Rotarian Sheila Chapman welcomes Judah Herr, center, and Jonathan Herr to the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club’s June 11 meeting in Westfield. The two brothers gave an interesting, personal account of their bicycle trek to the West Coast and back to Western New York, and how their shared experience strengthened their bonds with each other. Submitted photo

WESTFIELD — Jonathan Herr of Buffalo and Judah Herr of Westfield are two brothers who are 10 years apart in age and who had a common vision to bicycle across the U.S. to the West Coast and back.

Their journey of 7,713 miles lasted four months and one week, from June 1, 2018, to Oct. 6, 2018. During the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club’s June 11 meeting in Westfield, the Herr brothers talked about their trek. Rotarian Sheila Chapman sponsored their program.

Because of their age difference, the brothers noted that they did not have a particularly close relationship with each other prior to the trip. They wanted to share a common adventure that would span a period of time. The bike trek resulted in brotherly bonding, self-discovery, and personal growth for each of them. Both of them kept daily journals along the way.

Judah Herr, the younger and more introverted brother said, “We were not really tight as brothers before our trip. It wasn’t until about two months into our trek that I began to open up. By the end of the trip, we were riding alongside each other, laughing all the way. From this journey, I learned to accept help from others and not try to do everything myself.”

Prior to this long trip, the farthest that Judah had ever ridden on his new 12-speed bike was only 15 miles.

Jonathan Herr, the older and more conversant brother, stated, “Through this shared experience, we mastered ourselves in ways we didn’t even know existed. I learned that the world is really full of beautiful and caring people. We met people every day who were so generous, open, and so good.”

Their route took them from Westfield through Chicago, along the 195-mile Cowboy Trail through Nebraska, then into Wyoming, and Oregon, down to San Francisco and back to New York state. They biked about 70 miles per day in various weather conditions.

Jonathan’s bike was a steel frame, 10-speed road bike with a granny gear, and also a bob trailer so that his guitar could accompany him everywhere. His guitar playing and singing helped to turn strangers into friends. In Clearwater, Nebraska, which is a small town of about 400 people, folks were curious and gathered to hear what they thought were two traveling performers.

At one point the brothers separated from each other in the sagebrush desert so that Judah could make the 500-mile trek to Oregon on his own. About this experience, Judah said, “Making this trip alone forced me to open up and let others know who I really am. On my first night with a biking host family, I realized that I had to start a conversation with others by myself, without relying on my brother.” Through this, he gained personal insights, self-confidence, and communication skills. About his brother’s personal growth, Jonathan said, “It was amazing to see how he became a real bicyclist and a more confident man.”

When asked about the wear and tear on their bodies, the brothers mentioned blisters and sore muscles. The most taxing part of their trek was going through the 8,432-foot elevation of Teton Pass when heading out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. They endured a roadway with a six-mile incline at 11-14% grade, that was filled with switchbacks or hairpin turns. Judah admitted that he had to get off his bike and walk uphill about four miles.

The brothers returned to Western New York in Oct. of 2018.