TCNJ

6 The College of New Jersey Magazine PRAIRIE W I N T E R 2 0 2 4 What a ride Two alums hit the road for the adventure of a lifetime. Days on the road: .............................................. 77 Miles traveled: .................................................. 4,218 States crossed: ................................................... 10 Dollars raised: ................................................... $10,600 Total feet climbed: ............................................ 219,855 Coldest night: .................................................... 17° Mark Koerner '23 and Matthew Smith '23 spent the fall on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail — a 4,200-mile cross-country route mapped out by the Adventure Cycling Association. Both were runners for TCNJ's cross country team, so they assumed they were in shape for such a ride. But the Blue Ridge Mountains in the early days of the trip tested their strength. "We didn't realize how hard it was until we did it," says Smith. The pair documented their travels on Instagram as they worked their way to a $10,000 fundraising goal for Ocean's Harbor House, a New Jersey nonprofit that provides services to vulnerable youth. "On social media, it's 'Oh, this is amazing,'" says Koerner. "But there was a lot of work between each of those posts." That work included surviving on Pop Tarts and peanut butter, repairing bike parts with duct tape, and a lot of towelette showers. We highlight some trip favorites here, but you can follow their full adventure on Instagram @mattandmarkcrossamerica. — Kara Pothier AUGUST 26 Yorktown, Virginia. First day jitters. Today was just about finding our rhythm and getting our feet in the bike cages. Excited for what's to come. SEPTEMBER 15 We were chased (literally by two pups) out of Kentucky to the Ohio River Ferry and crossed into Illinois. SEPTEMBER 22 Papa Dave and Jesse opened their arms to us and let us stay at the Free Will Baptist Church in Hartville, Missouri. SEPTEMBER 2 Dear Blue Ridge Mountains: You have officially stolen our hearts and all of our fitness. SEPTEMBER 11 "Slow down, Kentucky is beautiful." Some friendly advice from other bikers traveling east through Kentucky. L to R: Smith, Papa Dave, and Koerner

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