American Cross

John R. Tharp was issued a challenge while preparing for a class reunion: Could he bicycle all the way to the event?The author’s wife, however, decided to make it more interesting. “Why don’t you just cross the whole country?” she asked.After all, she knew her husband was no stranger to adventure. Scuba diving, mountain climbing, skiing, and trips to Hawaii, Africa, the Middle East, numerous islands in the Caribbean, Panama, St. Luci, Australia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and the Bahamas have kept life exciting. Taken in tandem, the two challenges left the fifty-one-year-old pastor with only one choice: He decided to brave the wilds of the western deserts, thrill to the steep verticals of the Rockies, take in the sweeping vistas of the Great Plains, and make his way to the lush hills of the eastern seaboard. Along the way, he was deeply touched by the marvels of nature, interesting people, and amazing coincidences that ignited his faith and brought a deeper hue to the rich colors of the adventure.