Shared Vision Quest, It's a Wrap...or Is It?

Yesterday afternoon, August 8, 2017, after completing over 4000 miles, Hans Breaux and Mike Robertson completed their coast-to-coast bicycle journey at West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, in Lubec, Maine the easternmost point of the US. Several days before, I had an opportunity to ride several miles with them in Southern Maine, and asked Mike if this adventure cured his appetite for long-distance riding, or just made it stronger. Mike immediately began describing how he wanted to do a 200 mile day! He said, "I'd like to just keep going!"

So gentleman, you've demonstrated that with a shared vision, great things may be accomplished, limitations are malleable, and we are always capable of being delighted and surprised by what we can achieve with some determination, and an accomplice.

Dream Big!

Shared Vision Quest Stops in Portland Maine

Shared Vision Quest Coast to Coast rolled into Portland Maine Friday afternoon, stopping to meet well-wishers at The Iris Network. Mike and Hans rode from Manchester, NH Friday morning, connecting with the Eastern Maine Trail for nearly all of the ride to Portland.

Both riders were peppered with questions about their bikes, the gear they were carrying, the number of flats they had (only one) the food they ate (they got rid of the stove within the first couple days to reduce weight), repairs, fatigue, etc.

Saturday. August 5, after spending the night in Portland, they will continue their journey to Augusta, where they will spend Sunday night, continuing to Belfast to meet a group of well-wishers and plenty of food at the Front Street Pub.

Maine Ride Schedule

Shared Vision Quest Maine Ride Schedule

Update: Mike and Hans will be riding through Southern Maine from New Hampshire on the Eastern Maine Trail tomorrow, 8/4/17 and are expected to reach Portland around 5 PM Friday evening.

Saturday, they will leave Portland, ride to Augusta, and spend Saturday night in Augusta.

Sunday they will ride through to Belfast, arriving in the early afternoon. They will be receiving an escort in Belfast and head to Front Street Pub for food and drink. All are invited. Sunday night will be spent in Belfast/Searsport.

Monday morning they will leave from Searsport and ride north to near Cherryfield to spend the night.

Tuesday, the Grand Finale ride to Lubec! Family, friends, well-wishers are all welcome! Send Mike a message via Facebook if you want to join a portion of the ride.

Shared Vision Quest, "Dream Big!"

Two Days to Portland!

It seems like a mad dash across New England--Tuesday morning Hans and Mike left Albany, NY and tonight's post on Facebook of a super-sized salad for serious cyclists is from Keene, NH! Somewhere along the way today, WWLP TV 22 from Chicopee, MA caught up with Mike and Hans en route to Keene and did a great Shared Vision Quest interview.

I can't wait to find out what kind of mileage these guys have been doing since leaving Buffalo, NY Saturday morning, because their text message tonight reports that they will be in Manchester, NH tomorrow, and due into Portland, ME sometime on Friday, after nearly 42 days of riding and nearly 4000 miles! Mike and Hans will spend the night in Portland and then continue on to Lubec, where they hope to finish at Quoddy Head, the easternmost point of the continental US!

Although this is definitely a dream for both Mike and Hans, the Shared Vision Quest Coast to Coast adventure is to raise money for retinal research to find a sure for cone-rod dystrophy like Mike has. Be sure to donate to support this effort!

#BlindMikeonaBike Coast to Coast ;-)

Shared Vision Quest Shuffles Off to Buffalo

Mike and Hans are due into Buffalo NY early this weekend, after crossing Lake Michigan earlier in the week, and pedaling to Eastern Michigan. Mike reports some minor front tire damage that needs repair before traveling to Buffalo. For the complete story, listen to the most recent Shared Vision Quest Audio Diary from July 28. What a coincidence, to need repairs in a small resort town, Lake Orion, Michigan. There are certainly worse places to have a layover, in the summer, eh Mike? After 2500 miles on the road with many days over 100 degrees, you've earned a day or two in a little resort town!

An updated schedule has the coast to coast bicycle trek continuing from Buffalo as early as Saturday, east across New York State. Mike reports that they are undecided whether they will stick to a northern route taking them through the Adirondack Mountains or a more southern route through Albany and later north through Southern Maine. Stay tuned! Post to Facebook, and share the GoFundMe link!

Coast-to-Coast Cyclists cross Mississippi

Shared Vision Quest coast-to-coast cyclists Hans Breaux and Mike Robertson crossing the Mississippi River in Minnesota yesterday, on their way to Milwaukee Wisconsin as part of their trek on the Adventure Cycling route. This coast-to-coast bicycle adventure was inspired by both rider's desire to take a continental bicycle tour, and Mike's desire, "not to live a life of mere existence," as someone who is legally blind from a retinal disease. Part of the adventure is to raise money for retina research at Boston's Massachusetts Eye and Ear through the Shared Vision Quest GoFundMe campaign.

