ON A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO

POMEROY–Tandem cyclists Mark and Sherri Kreider, of Arvada, Colo., stopped in Pomeroy overnight on Wednesday, June 16, setting up camp in the city park, on their cross-country journey across the northern United States.

Calling it the "Portland to Portland" adventure, the couple began their trek at Fort Stevens, Ore., on the Pacific coast. They traveled the Lewis and Clark trail through Portland and headed east along the Columbia River for almost 300 miles. Leaving Oregon they entered Washington and passed through Walla Walla, headed toward Lewiston and the Lolo Pass into Montana.

Although the couple averages thirty-five to forty-five miles per day that can vary as the couple cheerfully admits to taking their time to see all the sights they can along the way. For example, the Kreiders were very impressed with Multnomah Falls and stopped to walk some of the trails.

They had just made it to Dayton when the heavy rainstorm hit on Tuesday. Kreiders said they have been lucky so far regarding the weather, although early on as they pedaled through the rain forest in Oregon it was cool, cloudy and rainy. The travelers are fully self-supported, combining camping out overnight in parks with staying in motels. According to Sherri, "It's been a beautiful ride."

According to information on their website, the weight of all of the gear, including the cargo mounts and bags, is approximately forty-five pounds., the tandem bike is thirty-seven pounds., and food and water averages about eight pounds (or more on hot days or when services are far apart), meaning altogether they are moving about ninety pounds across the country with them.

The Kreiders are both in their mid-sixties, have three grown children who all live in Arvada, and who are looking out for their home while they are traveling. They are all very supportive of their parent's dream to make and accomplish this coast-to-coast trip.

Their journey is being chronicled at their website: https://www.tandem-travels-ms.com.