On May 1, 2022, Vietnam war veteran Bill Wallace, 75, strapped two 15-lb panniers on his bicycle and left his Berthoud home for what would become the longest bike ride of his life. His goal: to ride across America and raise money for veterans. Sixty-eight days later on July 7, he returned having completed his 3,186-mile journey. Except for a bone-chilling start on Day 2, he made it without any serious setbacks or injuries. A remarkable achievement for anyone, but at 75, he may have broken a record. Still, he was bothered by what he didn’t accomplish.

Courtesy Photo: Bill Wallace and Diane Kelly at the end of his epic ride across America.

Accomplishments run deep with Wallace. So does a desire to rise up and serve. As a young man, a student at the University of Colorado Boulder, he gave up his deferment, was drafted and despite a fear of heights became a paratrooper.

“I was fortunate I never saw combat. My emotional scars were minimal compared to those who did. It was such an unpopular war you know. Vets returning home afterwards were cussed at, spit at.”

After the war, Wallace returned to CU where he finished his studies in math and education. In all, it took him nine years to graduate after which he spent 23 years teaching math in a small Summit County high school. “For a long time, I was the math department,” he said with a laugh. He retired before burnout hit. After teaching he ran for and was elected to county commissioner and when that term ended, county treasurer, and finally he served as a trustee. A few years ago he moved to Loveland to be closer to family. Last year he moved to Berthoud. The sight of numerous homeless vets in the area bothered him. He wanted to help. When he mentioned his idea to his health providers he said, “They told me if I don’t do this, I’ll wonder for the rest of my life if I could have.”

Through dismal spring weather, ferocious headwinds and “more road hazards than I could count” (and five flats that he could) he covered the eastern side of the country first, riding from Berthoud to New Jersey where a brother lives. For the most part, he enjoyed the rails-to-trails paths through the Midwest, but their relative ease did not prepare him for the “nearly impassable” Appalachian roads farther east.

“I’d take Rabbit Ears, Cottonwood Pass…I’d even take the Sierras over the Appalachians!” Wallace said recalling how for days he traveled along remote, hilly, muddy or graveled roads. “I’d rather ride with traffic around me, knowing if something went wrong, I’d at least have help. I quickly learned Google Maps doesn’t always lead you along the safest path.” He laughs about it now.

Once in New Jersey, his partner and constant encourager, Diane Kelly, flew to meet him. It was Kelly who, when Wallace first entertained ideas about such a ride, suggested he watch the fact-based movie, “The World’s Fastest Indian,” about a New Zealander who achieved a lifelong dream at a later age. Message received. While not a lifelong dream, this decision was a continuation of a series of lifelong acts.

From New Jersey, they flew to San Francisco where another brother lived and where he began the second leg of his ride.

Although Kelly kept in close contact and made periodic appearances along his route, he rode solo except for a few days in California when his nephew accompanied him. “It was hard. It was lonely, but I also found a lot of peace in the solitude,” he said. He also found a lot of goodness in America. When he encountered freezing rain on Day 2, he also found a VFW post where a former vet helped him dry his clothes, warm up and wait out the storm. Throughout his journey he enjoyed conversations with people from all walks of life. On two occasions kind hoteliers comped him a night when they learned why he was riding. People made on-the-spot cash donations.

Sadness struck at Gettysburg, home of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle.

“We’re still fighting the same war here. Still fighting and killing each other over differences of opinion,” Wallace said, head shaking. “I passed all these big flags, signs about service. Then I’d see a Confederate flag.” His eyes watered remembering. “You know, this is a beautiful country! It’s a great country!” The divisions in it, he said, frighten him.

Now that he’s home the work of reintegrating and processing the last few months begins. Hearing the word “failure” in his reflections sounds a little harsh, but he’s not shy about using it.

“My main goal was not to show what I did but to put attention on what vets did. I failed at the marketing part,” he said. “I wanted to raise a minimum of $5,000. I raised about $1200. I’m not good at fundraising.”

The good news is there is no expiration date on donating to a good cause. Wallace has made it easy for people by providing a website listing several vetted organizations that support veterans and a simple “click to donate.”  To learn more about his journey, read his daily blog and more importantly, help Wallace meet his ultimate goal, visit https://crossingamericabybicycle.com/