Happy 4th from the new resident of Newcomb NY, bumping the population of this mountain town from 481 to 482.
Spent 2 nights at Lake Harris and tonight will be my third. All other sites are booked points west and east due to the holiday. The campground is nice, so I consider myself extremely fortunate. My food supply is decent, but I have had to go to the only diner in town 2 days now for a lunch of garden salad and French fries. In terms of food I am out of options for at least 15 miles in any direction, and even then I am doubtful that there will be much of any vegan options besides oatmeal and pickled peppers. I am even suspicious of the fries that I am eating, but have no other choice.
I have had a lot of time to think about the trip, what with being laid up here in the mountains. I have also had opportunity to speak with my wife who is driving cross country through many of the same states that I will be hitting. I have come to clearly see that I cannot continue the trip as is without putting myself at risk of eating animal products due to hunger and lack of food options. Most small towns do not have a grocery store and most general stores carry food of the poorest quality that tends to have a meat focus or include some form of animal byproduct. In order to continue I would need to set up drop locations and have my wife ship food out to me along the way. However, those is not in my budget and I am not committed enough to the trip to spend additional money on myself when my wife and I are both unemployed and trying to start a new life in Oregon.
I am discouraged by the lack of vegan options in the US. Consider that it is more complicated and expensive to include an animal ingredient into food that can be easily be made with plant ingredients using normal household materials. For example bread, oatmeal, chips, cake, French fries, pancakes, pasta, salsa. I continue to not understand why individuals continue to support the slaughter and domination of animals, by spending money on those products in a capitalist society, to satisfy a taste desire (note that I am not disparaging capitalism, but simply pointing out that under capitalism the consumer drives what products are offered based on what each individual chooses to purchase). So, pay for the meat, you hold responsibility for taking the life of the animal that is killed to restock the supermarket shelf. But I am getting off my stump now. I’m just f@#king pissed.
So I am busting out of Dodge. A friend is bailing me out on Tuesday and driving me to Concord where I will catch a train to Portand Oregon.
I must say that vegan food availability is not the only factor behind my decision, though it is the main factor that I cannot overcome without additional cost and research as mentioned before, or by sacrificing what I believe to be right, which is the ethical treatment of animals. I am very much looking forward to starting my new life in Oregon. Many people may not know this, but I just recently sold my home in NH, quit my job, and got married. My end goal is to start fresh in Oregon. I wanted to bike cross country to give myself time to get in shape and clear my mind. I will need to find another means of accomplishing this.
In any case, I am looking forward to spending time with my wife. I think we will take the time we have to tour the west coast, drink some beer, and pet the dog. One common emotion I felt on this trip was guilt and selfishness. I have seen some amazing sights and stayed in beautiful campgrounds. Each time I would have 2 common thoughts – 1 I wish my wife was here to see this and 2 it would cost the same amount of money for two people to enjoy this. My wife has been fully supportive of me and has taken it upon herself to drive out to OR with the dog. if it wasn’t for the dog she would be here with me. Ultimately what this gets down to is that I can have adventures out west now with my wife or I can do it alone while she doesn’t have the opportunity.
But it all comes back to food. Even if my wife was with me enjoying these sights we would still have the food limitation. America, meat bucket of the world. In Portland Oregon I can get vegan donuts.
This blog is more than just about a bike trip. I hope people that have been following will continue to check in. There is an on staff music reviewer and beer reviewer, plus a couple of journalists that will shortly be posting. I will also blog on bike trips I take out west. I will do a follow-up post on the equipment I used and the lessons I learned during the short trip for others looking to take a long bike tour, vegan or not. I also encourage others to consider touring by bike. It truly is exceptional and rewarding. Other vegans may have better luck, but my advise for vegans is, if going on a voyage longer than what you can carry for food, plan drops along the way. Most towns have post office boxes, and all ACA maps include this info. Meat eaters have nothing to worry about. Small towns are a carnivore’s wet dream. All the boars head and buffalo flesh that you can choke down your greasy maw.
it’s too bad that food has put an end to your trip. I had hoped that with all the places cropping up that cater to vegans and others with diet limitations you would find food along the way. I will miss your daily blog but am happy that you will be joining Chilly. I’m proud of what you have accomplished and look forward to your trips out west.
