destiny, to become a permanent part of New England's roads system? The faded red pick-up truck approached the intersection, its driver oblivious to both the stop light and Jim, who was making final strides towards finishing the 3,000-plus mile, 31-day, west-to-east trek across the great expanse that is the USA. A collision was imminent and it was a done deal that the bicycle rider would come out the worse for wear, likely having to be scraped from the tarmac.

Suddenly kind fate reigned. The driver spotted Jim at the last possible moment, skidding to a stop within inches of him. Jim, shaken but unbowed, was spared injury and went on to safely reach the finishing point -- Riviera Beach in Boston. Mission accomplished.

Jim Butterfield justifiably wears the tag as Bermuda's original `Ironman', having been a pioneer in the area of endurance competitions, including triathlons, marathon running and cycling. But with a real coat of soft flesh covering delicate organs, bone and muscle structure he realised the pick-up truck would have been the only winner if he and it had collided.

"It wouldn't have been painful, I'd have been history...they'd have sent me home in a box,'' said Butterfield.

Now back in Bermuda after making a momentous -- not to mention adventurous -- ride across the States, starting in Irvine, California and finishing Massachusetts, Butterfield and Steven Petty, who joined his fellow Bermudian in Topeka, Kansas, could each look back with a keen sense of accomplishment.

Firstly they were able to complete the journey, and at the same time raise some $100,000 in aid of the local charity P.A.L.S., which provides care and support to cancer patients.

"For many years I've looked at that map and I've heard of people who had ridden across and marvelled in the fact that they've done it,'' said Butterfield, who touched ground in 13 states. "One of my friends from Boston has run across -- and I don't think I'll challenge that one right now -- but to see the States and to experience a day-after-day ride ... "I look at the Tour (de France) on television where they're actually racing every day for about the same length of time and I thought to get a taste of what it's like to ride every day. So there was a sense of mystery in whether I could take it.'' Petty and Butterfield, both regular riders and runners, commenced training before Christmas, often putting in back-to-back 100-mile rides on the weekends.

Forty riders started the excursion, with participants from varying locales, including Australia, South Africa, Canada and England, with most raising money for different causes; one man for a church youth programme; another for the repair of a mountain road in South Africa; while others just did it for fun.

There was even a blind man riding on the back of a tandem cycle to gain cash in support of purchasing more such bikes.

Like Butterfield, Petty started out with some trepidation, but soon warmed to the task.

"I was a bit fearful at first,'' said Petty, who, at 49, is two years Butterfield's junior. "One, of being accepted by the group, and also not knowing what sort of condition we would be in after two weeks. But within a day I realised they welcomed me.

"We had done a fair share of preparation compared to a lot of the others, as many of them came from northern climates where they couldn't train through the winter. Some even trained indoors on stationary bicycles.

"We had prepared, and that's one of the things you learn as you go in sport, that, as I've read regarding the five `Ps' to success, `Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance'. These sure came to the forefront as the days wore on and other than a few aches and pains there was nothing major.'' Understandably the pair and their foreign comrades ran the spectrum of life in America, from the snail-paced farm belt to the frenetic hustle and bustle of the urban centres. There were the melodic vocal tones of insects and other creatures combined with natural aromas along country roads contrasted by the whirring engines and pungent exhaust of the open freeway. Petty and Butterfield experienced it all.

Yet, perhaps standing out most were the people, both those making the journey and others they came across along the way.

"The other thing I leave with is how friendly the people were across America,'' said Butterfield. "The little towns,the farmers we spoke to in the coffee shops when we were in fact lost and people would stop and help you.

"People were so kind. Hotel managers would welcome us with open arms and ask if they could do our laundry and have it done in a couple hours.'' Chimed Petty: "I was impressed by the vastness of the U.S., because here we have a space problem in Bermuda and to see that this huge country is full of friendly people and with many, many miles of open space. To see that close up with my own eyes and feel it was awesome.

"The high of it was the sense of accomplishment at the end. And the people that were with us at the end to realise their goals, particularly the blind guy...it was incredible -- to sit and listen to him talk was a real inspiration.'' Next up for Butterfield and Petty -- just a little `R and R'.

Donations can be made payable to P.A.L.S. and sent to Bermudians on Wheels (USA), c/o P.A.L.S., P.O. Box DV 19, Devonshire DV BX. Telephone: 236-7257.

Cycling duo's epic trip Continued from page 25 Petty and Butterfield, both regular riders and runners, commenced training before Christmas, often putting in back-to-back 100-mile rides at weekends.

Forty riders started the excursion, with participants from varying locales, including Australia, South Africa, Canada and England, with most raising money for different causes; one man for a church youth programme; another for the repair of a mountain road in South Africa; while others just did it for fun.

There was even a blind man riding on the back of a tandem cycle to gain cash in support of purchasing more such bikes.

Like Butterfield, Petty started out with some trepidation, but soon warmed to the task.

"I was a bit fearful at first,'' said Petty, who, at 49, is two years Butterfield's junior. "One, of being accepted by the group, and also not knowing what sort of condition we would be in after two weeks. But within a day I realised they welcomed me.

"We had done a fair share of preparation compared to a lot of the others, as many of them came from northern climates where they couldn't train through the winter. Some even trained indoors on stationary bicycles.

"We had prepared, and that's one of the things you learn as you go in sport, that, as I've read regarding the five `Ps' to success, `Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance'. These sure came to the forefront as the days wore on and other than a few aches and pains there was nothing major.'' Understandably the pair and their foreign comrades ran the spectrum of life in America, from the snail-paced farm belt to the frenetic hustle and bustle of the urban centres. There were the melodic vocal tones of insects and other creatures combined with natural aromas along country roads contrasted by the whirring engines and pungent exhaust of the open freeway. Petty and Butterfield experienced it all.

"The other thing I leave with is how friendly the people were across America,'' said Butterfield. "The little towns,the farmers we spoke to in the coffee shops when we were in fact lost and people would stop and help you.

"People were so kind. Hotel managers would welcome us with open arms and ask if they could do our laundry and have it done in a couple hours.'' Chimed Petty: "I was impressed by the vastness of the U.S., because here we have a space problem in Bermuda and to see that this huge country is full of friendly people and with many, many miles of open space. To see that close up with my own eyes and feel it was awesome.

"The high of it was the sense of accomplishment at the end. And the people that were with us at the end to realise their goals, particularly the blind guy...it was incredible -- to sit and listen to him talk was an inspiration.'' Donations can be made payable to P.A.L.S. and sent to Bermudians on Wheels (USA), c/o P.A.L.S., P.O. Box DV 19, Devonshire DV BX. Telephone: 236-7257.