Astorian and nautical writer Peter Marsh started biking home from Salt Lake City on Sept. 14 to finish his self-described “three-year/three-part ride across America.”

“Although it is mid-September, it was still hot, up to 85 in the day, so I really do have the best month for riding,” he said. Problems he’s encountered include a scarcity of camping sites, and thorns are everywhere. “I have picked up more than my share,” he noted.

“At Miracle Hot Springs (Idaho) resort, I camped and fixed two flats from nasty thorns using my tiny pump with foot peg, then pricked dozens more out of the tires. Then I tried to repair air mattress that continues to leave me on hard ground every night … ”

He visited the information center and main highway bridge over the Snake River in Twin Falls, Idaho (pictured), passed “1,000 springs” waterfalls in Southeast Idaho, encountered “the worst headwind I have ever ridden against,” and followed the Oregon Trail wagon route for a while until he got stuck on a freeway when there were no usable side roads.

“This on-off freeway route is not getting any easier, I must admit,” he wrote, but whenever possible he follows “pioneer navigation methods between waterholes.” He’s past halfway home, more than two years after starting his journey from his friend’s house in Virginia.

“I guess I am in the slow bike club now!” he quipped.