CUMBERLAND - The Rev. Hans Myors had already pedaled about 8,000 miles of his 9,100-mile journey when he arrived in Cumberland.

Since 1993, Myors, who was born in a small village outside Munich, Germany, has made 14 ocean-to-ocean crossings of the United States. Along the way he speaks to church congregations about offering "compassion services," such as food banks and shelters.

"I've traveled over 185,500 miles since 1993," said Myors, who resides in Americus, Ga.

Although he stops to visit friends on occasion, most nights Myors sleeps in his tent. He also carries his sleeping bag, tools, four or five days' worth of food, and eight or nine changes of clothes on his bicycle.

"All loaded up, it weighs about 90 pounds," said Myors.

His bike, a short wheel-base recumbent he calls Alice, has logged more than 17,000 miles.

Myors, 52, departed on his current adventure March 3 and arrived in Cumberland on Thursday.

"I average 60 miles a day," he said Friday morning.

In addition to his bike trips, Myors assists with hurricane relief efforts. He said that he has helped victims of the following hurricanes: Andre, Charley, Emily, Frances, Isadore, Ivan, Katrina, Lili, Opal and Rita. Myors said he has worked with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Habitat for Humanity.

Myors immigrated to the United States in 1979 and became a citizen in 1984. He was ordained as an independent minister through an evangelical ministry near Augusta, Ga., in 1998.

Contact Jennifer Raley at jraley@times-news.com.