In the summer of 2023, Conrad Weaver and his riding partner John Patterson pedaled 3,500 miles across thirteen states — from Astoria, Oregon, to Ocean City, Maryland — in sixty-five days. The ride raised awareness for PTSD911, a documentary about the toll post-traumatic stress takes on first responders, with screenings and visits to fire departments, police stations, and EMS agencies all along the route.
Into the Storm is Conrad’s account of that ride — the climbs, the headwinds, the unexpected generosity of strangers, and the lessons the road has to teach about perseverance, purpose, friendship, and faith.
Download the Journey Companion.
A guide I’ve created to help you find your
own lessons from the road.
Astoria, Oregon to Ocean City, Maryland — 3,500 miles across thirteen states in sixty-five days. The full interactive route, with every day’s mileage and elevation, is mapped on Ride with GPS.
A seemingly crazy idea shared around a backyard campfire becomes a mission when John says yes, proving that meaningful journeys begin with a decision before all the details are known.
The ride finally begins on the Oregon coast, and almost immediately we learn that moving forward requires both the courage to start and the humility to change course when someone with greater experience shows us a better way.
The beauty and challenge of the Columbia River Gorge introduce us to unforgettable Road Angels and difficult roads, teaching us that the people who guide us—and the hard paths we choose—often shape the journey more than the easy ones.
Heat, wildfire smoke, mechanical setbacks, and unexpected kindness teach us that asking for help isn’t failure—and that difficult roads become easier when we have good people traveling alongside us.
Dangerous Idaho highways and the long climb over Lolo Pass demonstrate the strength of friendship, teamwork, and having someone beside you when the road becomes difficult.
Montana gives us extraordinary scenery, memorable characters, unexpected danger, and moments of simple joy that remind me to slow down, practice gratitude, and appreciate the privilege of the journey.
A violent storm outside West Yellowstone pushes us to our physical and spiritual limits before Yellowstone’s beauty reminds me that hardship has a way of sharpening gratitude for things we normally take for granted.
Wyoming’s long climbs, relentless miles, and threatening storms teach us to pace ourselves for the journey—and to recognize when perseverance means pressing forward and when wisdom means asking for help.
Read the full story in Into the Storm, and learn more about the documentary that inspired the ride.
© 2026 Conrad Weaver · Published by ConjoStudios, LLC