A bit of history.........................
Tuesday
The trail to Oregon - Cross-country bikers stop in area
By ANDREW POTTER, TIMES-REPUBLICAN (Marshalltown, IA) POSTED: June 22, 2010 Save
Andre Lekich, left, and Avi Keremidchieva are biking it from Pennsylvania to Oregon to learn more about the country. Both are recent graduates of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn. and stopped in Marshalltown Monday in the middle of a 70-day journey.
The ink was barely dry on their diplomas when two recent college graduates started a trip to learn lessons they couldn't find in the classroom.
Andre Lekich and Avi Keremidchieva, graduates of Dickinson College in Carlise, Penn., set out a 3,200-mile bike journey from Pennsylvania to Oregon three on May 28 and made a quick stop in Marshalltown Monday. The friends spent Sunday night in a park in Toledo.
The two both felt they wanted to learn more about the country and its people and see the sights only their bike seat would afford.
"When you cycle you see so much more than when you're in a car," the 23-year-old Keremidchieva said.
They are riding on average 60 miles a day for the 70-day trip. The two often find kind strangers who will let them sleep in their garage or backyard and sometimes breakfast is waiting for them when they wake up.
"What has really surprised me is the generosity of people," Keremidchieva said.
Lekich, 22, said they also want to pass along a message of sustainable transportation and encourage people to ride their bikes more often.
"If you can go across the country on a bike you can go around in your hometown," Lekich said.
Aside from moments of hitting heavy storms, Lekich has enjoyed the calming affect of being out in the nature.
"It's real nice on a country road to stop and have the silence around you," he said.
Both confirmed their goal of learning about the country is being realized through the trip and the people they meet.
"We learn about separate regions and what their industries are," Keremidchieva said. "We get small pieces from every region."
They plan to make it to Portland by Aug. 4 then hope to check their bikes for the flight back to Pennsylvania.
Keremidchieva plans to return to her native Bulgaria after the trip while Lekich, a native of West Chester, Penn., said he has aspirations to land a job in Italy. Both have international business degrees and surprisingly both said they are looking forward to hitting the Rocky Mountains.
Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com
Andre Lekich, left, and Avi Keremidchieva are biking it from Pennsylvania to Oregon to learn more about the country. Both are recent graduates of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn. and stopped in Marshalltown Monday in the middle of a 70-day journey.
The ink was barely dry on their diplomas when two recent college graduates started a trip to learn lessons they couldn't find in the classroom.
Andre Lekich and Avi Keremidchieva, graduates of Dickinson College in Carlise, Penn., set out a 3,200-mile bike journey from Pennsylvania to Oregon three on May 28 and made a quick stop in Marshalltown Monday. The friends spent Sunday night in a park in Toledo.
The two both felt they wanted to learn more about the country and its people and see the sights only their bike seat would afford.
"When you cycle you see so much more than when you're in a car," the 23-year-old Keremidchieva said.
They are riding on average 60 miles a day for the 70-day trip. The two often find kind strangers who will let them sleep in their garage or backyard and sometimes breakfast is waiting for them when they wake up.
"What has really surprised me is the generosity of people," Keremidchieva said.
Lekich, 22, said they also want to pass along a message of sustainable transportation and encourage people to ride their bikes more often.
"If you can go across the country on a bike you can go around in your hometown," Lekich said.
Aside from moments of hitting heavy storms, Lekich has enjoyed the calming affect of being out in the nature.
"It's real nice on a country road to stop and have the silence around you," he said.
Both confirmed their goal of learning about the country is being realized through the trip and the people they meet.
"We learn about separate regions and what their industries are," Keremidchieva said. "We get small pieces from every region."
They plan to make it to Portland by Aug. 4 then hope to check their bikes for the flight back to Pennsylvania.
Keremidchieva plans to return to her native Bulgaria after the trip while Lekich, a native of West Chester, Penn., said he has aspirations to land a job in Italy. Both have international business degrees and surprisingly both said they are looking forward to hitting the Rocky Mountains.
Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com
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