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"Portland, We Are Here!"


Less than three months after graduating, Andre Lekich and Avi Keremidchieva added another impressive achievement to their young lives—a 3,200-mile bicycle trek across America to promote Dickinson, its green initiatives and sustainable transportation.

Seventy days after saying farewell to well-wishers at the base of the Benjamin Rush statue, Lekich and Keremidchieva arrived August 4, on schedule and with a treasure trove of memories, at their destination in Portland, Ore. The next evening, they met with Portland-area alumni, students and others at a Bike Across America reception. 

New friends and breathtaking vistas 

Keremidchieva, a Bulgarian citizen who majored in French and international business and management, said that while there were many trip highlights, none was greater than biking through the Powder River Pass in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming.

“We climbed the pass at an elevation of about 5,000 feet [and] slowly made our way to the top of the pass that was at 9,666 feet. On the other side, there was the most beautiful canyon I’ve ever seen,” she said. “We were flying into it at probably 40 miles an hour. The feeling of going that fast on a bicycle, and diving into so much beauty, is hard to describe.” [Article continues below.]


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  • Avi Keremidchieva (left) and Andre Lekich arrive in Portland, Ore. at the close of a three-month, cross-country adventure.
    Grand Finale
  • Avi Keremidchieva proudly displays a sign reading, "Cycling from PA."
    Far From Home
  • The bicyclists round out the last leg of their journey. “We were supportive of the challenge and we were confident that [Andre and Avi] would make the trip an experience to remember,” Andre's mother, Rosa, later said.
    Lasting Impact
  • Avi Keremidchieva (left) and Andre Lekich demonstrate the spirit of teamwork that helped them complete a cross-country journey together. “If they can accomplish this, they can accomplish anything they set their minds to,” Andre's father, Ivo Lekich, later observed.
    Teamwork
  • Avi Keremidchieva (left) and Andre Lekich savor their accomplishment.
    Sun-Kissed and Smiling
  • Avi and Andre pose in front of the Portland skyline. The city is a fitting place to end the trip, not only because it is beautiful—Portland is home to many well-known rose gardens—but also because Portland is widely regarded as the most environmentally friendly city in America.
    Rosy Outlook
  •  Dickinson alumni, students and supporters from the Portland area meet with the bicyclists at an end-of-trip reception.
    Strong ties
Avi Keremidchieva (left) and Andre Lekich arrive in Portland, Ore. at the close of a three-month, cross-country adventure.Prev ImageNext Image

Lekich, who majored in international business and management, agrees that the journey was inspiring. The sunsets were spectacular, he noted, and he met many kind and interesting people en route. Among these were a man traveling cross-country on a 36-inch unicycle, a 67-year-old woman who has been biking across the country for the past 10 years, and a man who biked across the country in eight days and is trying to amass one million miles on the road over his lifetime. 

Staying connected 

Lekich’s parents, Rosa and Ivo Lekich of West Chester, Pa., were proud of both bicyclists. They also were happy that they could stay in touch throughout their son's trip, thanks to blog posts and Spot global-system uploads that kept family, friends and supporters updated on the bicyclists' progress. 

Early Thursday morning, they received a message through a Spot upload that proclaimed, “Portland, we are here! Thank you all for the support! Andre and Avi.” “The blog was excellent and the Spot-messenger satellite allowed us to share in this adventure of theirs,” Andre's father said, adding that he was moved by “the kindness of strangers, the fact that so many people were willing to open their homes and hearts to them."

Renewed sense of purpose 

Keremidchieva said that throughout the trip, she was reminded of the need for Americans to be more aware of their impact on the environment.

“We experienced firsthand how much this country consumes and how much it wastes,” she said. “The worst part is that the majority of people don’t even think about it. All the trucks and cargo trains that we saw every day on the road could only make me think about this vicious circle that exists in this country: work, produce, consume. People don’t realize that they can live well without three-quarters of the things they possess.”

Next stop, Europe 

Their bike journey a success, Lekich and Keremidchieva look forward to more adventures and learning experiences. Lekich will spend time this summer fishing and sailing with his family in Long Island, N.Y. He then plans to travel to Europe, where he will likely take graduate courses in international business and management.

After returning to the East Coast, Keremidchieva also will travel to Europe. She wants to climb Mount Elbrus in the Western Caucasus and is considering a job offer in Bulgaria. After working for a year, she plans to apply to graduate schools in Europe.

“I’m looking forward to traveling on two wheels on other continents,” she said.

By Bill Sulon
Photos courtesy of Alison Diegel