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Welcome to Shifting Gears. The purpose of this site is to post updates from the road on my upcoming bike trip. The ambitious ride aims to cover all of the lower 48 states, spending at least one night in each.
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Nada
I’m shamelessly borrowing a song title from my favorite album of all time - Fizzy Fuzzy Big and Buzzy by the Refreshments, circa 1995 -...
Jon Scott
Apr 19, 20242 min read


Oklahoma, Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plain
I like to think about these daily posts throughout the day. Typically, I start to notice various trends annd then a theme emerges. Today...
Jon Scott
Apr 18, 20243 min read


Amarillo By Late Afternoon
Here we go again. Tomorrow, I meet up with Dan in Oklahoma City and we begin the next segment of our Route 66 journey from OKC to...
Jon Scott
Apr 17, 20244 min read


Tulsa Time
Segment #2 of the Route 66(ish) ride is now in the books. 7 days, 412 miles, 17,266' of elevation gain. 0 bike problems, but 1 scare with...
Jon Scott
Sep 24, 20234 min read


A Trip Down Memory Lane
There was absolutely nothing good about today. Starting with the discovery that the only "hot" breakfast at the hotel was a pancake and...
Jon Scott
Sep 23, 20235 min read


I Just Want a Little Bit of Everything
With proper shout out to Keith Urban for ripping off his song title, today had everything from a wide array of riding conditions to not...
Jon Scott
Sep 22, 20235 min read


Laundry Day
Today was a short ride at 30 miles and we were in Springfield before lunch. The first half of the ride was parallel to the interstate...
Jon Scott
Sep 21, 20233 min read


Why Do I Even Try? I Guess It’s Better Than the Alternative
I do not mind getting older, in much the same way that I have embraced my baldness. I turned 59 last month but still feel reasonably...
Jon Scott
Sep 20, 20233 min read


The Best Fudge Comes From Uranus
I'M SORRY!! I had to do it. That was an actual billboard along I-44. Let me backup for a minute. Last night, I got a comment on my post...
Jon Scott
Sep 19, 20232 min read


And We’re Back
This break in the action has been brought to you by: Two graduations in the Bay Area The 26th Annual Buddies at the Butte golf tournament...
Jon Scott
Sep 18, 20233 min read


And the Winner Is …
The best sign for a Route 66 business goes to Hamel, Illinois
Jon Scott
May 26, 20231 min read


Mizzou-Ra
Section 1 of Route 66 came to a close yesterday in the Gateway to the West, St. Louis. We had close to perfect conditions with a slightly...
Jon Scott
May 26, 20232 min read


Smooth Sailing
Last year, after a bit of a rough start physically, I was able to settle into a pretty simple routine. Big hotel breakfast followed by a...
Jon Scott
May 24, 20232 min read


Ching Ching Ching Pow
There is only one other human being on earth that would understand that reference (two now since I told Dan about it earlier this...
Jon Scott
May 23, 20234 min read


3, 2, One Too Many
This is a BOGO special on blog posts. Given the general sameness of the scenery, yesterday and today have been pretty similar so I'm just...
Jon Scott
May 22, 20233 min read


Expect the Unexpected
If I learned anything from my ride last year, it's that very little goes as planned, even when it seems like it does. Case in point -...
Jon Scott
May 21, 20232 min read


Against My Better Judgment
There is a lot to unpack in that simple statement. First of all, it implies that the orator of that phrase actually HAS better judgment,...
Jon Scott
May 18, 20232 min read


Trip of a Lifetime
No, no, no! I am not referring to the 2022 odyssey around the lower 48. I am pleased to report that it has been nearly 3 months since I...
Jon Scott
Dec 5, 20223 min read
This Land is Your Land
"Well I rode that ribbon highway I saw above me the endless sky I saw below me the golden valley Well this land was made for you and me"...
Jon Scott
Oct 3, 20226 min read


Home
“From the mountains high to the wave-crashed coast There’s a way to find better days, I know It’s been a long hard ride, got a ways to go...
Jon Scott
Sep 14, 20224 min read
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