Photos Available @ John McKenna Photography

Sasha Bogdanovics is back home in Litchfield after a 2,900-mile bicycle trip across the country.

Summer vacation for Sasha Bagdanovics of Litchfield meant a 2,900-mile bicycle trip across the country, from Charleston, S.C., to San Diego, Calif.

Bogdanovics, 17, who will be a senior at the Taft School in Watertown, traveled cross-country with nine other high school-age cyclists. The trip started on June 26 and finished with a swim in the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 4.

Apotee Adventures of Maine sponsored the trip that took the riders through South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

It was hot and hilly most of the way, Bogdanovics said, although there were hundreds of flat miles in Texas and eastern New Mexico before the southern spine of the Rocky Mountains. Bogdanovics also recalled cresting the Sierra Nevada in California.

"There were days when the heat index was 115 degrees," she said. "But it was a great way to see the country."

The cyclists rode and average of 85 miles a day six days a week. They spent nights in campgrounds, churches, schools and private houses.

The hospitality in the southern states was overwhelming, Bogdanovics said.

To get in shape for the trip, Bogdanovics competed with Taft's crew team. She got her bike in the spring, but didn't have a chance to get much training in. She essentially got into biking shape during the journey.

The ride went so well that Bogdanovics never popped a tire, which is impressive considering the mileage. With the trip in the bag, she said she's looking forward to cycling more.

Back to Sports

We encourage our audience to contribute newsworthy material to each of the sections of Litchfield.bz by sending information, articles, photos, videos, pod casts and other content to webmaster@litchfield.bz. We reserve the right to edit material for content.