Closing in on 2000 miles for the journey, so far, Mike and Hans recounted some of their adventures to date in this TV interview from WDAY 6 in Sand Point Idaho, and spoke about their mission on this cross-country bike tour, to encourage people of all abilities to seek out others with shared dreams, and get it done. Hans and Mike were also quick to point out the lighter side of their journey, in the most recent Shared Vision Quest Diary from the Road, where they recount going over the handlebars in Idaho, rattle snakes on the side of the road, saline infusions for heat exhaustion, riding in 108 degree heat, and 120 mile days on a bicycle!

Both riders have their sites set on crossing Lake Michigan by Ferry and continuing their journey to Lubec, Maine, the easternmost point in the continental US. by mid August.

Fargo, ND and Little Falls, MN

Mike and Hans are making up for lost time last week in Idaho when the weather was so hot, putting in 100+ mile days. Shared Vision Quest is one day from Minneapolis following a couple days of rail trails through Great Falls, MN.

Check out this great news feature from July 17, in Fargo, ND https://www.facebook.com/sharedvisionquestmaine. Mike really has a powerful message he is sharing about people getting together with differing abilities to make their shared dreams come true!

Layover in Libby

At the end of the day Sunday, Mike treated himself to a bag of saline and 2 bags of electrolytes at a walk-in clinic in Libby, MT to recover from heat exhaustion. After days of temps in the 90's and 100's, the heat took a toll. Monday was a layover in Libby for R&R. This evening's Facebook posts for Shared Vision Quest has several pictures and posts on the road from Libby, MT to Eureka, MT, with a vertical climb of 7000 ft over 70 miles--some recovery ride!

In a Messenger exchange with the Tobacco Valley Lions Club of Eureka some members expressed an interest in catching up with Mike and Hans before they make their way to the next crossroad in Whitefish, MT. The weather forecast calls for slightly cooler temps in the next couple days.

Movin' to Montana soon...

On the Facebook post that accompanies this picture, Mike used the hashtag #BBlindMikeonaBike to accompany his comments about the poor condition of the roads in Idaho. Mike and Hans were due to cross through Sandpoint, Idaho last evening. This blogger called the local Sandpoint Lions Club and even contacted the local Daily Bee newspaper but it looks like the only memories of Idaho are going to be the poor road conditions, and a wonderful bag of bean sprouts to munch while riding into Montana.

You're Not in Maine Anymore!

Mike Robertson on his bike open field to his left

In the July 4 Shared Vision Quest audio diary update, Mike Robertson laughed as he described the progress he and Hans were making using the radio headset he uses for directions,  "Hans said, 'garbled, garbled, garbled, move left.' I'm used to him saying, 'pothole, move left,' or 'road debris move right.' I said, 'I didn't copy, what did you say?' 'RATTLESNAKE! Stay left'"

Mike reports the high desert, east of the Cascade mountains has provided hot, arid temperatures, as well as different obstacles to watch for in the road. On July 4, 2017 Shared Vision Quest came to a stop in the town of Republic Washington, for mechanical tweeks and a bit of recovery.

On the Other Side

At nearly 5500 Washington Pass was clearly one of the first hurdles of the Shared Vision Quest Ride. If you haven't seen some of the beautiful pictures of mountains during the ascent, check out the Shared Vision Quest Facebook Page. "Overlooking Washington Pass after climbing over five thousand vertical feet. We earned the descent. " Indeed!

On the road heading east to Idaho!

Shared Vision Quest Diary 6/29/17

Leaving the Pacific

This morning’s audio report from Mike Robertson of Shared Vision Quest was from Deception Pass on Puget Sound (the picture above is sunset on Puget Sound), in Northwest Washington. Hans’ friend Ryan, is returning home so Mike and Hans will continue east for another 70-80 miles today to reach the base of the Cascade Mountains. Tomorrow’s ride will test them both with a gain in elevation of over 5000 ft. before day’s end. To explore their intended route check out the Adventure Cycling Northern Tier Route.

Mike reports that in spite of traveling through a rain forest, the weather has been spectacular, and they have traveled nearly 180 miles since Monday. They are still fine tuning their gear, making adjustments to the handlebars and seats to make the ride as comfortable as possible. Mike and Hans are following the Adventure Cycling Associations Northern Tier Route and expect to cross paths with other cyclist riding in either direction who will also be following this route.

Good luck tomorrow, climbing 5000 feet into the Cascades!!

Shared Vision Quest Diary 6/27/16

Mike Robertson called in the first Shared Vision Quest Diary from Crescent Lake, in Northwest Washington State's Olympic Peninsula. Listen to the Shared Vision Quest June 27 audio. Starting on June 26th, after 20 hours of travel on buses, planes, and ferries, Hans and Mike found themselves in Cape Flattery, Washington, the northwesternmost point of the contiguous US, where they hiked in a mile before connecting to a road east, "Go big, or go home, right?" !

"My gosh, it's been absolutely gorgeous out here on the Olympic Peninsula!" Riding 70 miles east, the first night was spent at Crescent Lake (in the picture above), with another 70 miles of travel before them today before reaching their intended destination at a ferry terminal where they plan to spend the night.

"I can't believe it's happening! I can't believe we're actually out here doing this!

Let The Quest Begin!

The bikes are packed in their cases, the work week is behind us, last minute packing...nerves...it will all smooth out on the road...