Rain slowed Michael Hunter down a bit as he makes his estimated 25,000-mile trek around the United States to raise money for a youth mentoring organization.
"Riding in this kind of rain isn't on my to-do list," Hunter said Wednesday. ON THE WEB
To follow the journey, visit www.tinyurl.com/7uxg6dc
So far, the 22-year-old has traveled more than 4,000 miles, reached 13 summits and raised $2,540 - all on his own.
"I carry everything with me," he said. "I have everything on my bike to be self-sufficient."
His expedition started Sept. 15 in Columbia, S.C. He traveled through the middle of the United States to South Dakota and then headed south to New Mexico before cycling through Texas.
The highest point in Texas is Guadalupe Peak, with an elevation of more than 8,700 feet.
He arrived in Denton on Monday, where he is staying with his second cousin, Doug Dierdorf of Denton. And he ended up staying an extra day because of the rain.
Dierdorf said he had only met Hunter a couple of times before he called and asked if Dierdorf could put him up for a couple of nights.
"I think it's really neat what he's doing," Dierdorf said.
Hunter usually decides where he's going to stay a week in advance. He can't plan too far ahead because variables like the weather can slow him down.
"Every day it changes pretty much," he said. "Like with this storm coming in, it pushed everything back a day."
Hunter has been surprised by people's generosity along the way. People have offered him food and lodging, he said.
After his stay in Denton, he'll head over to Florida and then back to South Carolina before going around the perimeter of states, then traveling to Alaska and Hawaii.
Hunter cycles between 60 and 70 miles a day depending on where the towns are and what the weather is like.
His biggest challenge at this point was cycling through the Midwestern states during November.
"That was definitely the hardest part on the trip so far for me," he said.
RACHEL MEHLHAFF can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is rmehlhaff@dentonrc.com .
