To track Jason’s progress, visit his blog: Groovin’ Across America!
By Julianna Hoft
Staff Writer
Imagine life after senior year: college, work, parties, homework and development from teenage habits. Who would have thought that you could take a year off from this process and simply bike across the country?
Mira Costa alumnus Jason Boxer is deferring his enrollment from New York University to bike across the United States. He decided a little over a month ago that he would accompany his two friends, Jackson and Drew Foster, on this adventure. Jason never expected to join them on this excursion, which the Fosters planned last summer.
“I am doing this simply because it is an opportunity to enjoy the time that I have right now,” Boxer said. “I never really seriously considered taking a gap-year because I’m on track and going to college, but it’s just a chance to have fun, feel relaxed and just do what I want.”
The Fosters and Boxer began their trip in Virginia Beach, Virginia and are currently in Bevinsville, Kentucky. Every day they try to average 100 miles. If there is somewhere they wish to stop, however, their plans will change.
On the third day they stopped for two days in Williamsburg, Virginia and climbed the Appalachian Mountains on their way to Astens, Virginia.
“The route that we are riding on is called the Transamerica. It starts in Yorktown, Virginia and ends in Oregon,” Boxer said. “It was made by a professional biking organization called Adventure Cycling, which was started in 1976 for the bicentennial anniversary of America’s independence.”
The Fosters and Boxer brought along a tent that they plan to sleep in most nights. Part of the experience is finding places to set up their camp. They have stayed at a church, a friend’s house, the University of Richmond, University of Virginia and University of Washington and Lee.
“Our favorite way of staying is actually knocking on people’s doors and asking if we can pitch our tent in their front yard or backyard. It’s incredible how nice people have been,” Boxer said. “Even beyond that, it’s an incredible thing that these people allow complete strangers to stay on their property. I am totally blown away by how mellow biking culture is. Everybody that we have met are the nicest and most generous people.”
June Curry, who lives on the Transamerica route, has let bikers stay in her home since its beginning. She is now 90 years old and is known as the “cookie lady” to bikers because she bakes and distributes her cookies as the bikers pass through.
“Right next door to her house is the ‘biker’s house,’ which is an incredible place filled with biking memorabilia,” Boxer said. “It is tradition that every biker leaves something behind. We left some drawings and notes that we pinned to the wall. I also left a book behind on bookshelf in the biker house.”
On his journey, Boxer plans to pass through the states of Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California and finally Oregon. The trip will be around 4,000 miles in total and will take about three months. The two Foster brothers are planning to be back for their little brother’s birthday in mid-December.
“I’m a very unorganized person to begin with, and I am also not at all good at hands-on outdoors activities, which right now I am being forced to do,” Boxer said. “I am expected to have all my stuff put together, have everything ready and to cook my own food every day. This is an opportunity for me to grow, and that is my goal for this journey.”
Boxer has recently created a blog entitled “Couple a’ Weirdos Takin’ a Bike Trip,” in which he provides updates regarding his location and experiences on the bike trip. He updates his blog everyday with multiple pictures and comments included.
“I think it’s great that Jason regularly updates his blog so his friends and family are able to follow him daily,” senior Brad Baeuchler said. “I am sure that he has greatly influenced others to go on a journey as well.”
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