Barley slept last night, after 2 days of procastination I was itching to get going. I had reserved a spot on the shuttle bus to the airport and was assured space for my bike box, it was a big bus with tons of luggage space at the back. I stand waiting at reception and see this small minibus turn up.
The driver gets out and says the main bus has an engine problem so this is the replacement one. He then looks at my box and says “That ain’t fitting” in his manc accent. I plead with him to try and to my relief it does fit in the back, however the other passengers now have to put their luggage on their laps. I apologise profusely but one wise guy remarks “They sell bikes in America you know”.
Arrived at the airport, bag an bike check-in is swift and the plane is on time, things are improving. Nice flight to Atlanta and my bike and bag arrived with me. I got grilled at immigration and the guy was not happy I had no print out evidence for my return flight. He also questioned me hard about cash saying I don’t have enough for the length of my stay! I explained I top my travel card up as and when for security reasons rather than load 3 months worth of money on.
He eventually lets me through and I wipe the sweat from my brow. My stuff was then rechecked for my final short flight to Newport News, VA. I finally arrived to a very humid Virginia and was ecstatic when my stuff turned up again. Had a great taxi driver from Keeeeentucky who took me to the motel.
Halfway through rebuild
I had to check my bike was ok so tore open the boxing, to my horror edinburgh cycles had done WAY more dismantling than they had said, literally the whole bike was in pieces. Sleep now, going to be a nasty job putting that together.
I barely slept that night — two days of procrastination will do that, the itch to actually get moving finally outweighing everything else. I’d reserved a spot on the shuttle bus to the airport, assured there’d be room for the bike box, and pictured something enormous with acres of luggage space at the back. What pulled up at reception was a minibus.
The driver climbed out, took one look at my box, and said, in the flattest Manc accent I’d heard in a while, “That ain’t fitting.” I pleaded. It fit — barely, and only because every other passenger now had their luggage stacked on their laps for the ride. I apologised to the whole bus. One of them just shrugged and said, “They sell bikes in America, you know.”
At the airport, check-in went smoothly and the plane left on time, which felt like a good omen after the week I’d had. The flight to Atlanta was easy, and both bike and bag turned up with me, which by that point I’d learned not to take for granted. Immigration was less friendly — the officer wasn’t happy I had no printed evidence of a return flight, and grilled me hard about whether I had enough cash for three months in the country. I explained I topped up my travel card as I went rather than carry a season’s worth of money around with me. Eventually he let me through, and I wiped the sweat off my forehead and went to find my connection.
My gear got rechecked for the last short hop to Newport News, and I landed in a Virginia so humid it felt like walking into a wall, ecstatic all over again when my things showed up on the belt. A taxi driver from somewhere in deepest Keeeeentucky ran me to the motel, drawling the whole way.
Halfway through rebuild
I couldn’t resist checking on the bike before I slept, and tore into the box to find Edinburgh Cycles had taken “dismantled for the flight” a good deal further than advertised — the whole machine lay in pieces, more pieces than I’d been led to expect by some margin. That was a job for the morning. Sleep first.
17 comments from 2010
Very entertaining, look forward to the next installment. Good luck supertramp/gump/partridge!
Sounds like a close call with immigration...glad you got it sorted, look forward to the first post from the road.
I thought your bike was being shipped seperately... ...good to hear your on your way.
loving the updates ryaNoob, go down well with a coffee and brioche roll in the morning. GL HF
Love the blog!! So happy you've arrived safely and we're all thinking of you - more messages to follow this evening from Bradley. Remember to wear your bike helmet and keep away from those American Ladies - they love English Boys!! - Helen, Dad, Bradley and Wills... xxx
Nice to see they let you in, but cant blame them for giving you a grilling,first look at you and I would to!. Med weather, 21 C so that means BBQ Friday/Sat night , Diving Sun. Trouble is unlike you work Mon. Enjoy the bike ride.
GOOD LAD. Keep coming on FB chat and updating me mate
Welcome to the states good buddy.So ya finally made it,nice to know that they sell bikes in the states .Hope you remembered to fit the seat on your bike,although it could make for an entertaining journey.take it easy.
“They sell bikes in America you know” - Absolute douche! Glad to hear everything went ok getting over there. Hope putting it together goes ok, probably why they didnt charge you the right amount haha!
Randall this is becoming my default homepage, so get updating. Glad to hear your all sorted...did you take jeans in the end? ha! There's no way I'm getting into yank! I'm going to get a big grillin'...and I'll probably buckle. Keep safe lad. LukeDixonArt.co.uk/ryanrandallrideshisbikeacrossyankmate
Miracle your bike got there at all! I heard of a guy who had bought a Colnago C50 and BA lost it. They would only pay comp per pound, so if he had bought a heap weighing a ton, he'd have got more money than for his dream bike. Glad yours got there and they let you in -good luck, looking forward to the next post! As a former racing bicyclist person, I can safely say I'm jealous, but glad I'm not doing it, too!
I remember when i first cycled across america, it was so easy i cycled back
Welcome back to America, Ryan! Enjoy the ride. I'm looking forward to following your journey. Call/email me if you need anything.
Whilst you're in Kentucky, get some of the Colonel's finest and let us know whether it's better than the chicken we get back here. Much love, and ride strong my friend.
hello Ryan I have got past the part on fallout three that I was stuck on. What is it like in America. At school when I was playing football I tripped and landed on my thumb now it is bruised and it really hurts. BYE LOVE YOU.
cheetos yeh ?
hope your enjoying things,and the butts not too sore from the saddle