Cyclists on epic tour visit county
August 22, 2012
Mike Fusaro (left) and Josh Peterson took a break this morning at the Wild Horse Mercantile & Saloon after crossing into the U.S. at Eastport.
There was little to distinguish Mike Fusaro and Josh Peterson from any of the myriad bicyclists that pass through Boundary County. A look at their well-muscled legs might tell you they're well used to cycling, but unless you have the chance to chat, you'd never know the awesome route they've travelled.

By the time they finish their trek, they'll have travelled through seven states, three provinces and 12 National Parks. It would be 5,000 miles if they travelled the shortest route from Prudhoe Bay, situated on the Arctic Ocean in Alaska, to the Grand Canyon, but they're not; they're visiting cities and sites taking them miles out of the way.

They left Prudhoe Bay at the beginning of July, and this morning, they came through the Port of Entry at Eastport; back once again in the United States. They stopped for a break at the Wild Horse Mercantile & Saloon before continuing south, bound not for Montana, which would seem sensible given their destination, and not even to the same destination, though they'll be riding together all of today, which should see them in Coeur d'Alene.

From there, Mike is heading for Seattle, Josh to Portland. They'll meet up again later on.

Even if you have the chance to talk to these two polite and friendly men, it's likely they won't tell you of the trek they're on; they seem to much more enjoy talking about you, to learn a bit of the lore of the place they're travelling through.

That's not to say they won't tell you, they will if you ask. But only to the extent of your question. Asked where they were heading, they'll likely tell you where the leg they're on is taking them. And they'll tell it as if the miles are mundane. Most people let it go there.

Others ask, "where did you start?"

It's that answer that tells you of the scope of their trek, the Park and Rec Cycling Tour, which you can follow on their Facebook page, which is filled with some of the most breathtaking images you can only see if your mode of transportation is usually fairly serene.

They didn't say where home is, they didn't espouse a cause or ask for contributions. In fact, they didn't say why they're embarked on such an epic journey.

Maybe you have to ask the specific question. Or maybe it's best to infer that they're doing it just because they want to.