It has always been a dream: to cycle across America. In 1976, the first organized bike ride across America took place: the Bikecentennial. Wim Dussel was a journalist from Nieuwsblad van het Noorden. He participated in the event. He also wrote a book about it: What Do I Have Hanging on My Bike? I read that book many times. The ride has been held every year since 1976, either in groups or individually. The route has mostly remained the same over the years: the Transamerica Trail, abbreviated as Transam. I always had reasons not to join: lack of money, work commitments, taking care of the dog.

Over the years, we have cycled through America. In Michigan, Oregon, California, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah.

Encouraged by Willy, I decided three years ago to make my dream come true. Sharing the experience with Willy and going solo as well. I definitely wanted to visit family in Michigan, but the Transam route runs much farther south. I thought about a route to visit my American nephews and nieces. There are 5 sons of Piet, 2 sons of Koos, and 2 sons and 2 bonus daughters of Wim. All but 2 live in the northern United States.

Deciding the direction is one of the major dilemmas of the journey across America. Travelers often debate whether to go from west to east or east to west. With the prevailing wind direction, most people choose to go from west to east. The most beautiful landscapes are found in the west. Willy would only be able to ride with me later. So we decided to bike from east to west. I have sometimes regretted that decision while facing headwinds on the Great Plains of Minnesota and South Dakota.

Alex en Laura

The adventure kicked off in New Hampshire, just a skip away from Boston, at Alex and Laura’s cozy home. Alex is the firstborn of Koos and Nancy. They hang out less than 500 meters from the Massachusetts line. New Hampshire proudly boasts the motto Live free or die. The taxes here are a breeze. The gun laws are way more chill. Fireworks are just waiting to light up the sky!

Patrick, Melissa en Cecelia

I went from Alex and Laura on Long Island to Patrick and Melissa. They were eliding with their daughter Cecelia in Jersey City. Patrick, the oldest son of Wim, was ready for some fun. Jersey City sits proudly on the west bank of the Hudson River, right across from the bustling Manhattan. The ride along Queens Boulevard was a blast. Cars were whizzing by. Planes soared overhead toward LaGuardia. The stunning Manhattan skyline lit up my view.

Koos en Nancy

Koos directed me to Letchworth State Park, often hailed as the Grand Canyon of the Northeast. I adore climbing. I chose to skip the Hudson Valley and the Erie Canal. Instead, I opted for a diagonal route through Pennsylvania to get to the park. Let me tell you, that choice was something to remember. This region is where American pro cyclists hone their interval training, famously referred to as the endless mountains. Letchworth truly did not disappoint, and I enjoyed a fantastic rest day with Koos and Nancy.

Taylor, Chad en Scottie

I crossed the border into Canada in Buffalo. Then, I zoomed along the scenic northern shore of Lake Erie through Ontario. Set up camp in the yard of a friendly daughter of Dutch emigrants. She kindly invited me to join the Pig Roast at the Reformed Church, but I decided to skip it. Took a fun ferry ride back to the United States. Joined the early morning service at a Lutheran monastery north of Detroit at a bright quarter past five.

In Grand Blanc, I had a great time with Taylor, Chad, and Scottie. Taylor, Wim and Jan’s daughter, and I clicked, sharing laughs and making unforgettable memories. We had a blast together!

Steve, Callan, Ian en Alex

It was delightful when we joyfully cycled along the winding paths of old railways, stretching from Grand Blanc to Ada. There, the lively Steve and Callan enjoy life to the fullest along with their two adventurous sons, Ian and Alex. Steve, the second son of Koos and Nancy, spent a whole year with us in Rotterdam when he was just 16, filling our days with much laughter and fun!

Teena, Oom Auke en Anita en Tim

Teena, my favorite cousin, joined me for an unforgettable visit to Uncle Auke and Aunt Anita. Our cousin Tim also joined us there. We dove into our treasure trove of fun family memories. Teena and I also zoomed through good old Jamestown, where we once shared the neighborhood magic!

Wim en Jan

After enjoying the warmth of Teena’s joyful home, I was kindly transported by Teena and Don. They took me to the welcoming embrace of Wim and Jan. Koos, Nancy, son Steve, and grandson Alex had gathered there. They celebrated the loving bonds of family at a delightful reunion.

