4,200 Miles in 12 Minutes

I’ve picked the best pictures from my bike tour across the US. It took a while since there were almost 4,000 pictures, due to accidental use of an “auto-repeat” setting on my camera. In any case, I reduced the 4,000 pictures down to 550.

A 12 minute movie of those 550 pictures is below. To keep the movie short, each picture is shown for about a second. Please let me know if that works for you or if you have other suggestions, by posting a reply here or by sending me a note. I’ll use any suggestions to improve the movie, since I’ll be using it in a few presentations.

26 thoughts on “4,200 Miles in 12 Minutes

    • I’m glad you liked it, thanks for being the first to comment on the video. Also, I’ve been meaning to ask, do you have an email address for Mike Cross? I’ve been wanting to get back in touch with him for a while.

      • Hello Steve. I do not have Mike’s email address but I’ll try to track it down. Please give me a little bit. I’m not sure if Mike is on-line., though… From what I understand, He has been pretty much “living off the grid” in a cabin he built himself in Wisconsin – kind of near Taylor’s Falls I believe.

        • Hello again, Steve.

          Unfortunately my presumption was confirmed…. Mike Cross does not have e-mail. He is living off the grid. And I don’t even have a “snail mail” address for him. I have informed a mutual friend of Mike – Greg – and asked that when he talks with Mike again to please inform him that you would like to get back in touch with Mike. He said he would. But I’m not sure when that will be… I believe that Greg gets up that way only on occasion, so he doesn’t see or hear from Mike very often. Sorry that’s all I can do right now. But I’ll let you know if/when I get any additional info on Mike. Take it easy, Steve.

          • Thanks for learning about Mike and sharing what you know, and sorry about taking a while to reply. I’m working on another book and had some deadlines this week. If you can get word to Mike, please let him know that I’d like to see him again. I’d be happy to drive to his place.

            Reno

          • Will do, Steve. And when are these books you’re working on going to be finished? I’d like them. And hopefully I can buy an autographed copy from the author – you!

          • Please send me your postal address, in email. Santa could be giving you something a little early this year. 🙂

          • Seriously?!?! That’s would be great! I’m at:

            6412 NE 144th St.
            Vancouver, WA 98686

            And apologies if I’m asking too much but… could you please sign it? 🙂

          • Santa did come early this year! Much earlier than I expected. Thank you, Reno! I’m really looking forward to reading your book about your brother. And I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet him at least once in person. This book will be treasured, and kept in my personal library. 🙂 Oh. And I will pass your greetings on to Tomoko when she gets home tonight.

          • It’s good to hear that Santa showed up early. You’re welcome, and I’m glad to hear the book will be cherished, although I hope you feel the same way after you read it. 🙂 I’m happy with how that book turned out. There’s about 20 reviews of it on Amazon with an average of 4.5 stars, but few copies sell. That doesn’t keep me from writing though. I just started my next book. It tells the story of when I learned my cancer had gotten worse, but most of it will be months later when I cycled across the country. If you’re interested, the first chapter is at http://walkingoutofthedark.com/next-book/.

          • Wow. That’s a powerful first chapter, Steve. Thanks for sharing. I’m having trouble articulating this reply. I don’t know what to say… I am crying…. I’m pissed off… Angry. Why!?!! (I know why but… ) I need to compose myself.

            I’ve made pretty good progress on “Walking Out of The Dark” and have been really enjoying it. It’s kind of a strange feeling knowing the author and at least one of the characters of the story. It’s neat! 🙂

            Take care, Steve-A-Reno. You’re in our thoughts and prayers. And we’re here if there’s anything we can do.

          • Thanks for the good wishes, Karl, means a lot. It feels strange that chapter 1 of my next book brought out so many strong emotions, but it is tough stuff. I want you to know that the story will get much better in chapter 2 or 3.

            Those chapters will describe a very new medication I’m on. It costs $10,000 a month, but it’s shown amazing results. The medical trials for new meds usually last 5 years because cancer works around the new meds by then. In the medical trial for my medication, guys like me were still very much alive after 5 years. With prostate cancer, the part that matters is a guy’s Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). Things get bad when PSA gets in the hundreds. Since taking this new drug, my PSA has stayed at < 0.1. Cancer is still unpredictable, but I expect to be around for many more years, since new drugs are still coming out. All this may be a bit of a spoiler if you read chapters 2 and 3 of my next book, but chapter 4 has a wonderful surprise I never expected. I'm keeping that one under wraps. 🙂 Reno

          • Wow! That great to hear. And I look forward to learning more in the upcoming chapters. 🙂

            I’ve let Paul know what’s going on, and I shred paragraph 1 with him. He sent you an e-mail to your “Hotmail” account since I’m not sure he’s having any luck with this blog. So you should be hearing from him soon if you haven’t already.

            “Talk” with you later.

