America’s heartland. The second book in the “Cycling Reflections” series, Pilgrim Spokes tells the story of the eastern half of the trans-American trek, continuing the saga begun in Neil’s award-winning previous book—Pilgrim Wheels—which reconnoiters the western half of the journey.

More than just a journal of a bike ride across the country, Hanson’s delightful and beautifully written story takes the reader on an engaging pilgrimage of observation and reflection. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always inspiring, it’s a must-read adventure that will stir your soul.

Three Top Images From The Day

Foggy start to the morning out of Wellington
Highway 177 in the Flint Hills
Back veranda at the Millstream Resort Motel in Cottonwood Falls

Midwest Book Review Thumbs Up for Pilgrim Spokes

Thanks to D. Donovan for a very nice review

 

Midwest Book Review had some very kind words for Pilgrim Spokes in their June issue. Check out the review at MBR’s June online site, or at the reviewers site, but below are a couple of highlights:

  • “Pilgrim Spokes delivers a delightful blend of travelogue, cycling insights, and reflections on his journey along America’s byways.”
  • “Not a hasty rush through America, his journey allowed a deep and meaningful embrace of the experience as he meandered from the Pacific to the Atlantic. It would have thwarted the spirit of this journey to have edited out many of these experiences for the sake of cramming them all into one book.  Reflecting the slower pace of a bicycle ride, Pilgrim Spokes indulges the reader within a journey that fully explores the sights, sounds, sensations, and encounters of the road..” 
  • “Readers need not be avid cyclists in order to appreciate Pilgrim Spokes. The focus is on the experience and the journey, not just the destination or the mechanics of getting there.”
  • “Hanson immerses the reader in the cultures and experiences of the communities who invite him in to their world…”
  • “The introspection prompted by Hanson’s encounters is wonderfully done…”
  • “Hanson’s story takes the time to capture subtle nuances within his journey, and this sets it apart from other travelogues.”

“Pilgrim Spokes is a vivid read filled with personal reflection, philosophical insights, physical challenges, and a dose of spirituality that immerses the reader in an exhilarating ride.”

A cross-country bicycle adventure is the canvas for this tale of discovery along the winding backroads of America’s heartland. The second book in the “Cycling Reflections” series, Pilgrim Spokes tells the story of the eastern half of the trans-American trek, continuing the saga begun in Neil’s award-winning previous book—Pilgrim Wheels—which reconnoiters the western half of the journey.

More than just a journal of a bike ride across the country, Hanson’s delightful and beautifully written story takes the reader on an engaging pilgrimage of observation and reflection. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always inspiring, it’s a must-read adventure that will stir your soul.

Pilgrim Spokes Day 1 – Western Kansas

Out of the Medicine Hills and onto the humid southern Kansas farmland

Pilgrim Spokes opens with Dave and I sharing some friendly banter and chicken fried steak with a couple bikers in Medicine Lodge after riding about 40 miles before breakfast. This 40 miles section through the Medicine Hills was covered in Pilgrim Wheels, so we begin Pilgrim Spokes at the diner over chicken fried steak.

We glide from there out into the humid farmland of southern Kansas, enjoying the ongoing good nature and hospitality of the wonderful Kansas folk we’re privileged to meet. The heat is oppressive, and we wallow in the AC at a diner in Harper, where we launch into dialogue about the Jedi powers of women and the magical formulas for making relationships last through life.

Thunderstorms building around us convince us to stop after about 115 miles for the day in Wellington, where the AC in the room can’t keep up with the heat, but this doesn’t seem to bother anyone but Dave and I. We have supper at a little 50’s theme diner, and suffer through a hot night’s sleep with a freight train of an AC unit trying in vain to manage the heat.

A cross-country bicycle adventure is the canvas for this tale of discovery along the winding backroads of America’s heartland. The second book in the “Cycling Reflections” series, Pilgrim Spokes tells the story of the eastern half of the trans-American trek, continuing the saga begun in Neil’s award-winning previous book—Pilgrim Wheels—which reconnoiters the western half of the journey.

More than just a journal of a bike ride across the country, Hanson’s delightful and beautifully written story takes the reader on an engaging pilgrimage of observation and reflection. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always inspiring, it’s a must-read adventure that will stir your soul.

Three Top Images From The Day

Sunrise in the Medicine Hills
Southern Kansas Farm Country
The AC didn't work well in 100 degree heat and 100% humidity

Pilgrim Spokes – ARC Update

Pilgrim Spokes ARCs Available In April – Options 

If you’ve signed up for an Advanced Review Copy of Pilgrim Spokes, a couple of things:

First and foremost: Thank You! Each book I publish teaches me a little more about the publishing industry. The big gorilla in the business are those 5-star reviews you see as soon as a book is released. While obviously every review isn’t 5-star for any book, if my writing wasn’t your cup of tea you probably wouldn’t want to do an advanced review for my next book. Advanced readers are a foundation of folks who generally enjoy what I write, and I treasure your fine literary taste. 🙂

Availability and format. The book is complete and “in production” as they say in the publishing world. It’s in various stages of design and layout, and in the coming weeks will go to the printer. However, the manuscript itself – the content – is complete, and I will have the following formats available to send for review by 4/20:

  • PDF. The old standby that can be read on any device, though it’s really only practical if you’re going to read on something like a computer screen or an iPad.
  • ePub. This is the format that is used by iBooks and Nook.
  • Kindle. The MOBI file is Amazon’s proprietary format, and while it’s a more convoluted process for me to get a MOBI file to your Kindle for you, I can surely do it if Kindle is your preferred format. (Amazon has the lion’s share of the eBook market, so most of us-including me-use this format as our primary e-reading platform.)

If you prefer a printed copy, I hope to have those available for advanced reviews in early to mid May. If you choose an electronic file for the advanced review, but want a printed copy when they come out as well, just let me know and I’m happy to send that to you when it releases.