Paul, Katie, Ava, Lex en Liv

We set off from Ada. I pedaled north alongside Steve on our first day. We navigated along former railway lines transformed into bike paths. This transformation was made possible by generous donations from supermarket legend Fred Meijer. I reached the northern tip of Michigan’s lower peninsula. There, I hopped into a pickup truck for a ride over the Mackinac Bridge. This iconic bridge connects Michigan’s Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula. It is affectionately known as the UP. As my nephew Paul puts it, even a bad day in the UP beats a good day anywhere else. It’s truly God’s country. Paul and Katie have made their home in Marquette, right on the shores of Lake Superior with their three daughters: Ava, Lex, and Liv. When they bought their lot from Katie’s dad, a power plant still loomed across the street. Now, they enjoy a stunning, unobstructed view of the lake. Paul is Wim’s second son. On my day off, I joined them for a visit to the mining museum. The whole region is rich in iron ore and bustling harbor terminals. Ore trains move through the area, and charming red trails mimic bike paths.

Michael, Cheri, Davíd, Jonathan en Andrew

Paul joined the ride with me for the first leg of the journey until we stopped for breakfast. Afterward, I ventured into the sprawling woodlands of Michigan’s UP. I was on my way to Shoreview, a cozy suburb of Minneapolis, to catch up with Michael and Cheri. Michael is one of Piet and Jellie’s many sons, the twin of Brian. They’re raising their three lively sons, Davíd, Jonathan, and Andrew, in that lovely area.

Richard, Jaimie, Jilly en Paul. Piet en Jellie

From Minneapolis, the part of the journey I dreade most were the Great Plains! A week of endless flatlands, straight roads, and fields that seemed to stretch on forever. On the first day, I had a tailwind and zoomed through 220 kilometers. After that, it was a tough ride with headwinds, crosswinds, and sizzling 95 degrees. I zigzagged 40 miles west, then 6 miles south, and looped back 20 miles west—adventure awaits!

After a week in Rapid City, we finally left the flatlands behind. Willy arrived with her bike to join me. We cruised along the Peaks, Parks, and Plains route, happily rolling on pavement, occasionally encountering fellow cyclists. Upon reaching the renowned Yellowstone, we were surprised to see far more cars than critters. Oh, and let me share a bit about the Transam, where we met a variety of cyclists.

Bouncing through beautiful mountains, we finally made it to Boise to hang out with nephew Richard and his wife Jaimie! At the same time, Piet and Jellie rolled in by car from sunny Arizona. Richard, their youngest son, was happy to see us. He and Jaimie have two awesome kids, Jilly and Paul. Paul was off at scout camp, but Richard zipped back just in time for the visit. Afterwards, Willy headed back home, feeling all the good vibes!

David, Erin en Augie. Brian en Caroline

After five weeks of adventure, I found myself solo once more. Just a zippy ride through sunny Idaho and into my final destination, Oregon, where the Pacific Ocean awaited! A sizzling heatwave with temps hitting over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Surprisingly, the rugged Oregon desert turned out to have its charm. I happily pedaled part of the Transam route. I bumped into fellow cyclists I had previously encountered in Yellowstone. In South Beach, I joyfully reached the sparkling coast of the Pacific Ocean. I camped at a spot I had shared laughter and memories nearly 40 years ago with Piet, Koos, sisters-in-law, and tons of nephews.

From the sunny shores of South Beach, we cruised up the coast and then turned inland to McMinnville to catch up with Brian and Caroline. Brian, the third son of Piet and Jellie, was ready to share some laughs. Caroline brings the joy of her two daughters from a previous marriage, who are all grown and busy with their own families now. In McMinnville, David and Erin are busy living their best lives with their little guy, Augie. David is the second son of Piet and Jellie. On my final day, we celebrated with a fabulous family gathering at Brian and Caroline’s place, full of smiles and stories!

On the final day, David was so nice to take me to the Portland airport.

Reconnecting with my family members was a truly inspiring experience. Meeting my second nephews and nieces for the first time filled me with joy, and seeing my nephews and nieces again after over a decade reminded me of the deep bonds that unite us, no matter the distance or time apart.