            Karl

  1. Wow. Watched start to finish. I feel like I was there with you – and thank God for that so now I don’t have to bike 4000 miles! Really good job of blending the scenery and the cool old buildings with the people and wildlife and flowers. Nice music too. I thought the slide length was just right. Thanks for sharing‍♀️

    • Thanks Beth, and now, when I watch the video again, I’ll think of you along with me–cycling up mountains and across deserts with a bike, 4 bags, and a tent. 🙂

  2. Bob watched it first . Now is my turn ! How did u wash clothes along the way? Lol !! Thank you, for sharing! Like I have shared with u before, I wonder what mom and dad would think ? Good for u !!You follow your dreams!!!! Love you, Steve !!! Your oldest sister, Nancy

    • I’m glad you liked the video, and about how we washed clothes, it was simple. We just towed a washer & drier behind our bikes. That it tough going up mountains, but you know, at least we had clean clothes.

  3. Wow, so impressive! It almost made me want to do it … almost!! Thank for sharing. I’m guessing you’re kind of missing those guys. Must have been an amazing bonding experience xx

  4. Hi Caroline,

    Thanks very much, and good to hear from you again. I am missing the people I cycled with, and a few that were outside of my cycling group. More than ever, the people I meet on long rides are more special than the ride. We all have a unique spirit that’s hard to find when sitting still in a city.

  5. Loved it! Congratulations, Steve! Thanks so much for blogging your journey along the way. The video is really inspiring.

    • Hi Pete,

      Thanks! It was great having you with me, in an online sort of way. Sorry it’s taken me a while to reply to your note. I’ve been busy working on a book that’ll describe my experience with cancer and cycling across the US. If you’re interested, a draft of the first chapter is at http://walkingoutofthedark.com/next-book/.

      Thanks again,

      Steven

  6. Loved your video, Steve! I’m a friend of Kent Johnson’s and I have an aggressive form of prostate cancer too (Gleason score of 8). I’m just about to start radiation and hormone treatment. Would you be good enough to provide any details about the new prostate cancer medicine that you are using?

    My best wishes to you for a rapid and complete healing!

    • Hi Harris,

      I’m very sorry to hear about your cancer. We seem to have some things in common. My Gleason score is also 8, both our cancers spread, but in much better news, we both know Kent.

      The drug I’m on is called Abiraterone (ab-er at-er own). The brand name is Zytiga. I have some comments on the drug, but first, I want to emphasize that if any of my comments catch your attention, you need to discuss them with your oncologist. I’m concerned about all the underinformed yet confident opinions on the web and do not want to contribute to that.

      With that said, I’ll add that a blog I follow called Zytiga a “practice-changing” medication. The blog is written by a prostate cancer researcher with 30 years of experiece. The description about Zytiga is at:

      https://prost8blog.com/2017/06/05/abiraterone-zytiga-earlier-makes-a-big-difference-in-outcomes/

      I’m not sure if Zytiga is given when raditation is still an option for you, but it’s worth asking your oncologist. I started taking it after the cancer spread out of my pelvis, which removed radition as an option.

      I’ve found a couple of challenges with Zytiga. First, it’s $10,000 a month. That’s repulsive since big pharma continues to make big profits. In any case, that means insurence companies can resist paying for it, even though they are also making big profits. On two occasions, they told me that they would not pay for my Zytiga, in which case I fought them. During hours of phone calls when I was cycling across the US, I called my state legislatures and doctors asking them to call my insurance company. I got a new bottle just as I finished the pills from my last bottle.

      Returning to comments about Zytiga, another challenge is that it’s very new. I have loads of respect for my oncologist, but he didn’t know much about Zytiga. It’s only used for prostate cancer, and he has to stay current with many types of cancer, since he helps many types of patients. If your oncologist does not now about Zytiga, print the blog post mentioned above and bring it to him or her. If they still resist Zytiga, get a second opinion–very respectfully. I did, and it changed my life expectancy from 3 years to a normal life span or something close. If the 2nd opinion shows that Zytiga is not a good fit for you, I would personally feel comfortable with that. It could be a good option later.

      One more comment, I have good information from scientists on the leading-edge that new treatments are coming out often for prostate cancer, so I hope you keep your spirits up.

      As you can see, I love to write. I’m currently writing a book about being diagnosed with cancer and cycling across the country. If you’re interested, the first chapter is online at http://walkingoutofthedark.com/next-book/.

      Hope this helps,

      Steven

  7. Hi Steve,

    I really enjoyed “Walking Out of the Dark.” A lot of you comes through it, which I guess makes sense. A fun read. Thanks again for the copy. I’m looking forward to your next book. Please let me know when it’s available for purchase.

    As ever,

    Karl

    • Hi Karl,

      I’m glad you enjoyed the book. Sometimes, I think that writing is just another way of doing what we’ve done for decades–share stories of life, love, new adventures, and best of all, mis-adventures. I have a little favor to ask. If at all possible, please loan the book out once in a while, maybe to Tomoko, your sons, or anyone else. It feels a bit odd to imagine a book of adventures that sits on a shelf for too long.

      Thanks also for your interest in my next book. In about a year, I imagine it’ll show up in your mailbox, when Santa comes early again.

      Thanks agian,

      Reno

      • Yes, Steve, I will certainly lend out the copy you sent me. And I’ll encourage others to buy copies as well. 🙂 Reading that book had me smiling often. Thanks again for sending it.

        As ever,

        Karl

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