Did you kill that frog??
Well, I’m sad to not follow along as you make you’re way out to OR but am a little relieved that I won’t have to worry about the long journey ahead. There were a lot of people checking the blog to see what you were up to and I’m sure they will have the same interest in the future. Well maybe not the meat eaters.
I’m looking forward to taking some bike trips with you and the dog. There’s also a beer festival out here in a couple of weeks as well as the Oregon Country Fair next weekend. It’s a toss up I know – eat convenience store pork n’beans or join me for the start of our new life. Maybe we can set a cross-country goal together sometime in the future.
Even if it was short you accomplished a hell of a ride and I’m proud of you. I can’t wait to see you soon bud.
Now that you have vented and railed against 50,000 years of human food consumption, take a deep breath, get on the train, join your wife and begin building your new life. While the idea of the trip was certainly exciting, and your preparation for it I found to be quite remarkable – and your writing about it very entertaining – the reality of such an endeavour in the heat of July and August, and with the serious limitations with which you placed upon yourself, and the daily constant nagging on long dusty roads that Saird was carrying a burden greater than yours, this decision to stop the trip would have come sooner or later. It is a testament to your intelligence that you made it sooner.
I think biking across the country is a wonderful idea. You have now gone thru two states. Sometime in the future You can pick-up where you left off and spend a week or two continuing westward. And then a few years later pick-up where you left off again.
Dan, you will do well in Oregon. You would do well anywhere. While your bike adventure is on hold, your life adventure continues. There is very little in this life you can control and even less that you can change. Learn to accept adversity and diversity with a little grace and a sense of humor.
I am excited for the two of you and look forward to reading and hearing how you are building your new life together. You will be in my thoughts daily, as you always have been.
Love, dad
I have been reading your postings religiously to see how your trip is going. The thought and meticulous detail you went through preparing for this trip was impressive. Although I disagree with many of your viewpoints, this capitalist meat eater is proud of what you have accomplished and look forward to reading about some of your west coast excursions. Have fun out there in your new home. Go trailblazers!
And, now I really know why Saird married you! It takes maturtiy, wisdom and strength to make the very difficult decision you have made Dan. I am proud to call you my newest nephew, and I know that once you and Saird are together there will be many, many adventures that will be so much more rewarding because you will share them.
Congratulations on a job well done.
Be proud of all you have done, and joyfully look toward the future.
We will miss both of you, but will look forward to hearing all about your new life in Oregon!!
With love,
Pat
Dan, sorry to hear you had to change your plans. I would also have a hard time doing that adventure without my wife and son. I am sure you will find the west coast a lot more vegan friendly.
Enjoy your trip west on the train.
Dan, I agree with your views on meat consumption. I avoid meat myself whenever possible. I’m vicariously enjoying your cross-country adventure!
Hey Dan,
Very impressive trip and preparedness. I am sorry that food ended your trip, it doesn’t seem right. After reading this last post I do agree though that this trip will be better shared with yout wife. When you do resume your cross country bike trip, count on friends and family to help with your “drop points” should they become necessary. Or just wait 100 years when we all finally get a clue…
Super Shovel to the Rescue
Hey Dan,
We will be here in the west with open arms. I hop to see you guys soon.
Dan,
I am sorry to hear of your decision, as I have been vicariously living thru you as you do many of the things most of us dream up, but the long stretches of lonely road, and a eternity to contemplate you life, can be very daunting indeed.
dude, bummer on the food. still a great adventure none the less.
enjoy that train trip and some time with your bride.
cheers