Alaskan bicyclist soaks up Marion hospitality
Staff reporter
You think he would be like a fish out of water or an Eskimo out of Alaska but the friendly, endearing traveler seems to fit in wherever he goes.
David McCarthy, 53, is on an odyssey — seeing the country from his bicycle.
The Nome, Alaska, native left his home, located on the farthest western part of the state, April 1. He flew his airplane to Fairbanks and hit the ground there with his bicycle and trailer.
McCarthy anticipates arriving at his destination, Key West, Fla., by mid-November.
And this isn't the first time he's done this.
"This is my fourth and final trip across the U.S.," the traveler said. "I've touched every state at least twice."
McCarthy has made four trips across the U.S. in seven years, traveling over portions at a time.
Why would he do this? Why would anyone do this?
"I enjoy riding my bike and spreading the gospel," he said.
McCarthy arrived Sunday in Marion and attended services at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
"We saw him riding as we were driving to church," said Blanche Cowan of Marion. The next thing she and husband Charles realized was that same bicyclist was at their church.
The Cowans invited the stranger to stay with them for a few days, to rest up a bit, before heading back on the road.
"I'm a youth minister at a Baptist church in Nome," McCarthy said. He typically seeks out churches in communities he's traveling through.
"I enjoy meeting people and sharing experiences," he said.
The bicyclist can travel up to 70 miles per day. At dark, he finds a camping site or relies on the kindness of strangers, like the Cowans, for refuge and respite.
In return, he shares stories and information most Midwesterners have not heard.
For instance, Nome is only 20 miles from Russia and less than a thousand from the North Pole.
"Nome itself is right on the Arctic Circle," he explained.
Alaska is extremely different from the rest of the U.S. with only a few highways and brutal weather.
Known for the midnight sun, Alaska experiences six months of darkness during its seven to eight-month winter. Then there is continuous daylight during the short summer months.
"The winters are getting longer," McCarthy said, and global warming is real to him because he can see it happening.
Glaciers are melting, causing water levels to rise and displacing towns and people, he said.
So, when he's not riding his bicycle, what does he do in Nome?
He's a professional sea captain for a crab boat. The boat is 482 feet long with a crew of 23 for which he is responsible.
"We're only allowed to work three months out of the year," McCarthy said. So the master captain and his fleet make a mad dash with other mariners to bring in nearly $3 billion in crabs.
Born to an Eskimo mother and Caucasian father, the sea is all he knows. He has nine brothers and three sisters.
McCarthy's parents who were 88 and 87 years old, died last year. They didn't die from disease or old age. They died in a mariner accident while out on the sea, fishing.
Even though it's a rugged life, people tend to live longer in Alaska, he said.
"There's no cancer or even the common cold is unusual," McCarthy said.
The reason? It's too darn cold.
The warmest it ever gets is in the 60s. The coldest? Oh, around 100 degrees below zero.
How do they cope? They wear protective masks on their mouths.
Accustomed to the elements, retailers also have made accommodations for the extreme weather.
"At Wal-Mart, you'll see employees walking around with vests that say 'Moose Patrol' and carrying rifles," McCarthy said.
The moose is an aggressive animal and can seriously injure people.
"Every once in a while, they'll come on the intercom at the store and instruct people to certain area of the store because there's a moose in the store."
Special transportation is provided for the elderly that picks up the customer and actually drives them into the store, like a sally port.
The friendly traveler with a million stories also has had his share of tragedies.
Not so many years ago, his wife and six-month-old son were killed by a drunk driver. Not one to dwell on loss, McCarthy is grateful for his daughter and three sons. His daughter works with Doctors Without Borders currently in India, two sons are captains of their own crabbing boats, and a son currently is serving in Iraq.
Modern technology has enabled McCarthy to travel safely across the world. He has GPS (Global Positioning System) on his bicycle, two cell phones, and a device that will alert authorities if his bicycle is laid on its side for a certain amount of time.
He also has a brother who is an over-the-road truck driver who follows his route.
A cart pulled behind the bike serves as his camper, hauling a tent, cook stove, and supplies.
No major mishaps for this global traveler, except for a hail storm in South Dakota. McCarthy just whipped out his "emergency shelter" which protects him from hail.
His tennis shoes also were a casualty, worn out and split. McCarthy purchased new shoes at Deadwood Bicycle Shop, Deadwood, S.D.
The wind is the worst factor which at times can knock him from his bike or off the road. He's also been chased by a tornado. But he has never been robbed or suffered personal injury because of his quest.
"I really enjoy traveling through Kansas," McCarthy said. "The people are friendly and the roads are really good."
So, what's his next fete? In two years, McCarthy plans to travel through Germany.
But first he'll have to retire his sidekick — a specially designed Trek bicycle.
"The Trek company wants my bike for their museum," McCarthy said. In return, the company will specially-make a bicycle for his next trip.
A celebrity in his right, McCarthy will be featured on a future National Geographic episode, has been interviewed by local and national radio and television stations, and Guiness Book of World Records is looking at his accomplishments.
Remaining humble, the mariner/bicyclist/evangelist keeps his pedals to the asphalt and continues his mission.
