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Well, then. Here we are. I'm in Seattle, and you will have no idea about the journey that brought me here because I have neglected to post as frequently as you deserve. Struggling to find wifi connections, and then to combine that location with the time, energy and correct camera cables to post photos and write an update has led me to re-think my whole strategy for this project. It's already become very clear that the video aspect hasn't quite worked out as planned. As disappointing as that is, I've managed to find the silver lining hidden amongst the failure. The first leg from New York to Seattle was always going to be tough - it was long, unpredictable, and, most importantly, a brand new experience for me. I feel that the lessons I've learned from the first seventy days will stand me in good stead for the rest of the expedition. Let me explain.

Another 'business first' kind of post. I'll keep it super short in the hope that very soon I will find time, wifi and the coherence to write a real post.

I'm writing this from the headquarters of the Adventures Cycling Association in Missoula, Montana, check them out at http://www.adventurecycling.org/ - free ice and talk about bike routes was too much to turn down! As one of my sponsors it's been great to come to the hub of the action.

Montana has been incredible so far, the Rocky mountains really are spectacular. Don't even get me started on Yellowstone National Park...it's all been beautiful. Right now I"m planning my route to Seattle - I have to reach there by the 26th July, and then I can take it easy once more. But rest assured I am happy, healthy and full of beans. Having to average around 80 miles a day to keep on track for Seattle has been tough, especially over some of these passes in the mountains, but I had a superb day off yesterday at Seeley Lake with the wonderful, generous Hart family. I'm also currently riding with company once more, having left the Rode for Marale guys in Yellowstone. My riding partner for the next 500 miles or so is Mike Gallagher, who has quite a story himself, check it out at http://www.thewalk2010.com/

More to come soon, I promise! Writing, photos, even videos....

Communication is becoming much harder at this stage of the trip. Much of last week was spent in South Dakota, and the Badlands and Black Hills have directed me eventually into Wyoming where I am now.

Just over a week has passed since the last post, and as is becoming a pattern recently, it's been a rollercoaster. A great rest day in Sioux Falls with Jason and Paul was followed by possibly the lowest point of my journey so far. As to why it was quite such an emotional crash, I can't truely say. However, in part it was probably due to unwinding a little too much with the guys in Sioux Falls, and perhaps letting myself think of home a little. Despite resting and eating better than I had in over a week, as soon as I hit the road on Monday morning things just didn't feel good. The wind was strong, the road empty and scenery bland. It reminded me of those old platform videogames which only had a couple of seconds of backdrop that kept regenerating every few frames. Cycling out Highway 42 wasn't much different - corn, corn, beans, house, corn, corn, beans, house....cow....corn, corn etc.