Book Description:

Conversations Across America is about a father-son journey of a lifetime: a 73-day, 4,600-mile cross-country bike trip Kari took in 2015 with his 75-year-old dad, Merv, who had early-stage Alzheimer’s. Their adventure reminds us of the power of perseverance and adaptability in the face of uncertainty. It’s also a heartwarming example of listening and discovery, including 300 short conversations with people who approached them along the way, providing a rich snapshot of America, especially rural America.

Conversations is a mix of Blue Highways, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Humans of New York… on a bike. As you read, you can’t help but reflect on your relationship with your own father and children, while gaining perspective on Alzheimer’s—which now afflicts more than six million Americans—and getting a sense of the TransAmerica Bike Trail and America itself. Above all, you will be inspired to seize-the-day with someone you love—whatever that means to you.

Author Bio:

Kari Loya is an educational leader, storyteller, and adventurer. He has worked nearly three decades at a range of innovative educational institutions, beginning with Teach For America in 1993 and serving most recently as headmaster at the Good Hope Country Day School in the U.S. Virgin Islands, when he received a Klingenstein Fellowship from Columbia University. He is also an Emmy-winning bilingual voice talent, musical artist, and author. He spoke at TEDx UC Davis in April 2022 on the theme of “Metamorphosis.” He holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Columbia University. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Sugar Land, Texas.

My Review:

Conversations Across America: A Father and Son, Alzheimer's, and 300 Conversations Along the TransAmerica Bike Trail that Capture the Soul of America by Kari Loya

Love hearing what happens along the full journey, people they met and especially the memories of other bike trips they had made together.

Merv the father and his son Kari join to make the Trans America trail on bikes from east coast to west coast.

Can't believe how nice others are to them, the links and apps they are told about that make the trip easier on them, and even where to sleep as they go through towns along the way, advice and great stories of their lives.

They have daily goals, the miles they will bike and some days are longer than others and some days they are able to go further than they thought.

Problem was map didn't show elevation and that plays a huge part in a bike ride.

Important subjects are also brought up about their lives. So much you can learn from this story.

Love the passion and compassion they each share with one another and others on the ride.

Appendixes at the end show the stage to stage ride, stops, etc and also thanks to all that helped in getting this book together and to the people they met.

Every page has many photos and their stories. Such a HUGE endeavor, never mind the ride. Also list of what they carried and had for equipment.

Hard to keep it together at times as the ride ends, sale of the house and Merv goes to assisted living and Kari heads to east coast and to teach on Virgin Islands. Emotional and at times they keep things together. I felt I was there with them. Scenery must’ve been awesome I can only imagine.

Love this story, an excellent read for all!