Flushing Native Bikes Across U.S.

Jack Bouba and Stacey Mairs left Portland, Oregon on June 1, bicycling across the country. The two parted company in New Philadelphia, Ohio, with Mairs going on to Virginia and Bouba heading toward his mother's home in Flushing. The northernmost point on their trip, which they undertook with no set itinerary, was Missoula, Montana, and the farthest south they wandered from their straight-across route was Wayne, Nebraska.

In Portland, Bouba was employed in social work and Mairs worked for a general contractor. The two, who had known each other in college, quit their jobs to undertake the bike trip, but went on no long rides before leaving. At last report they had averaged 70 miles a day and encountered no major problems except for some mechanical troubles and heat in the Badlands of South Dakota. They are traveling light- little luggage and as few encumbrances as possible- and keeping to a tight budget, camping, rather than staying in hotels or motels.

Bouba's mother, Cynthia, expected her son to arrive "any day now", but did not know how long he would stay in Flushing before returning to Portland. "All I know is, I can't wait to see him," she said.