TOUCHED BY LYME: Lyme cyclist to reach Pacific October 3
In May 2011, Logan McCulloch of Kentucky was hiking with his son in Mammoth Cave National Park, when he was bitten by more than 20 very tiny deer tick nymphs. He removed them all within 12 hours and mistakenly thought that meant he was home free in terms of Lyme disease transmission. (And why not? Isn’t that what the CDC says?)
Alas, Logan got extremely ill. Yet his doctors dismissed the possibility of Lyme disease because (all together now) “there’s no Lyme disease in this state.” Eventually, guided by other Lyme patients, both online and in-person, he found his way to a Lyme-literate medical doctor. (Though he had to travel out of state to get there.)
After months of treatment, Logan’s condition improved. He began spreading the word about Lyme disease in some unique ways. In 2013, he hiked the Appalachian Trail in the name of Lyme disease awareness, posting widely-followed video updates via social media.
In 2015, he set off on an even more ambitious trek—from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. He covered about 700 miles on foot, but then (wisely, I’d say) switched to a bicycle. Again, he has posted updates to his followers on Facebook, and, as often as possible, met with local members of the Lyme community along the way. He has also used the opportunity to raise Lyme awareness where ever he goes.
“I’ve been a little bit of Johnny Appleseed and a little bit of Paul Revere,” he said after he rolled into Sacramento County on Sunday. Several members of the Sacramento Lyme support group and I met up with him at a local park. Caroline Trujillo caught most of his informal talk on her cell phone, which can be viewed here.
Logan will be dipping his bike wheels into the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 pm. He invites any Lyme warriors, family and friends that are in the area to stop by and help him celebrate the end of his long journey.
The action will be on the beach adjacent to Nick’s Restaurant, 100 Rockaway Beach Ave, Pacifica, CA. (About 15 miles south of San Francisco.)
Good luck to you, Logan, on the last stretch of your trip from sea to shining sea. We’re already waiting to hear about your next adventure.
His website is TrekForTruth.org.
TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, LymeDisease.org’s VP for Education and Outreach. She is co-author of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org. On Twitter, she’s @dorothyleland.
Again, exposing the myth that if you get the ticks off within 36 hours you cannot get Lyme disease. This myth causes so many to get chronic Lyme, which could have been avoided. However, he seems to be well, so he must have treated fairly early. The best to Logan McCulloch
logan, thank you for making LYME/VECTOR-BORNE ILLNESS AWARENESS from 1 ocean to the oppositive ocean.
i enjoyed your talk that caroline caught on her phone video.
kudos to you logan. hugs/prayers,
bettyg, iowa activist
Good for you! I too have benefited from my 2 journey’s with Lyme & Ehrlichosis,.I belong to a local Lyme support group and send monthly Letter’s to the Editors in surrounding areas. ( Depending upon the time of the year, I share valuable information as well as alert folks to our upcoming support group meetings. This is my way of “giving back”. It is heartwarming when people tell me they have read my letters, or call me with questions or are searching for help finding an LLD. It would be so helpful to us all, if the National and State Parks would all post information about ticks at all trail heads,I have seen an informational handout from the state of Missouri Park and Recreation dept.This might be a good project for one of us, in the right place, at the right time, to take a project like this, on. Just an idea. ~~~~~, Thank you and God Bless!
Ann Krisik,
Amery, WI
I am sorry I couldn’t see you in the East. You are a hopeful hero for those of us unable to! Thanks, I hope to be there someday, watching you does that!