A father and son duo just completed a bicycle trip across the US - from Virginia Beach to Seattle - after navigating a health scare and wildfires.

"Oh, it's fantastic. I feel like I can conquer the world," said Thomas Wilson, and he and his son Jacob Wilson rolled up to the Space Needle on Saturday.

It's a trip Thomas first vowed to make back in high school, during the nation's 1976 bicentennial. It wasn't until he retired that he could take the trip, and his son came along.

"Well, he joined," said Thomas. "I originally had it planned without him, and he didn't like my route, by the way."

"Nope," said Jacob, shaking his head.

With the route decided, they traveled from the East Coast and through America's heartland. Jacob thought the Black Hills of South Dakota were particularly breathtaking. "Oh, it's just gorgeous scenery," Jacob said.

When they reached Montana, the pair decided to take in the scenery with a hike on the Glacier National Park Highline Trail.

"I trained a lot for bicycles, but I did not train at all for hiking," said Thomas, noting that the trail is rated as difficult or strenuous. "On the way down - three miles from the end -I had a stroke."

Thomas was transported by helicopter to the nearest hospital. He said, after a couple of hours, he appeared to have recovered. The medical staff allowed him to continue his trip, with stipulations.

"They put me on blood thinners. Specific instructions: do not wreck your bike. Do not hit your head."

When KIRO7 asked if he thought about ending the journey at that point, he answered, "No, heavens! I rode 3,000 miles so far."

The father and son ran into another challenge when a wildfire in eastern Washington forced them to change their route away from the town of Malden, and take precautions against smoke.

"Yes, we brought masks - in case it got bad - and I had one of those gators for a couple of days."

As they completed their journey - two months and one day, 4270 miles after they left Virginia Beach - the two fist-bumped under the Space Needle. Thomas plans to go back home to Virginia. Jacob lives in Seattle.

Thomas says his next adventure will be to sail to Scotland. Jacob says he'll sit that one out. He says he's too tall for his dad's sailboat.