By Anthony Varriano
Ranger-Review Staff Writer
Sandy and Charles Blitzer have cycled Europe together five times, but this summer they’re seeing the nation from a tandem bicycle on a coast-to-coast tour via the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Charles, an orthopedic surgeon for 32 years, got interested in taking the trip after learning a patient of his, Tod Roger, had written a book about cycling the Yellowstone Trail. The book is titled “Bicycle Guide to the Lewis & Clark Trail.”
“We decided we better do it before we’re too old,” Charles said, and Sandy added that she was excited to get her national park pass, which “we’ll get to cash in” at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora.
Charles said Adventure Cycling in Missoula has Glendive on a major route for many cyclists, but unlike the many cyclists coming through Glendive on the trail, the Blitzers don’t have an agenda or cause. They’re just in it for the people and the scenery, Sandy said.
“We happened at Pompey’s Pillar on the day they were holding Clark Day, which was complete serendipity … and they had a little reenactment going, so that was fun,” Sandy said. “It’s a great way to see some of the Badlands, which we haven’t seen before.”
Sandy and Charles visited Makoshika State Park on Wednesday morning, saying it was “beautiful” and “unique topography,” but their favorite part of the trip is their conversations with strangers. In Fallon, a woman at Huber’s found out the Blitzers hadn’t eaten and started feeding them her lunch.
“We’ve met a lot of local people, and that’s really the appeal of a lot of this, is just people that are friendly and interested in what we’re doing and want to sit and chat,” Charles said.
“It’s really been affirming that we are all human, all Americans, and that’s really what I think people need to come back to,” Sandy added. “Most of us are in the middle … and that part’s been good to see, that people can have divergent opinions and be civil.”
The Blitzers are traveling about 65 to 70 miles per day, but North Dakota presents some difficulties due to the lack of places to stay along their route, so the days on the bike will get longer. The 3,500-mile trip started in Seaside, Ore., and ends 10 miles east of the Blitzer home in Durham, N.H.
Reach Anthony Varriano at rrsports@rangerreview.com.