Retired teacher on cross-country ride

Since May, retired Hamburg teacher and Army veteran Suzanne Williamson has battled hills, weather, tractor-trailers and just about everything else that comes with biking 50 to 60 miles a day.

She is on a journey from one end of the country to the other on the developing Great American Rail Trail.

“I have my legs in ice right now,” she said on the afternoon of Friday, July 19, from the Butte, Mont., home of a fellow veteran and his wife.

“They are just one of many community supporters and places that Warrior Expeditions has arranged for us to safely rest. I rode on the Pipestone Pass yesterday, which is over 6,000 feet in elevation. It was crazy. I guess after beating the heck out of my legs for two and a half months, it makes sense they are finally sore.”

The 3,700-mile ride began May 8 with Williamson and six other military veterans leaving the nation’s capital for the West Coast. It was made possible by Rails to Trails Conservancy and Warrior Expeditions, an outdoor therapy program that helps veterans transition from their wartime experiences through long-distance outdoor expeditions.

Williamson, who served in Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, said she and her fellow veterans stuck together at the outset but began doing their own thing when they reached Ohio.

Warrior Expeditions, along with the Great American Trail Rail, created the route using Far Out App.

“Each of us creates our individual stops ahead of time, including how far we plan on going each day, where the community supporters are located and where we will stay overnight,” she said.

“We are doing this for different reasons. For me, this is about calming down. Though it has been 10 years since I have been out of the Army, I was in for 20 years while spending 22 years teaching special education at the Hamburg School before retiring in December. I’m done!”

Waking up at 3:45 a.m. each day, Williamson is on her bike by 5:15 a.m. and continues until she reaches her next destination, which usually is early afternoon. She takes breaks to hydrate and have a healthy snack as needed.

Along the way, she has met some great people. “I have met great people in many of the communities I pass through.

“I have stayed at places like the homes of veterans, American Legions, VFWs, firehouses and campgrounds. I love listening to other veterans and their families as they tell stories about the history of their towns.

Just the other day, Tom (the veteran in Butte) told me about his days in basic training and playing with the Bugle Corps. He took me a tour of his hometown in Butte, Montana, and of the World of Mining. What a great day!”

One of the biggest challenges, other than the physical toll, is navigating the route, as only about 55 percent of the Great American Rail Trail is completed. Often, Williamson must find other ways to reach her destinations enroute to the Pacific Ocean in Washington state.

“The scariest part of this has been having to ride on the side of highways with little shoulder room and tractor-trailers whizzing by me from behind,” she said. “Those moments are scarier than anything I have ever experienced, and the wind from so many of the wind turbines out here adds to it.”

Finding inspiration

Williamson, who lives on Gold Key Lake in Milford, Pa., with her husband, Brian, said the inspiration for her cross-country ride was Liza Peereboom of Shohola, Pa.

“I met Liza one day when I was biking. Her family happens to own Prime Time Meats in Milford and hanging out with her is what made me feel like I can do anything. She has played a pivotal part in my life.

“I met her eight years ago while cycling in Milford. She was training for the Lake Placid Ironman, and I was just happy doing 25 miles on my bike. As we hung out more, I learned how to swim and bike longer distances. Meeting Liza made me into the athletic person that I am now. If I had not met Liza, I would never have known I had an inner ability to do endurance sports.”

With Peereboom as her inspiration, Williamson participated in the Lake Placid Ironman before finding Warrior Expeditions. Before she knew it, she had been accepted to take part in the Great American Rail Trail journey.

Though the weather has been hot, Williamson said she has not had to deal with much rain.

Armed with various apps for location, navigational and safety purposes, she can assure her husband that she is doing well.

Reaching 3,000 miles in Clinton, Mont., Williamson is excited to complete the journey.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever done. I hope I get to my nephew Michael and his family’s house in Seattle before he is deployed early next month,” she said. “I can’t wait to meet their three kids.

“After biking nearly 4,000 miles, I honestly cannot wait to get back home and go back to creating art and instructing painting and sipping classes.”

Williamson encourages members of the public to support the veterans of Warrior Expeditions.

“By donating, you can help veterans receive the most therapeutic endurance experience of their lifetime,” she said. “Donations help purchase everything required for veterans to participate in a variety of activities, such as cycling across America on the Great American Rail Trail, hiking the Appalachian Trail, kayaking the Mississippi River and more. This includes food, a shower, a safe place to sleep, bike repair, equipment and more. I personally have received such wonderful care and love from the Warriors Expeditions. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

To donate, go online to warriorexpeditions.org