About Me

To start off, My name is Abbi, I’m kind of quirky and I’m a virgo. I grew up outside of Excelsior, MN. I’m left-handed, so I tend to approach everything backwards. This is probably the reason I’m so good at reading and writing upside-down.

Last May, I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Linguistics, and was using the ‘free’ time after college to bike across the country, starting in San Francisco and ending in Yorktown, VA. My thinking was that there couldn’t be a better time, but it also meant leaving my job after five years and my rental in Minneapolis after three years.

After riding 2,600 miles last fall, the weather turned cold and I began to experience knee pain, which led me to put the trip on pause. That left 1,100 miles to be ridden.

Along the first portion of the trip, I met some of the nicest folks, and ended up moving to Salida, CO. I’m currently living here with my boyfriend Evan, who has decided to join me for the second portion of the trip. We’ve been working on a timber frame house for Evan’s friends, the Leydons. You can check that endeavor out at rleydon.blogspot.com.

In my spare time I like to be outside, ride my bikes, listen to music, get crafty (I knit sometimes, and I sew when I need to), or simply hang out with the people I love when I’m in Minnesota. These people include my mom, two sisters, and Mike, honorary dad-type, who all seemed skeptical of this trip but will always support me. I’m always thankful for them.

Along with the part of my bike trip where I’ll be experiencing major self-growth and seeing the country, I’m also fundraising for a great cause. Avenues Shelter for Homeless Youth provides transitional housing to a portion of Minnesota’s homeless aged 16-20, preparing them for a more stable and successful adulthood. To read more about their cause, visit Avenues for Homeless Youth.

This blog will serve to both track my fundraising efforts and to chronicle my travels.

Enjoy!