San Diego CA to Jacksonville FL, trip #8

11 days ago, I was standing at the edge of a continent, the border of two countries, the beach overlooking the Pacific. A bizarre fence cut across the beach and stabbed through the crashing waves. On the other side, people were doing chin-ups, running, waiving at me. On my side, Border Patrol Agents were running the air conditioning on high in their Jeeps.

I started riding away from the beach that day, heading east, and begging my 8th cross country bike ride. As I type this from the Business Center of a Holiday Inn, the Deming High Class Reunion of 1964 is getting underway right behind me. Deming New Mexico. I've ridden about 700 miles through a very hot and unforgiving land since leaving the beach, and I've had a sunburned time doing it.

This is a short trip (for me). 2900 miles in 54 days from San Diego CA to Jacksonville FL. A high speed burn across the desert and gulf states. As always, I'm trying to raise money, speak to schools, Rotary Clubs, politicians, and make memories for myself; so that when I am at my 50th high school class reunion, I know that I lived everyday as full as I could and tried to improve the lives of others.

I invite you to follow along in real time on Facebook,and Twitter, and track my movements as I pedal down the highway via Satelite Tracking.

"Know who you are, Know who you want to be, and Follow your dreams..."
-Antonio Figureida

7 cross country treks

Since 2005, I have managed to cross the USA 7 times on a bicycle. If you were to draw a line along each of my routes, it would look something like this:




"Know who you are, Know who you want to be, and Follow your dreams..."
-Antonio Figureida

In the news

Recently, I was on KNX 1070 News Radio in Los Angeles and KVTA 1520 Talk Radio in Ventura, talking about the last trip. I love being in the studio and live on air, its fun and exciting. The only downside is that once the moment is over, you walk away with just the memory of the conversation. That's why it is so nice to be interviewed for a newspaper and be able to hold and save the article. The Ventura County Reporter did a great story on my last trip. You can read it here:
http://vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/?id=10149


"Know who you are, Know who you want to be, and Follow your dreams..."
-Antonio Figureida

A few more pictures from Denali

My climbing partner, Paul, sent over a few good pictures from the climb.
Pizza at 14200ft

Sunbathing at 14200ft

Mushrooms and broth

That's a lot of frozen poop

Tying the frozen poop to the sled

Poop toss into the crevase

Free ice sculpture

Easter Island?

Making snow walls at 17200 feet

Decision time: go down or wait out the storm?

Cold








Welcome to 14000 feet.

Week #20, the final week!

A zebra in Utah?
















The end, back where I started 145 days earlier, after a 7761 mile bike ride up to Alaska to climb Mt. McKinley, and then ride back.

answering questions for Italian tourist

Week #19

Gates of the Mountains State Park

Montana State Capitol



Sunset tour on the Missouri River


Idaho Falls








Gardens at the LDS Temple



Provo Canyon



nice tan!