Conversations Across America

In Conversations Across America, Kari chronicles the TransAmerica bike ride he and his dad, Merv, took to discover America, just in the nick of time. They had a long-standing dream to bike the TransAmerica Bike Trail, which is a 4,200 mile path between Yorktown, VA, and Astoria, OR. It wasn’t until Kari’s dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s that they finally seized the day and went on the adventure of a lifetime. At 75 years old, Merv was one of the oldest people to bike the TransAmerica Trail.

During the 73 day bike ride, Kari and his dad wrestled with the realities of his early-stage Alzheimer’s. This time ultimately would become a gift of pride, laughter, and joy for his father’s final years. At the beginning of their journey, there were many times that they almost quit, but decided to keep going. Along the way, they had to learn to persevere and adapt.

While they were on their adventure, they stopped in 10 states and got a snapshot of America. Chronicled in the book are 300 short, candid conversations with the people who approached them as they rode along. The book shares these conversations and captures the soul of rural America. 

The book takes readers on a day-to-day retelling of the heartwarming trip.