What was the motivation for an epic trip like that? Usually at that age those “swim the widest ocean, climb the highest mountain” efforts involved a girl... :)
NOPE ..... I had just earned my Eagle Scout award my junior year and had worked my summer at Philmont Ranch in New Mexico and wanted to do something more difficult after my senior year of high school. After the bike ride I joined the USAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal. .......