Yesterday we posted an article about Rob Greenfield and his bicycle journey currently taking place across the United States.  The cool thing about this mission is that he’s doing it totally off the grid.

I’ve personally been so impressed by what Rob is doing and what he stands for that I wanted to follow up on his adventures by periodically posting from his journal as he makes his way across the US.

This one hit my emotions button for sure….and we’ll be posting more from his journey in the days ahead.

Bicycle Touring Off the Grid

“So much inspiration churned inside my body that on the surface shivers erupted and my eyes were on the brink of exploding with tears all throughout the day.”

Shivers of inspiration ran through my body from head to toe all throughout the day as I pedaled up and down the green Colorado hills.  On multiple occasions tears formed in my eyes, more often as I was flying down hill or ja…mming out on flat land then when I was climbing the grueling hills.  Jack Johnson, Trevor Green, and Xavier Rudd – Official along with educational sustainability podcasts inspired me to keep on pedaling through the intense heat and in turn to keep inspiring others to live a happier healthier life.

The tears came as I thought of the amazing changes that are to come and the people out there doing good, bettering their lives, and inspiring others to do the same.  Not for the sake of religion, or government, or any organization, but solely for the sake of us as individuals, community, and the planet that we have made home.

When I awoke this morning the sun had already graced the land with warmth.  I prepared myself a dish of eggs, beats, rice, and garlic over a fire as I took down camp.  I was on the road early this morning, around 9:20, and even with large hills to climb was making great progress.  The morning continued to heat up as the sun moved overhead and the rolling hills continued on as far as the eyes could see.  By 2:00 I had pedaled 50 miles and was exhausted.  I stopped in a cool building in the town of Craig, Colorado, as I could not bear the heat any longer.  By 4:00 I moved on still feeling lethargic from the heat.  Out of water and quite thirsty I saw a grouping of about 30 bee boxes that I couldn’t resist but investigate.  I sat amongst the bees as thousands buzzed around me going about their own business.  Occasionally they would fly into me, or land on me to clean their bodies but they had no qualms with me being in their presence.  I’ve wanted to do this for many years and to finally spend time amongst masses of bees was a dream come true.  Not to mention all the honey I ate while they buzzed around me.

After an hour I pedaled on in search of a river to quench my thirst.  I found one just five miles east and spent time sitting on the bank guzzling water as I purified it. I topped off my water bottle and was back on the bike.  Conversations with friends helped the miles fly by and I had another 45 miles to make it to my friend John Miller’s house in Steamboat Springs.  I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do it but his home beckoned me to continue on.

As the sun set and the light faded in the sky I received a call from a friend that changed everything.  I had 25 miles left to pedal and the conversation led me into darkness.  Immersed in the conversation it was becoming night and a change in topic launched a dagger into my heart.  I was on the verge of a new type of tears, very different from the tears of inspiration earlier, now tears of sorrow.

I pedaled on for miles through the darkness feeling great depths of sadness.  When I ended the call it was pitch black and I texted John to let him know that I am still riding and I will make it to his home tonight.  I needed the comforts of a home and a hug from a friend to help cure my sorrows and bring me comfort.  As I texted him a great deal of confusion ensued and I realized I was not on the road anymore and I was in the ditch on the opposite side of the road.  Very confused but still on my bike I managed to stop safely before hitting anything and simultaneously coyotes began to howl all around me.

I pulled myself out of the ditch and continued on. I had no lights on as the batteries were dead and shortly later was blinded by the flashing red and blue lights of a police car.  Wes, the officer, was very friendly and wanted to make sure I was safe but at the same time in my sorrowful state the flashing lights of the police car were not comforting and added to my disorientation. I wrangled up some rechargeable batteries from my pack and was on my way.

The dagger still in my heart, I felt like I couldn’t go on. Hopelessness overwhelmed me.  I knew I must go on and I knew a positive attitude and a smile would overcome sorrow and despair.  Looking at it from a different perspective I could see light beginning to shine upon me.  Wait, is that a headlight?  No! It is a light representing a new beginning.  With every end there is a new beginning.  I shed an unneeded weight that was holding me down and now I am free!  The inspiration flowed back into my body and a smile grew on my face.  Just five minutes prior I felt like my world had ended.  This is proof that life is a matter of perspective and as I’ve said before happiness is a choice.

I continued on 10 more miles to Steam Boat Springs through the darkness and the cold and was welcomed by my fellow Wisconsinite, John Miller.  He welcomed me into his warm home and I sat down on his comfortable couch where I ended the long day 97 miles down the road from where I had started.

Photo by Brent Martin

I think anyone who does long distance bicycle touring is pretty awesome, but doing it totally off the grid like Rob Greenfield….is downright amazing.  This guy definitely has a Make it Happen attitude.  Please join me in reading all about Rob’s ride across America, and what he hopes to accomplish along the way.

Off the Grid Coast to Coast Bicycle Tour

by Sean Aranda

Cycling 4,500 miles across the USA, that’s the easy part.  So what’s the hard part?  How about doing it completely off the grid?  For three months, adventurer Rob Greenfield of Greenfield Adventures is showing and inspiring Americans how to live sustainably and decrease their environmental impact.  This means he is:

• Using electricity generated by portable alternative energy devices
• Creating near zero trash
• Using water from natural sources
• Eating locally produced organic and unpackaged foods
• Composting all food waste
• Shopping at businesses that are committed to creating a healthy planet

When Rob isn’t managing The Greenfield Group, he is out picking up trash and living life as if it were one big adventure.  Having explored numerous countries and seeing how they live, he thought it was time to travel coast to coast across America spreading sustainability awareness.  What better way to show educate others than to show just what is possible when you put the environment first.

The adventure began at the San Francisco Earth Day Celebration on April 20th and will take Rob through 19 states.  Traveling mostly on ‘blue highways’, he will also be spending time in cities including Salt Lake City, Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, New York, Providence and Boston.  The journey is scheduled to end on August 1st at the 1% for the Planet Headquarters in Waitsfield, Vermont.  During the three month trip Rob will be raising $10,000 for 1% for the Planet non-profits, including Guitars in the Classroom and Below the Surface, as well as finding 20 new businesses to join the 1% for the Planet movement. 1% for the Planet is a growing global movement of over 1,000 companies that donate 1% of their sales to environmental organizations worldwide.

Rob is riding a beautiful bamboo bike by Bamboosero, filtering water through products by Drips Water  and powering his devices with portable solar devices by Goal Zero.

Along the way, Rob will be hosting zero waste events and bicycle rides, visiting environmental causes and businesses that practice corporate social responsibility, promoting sustainable products, working with community gardens, practicing the ukulele, and hosting do good giveaways via Facebook.

Rob is currently on day 24 cycling through the middle of America.  You can read all about his daily adventures by visiting The Greenfield Adventures Blog.

The journey is being documented by professional cameraman, Brent Martin, and can be followed pedal by pedal online at the Greenfield Adventures blog or by adding Rob on Facebook.  If you would like to donate to one of these great 1% for the Planet non-profits, feel free to contribute to the Greenfield Adventures Donation Page.

Our friends from GoBicycleTouring.com are here to tell you about their brand new website, and how you could win yourself one sweet European Bicycle Trip.

Go Bicycle Touring

GoBicycleTouring.com is a new online and in-print directory of the best guided and self-guided bicycle tours in the world.  Whether you’re an urban cyclist, a road racer, a mountain biker, or a casual Sunday cyclist you’re sure to find a bicycle touring experience that will make your wheels spin at www.GoBicycleTouring.com

Bicycle touring, defined as the act of riding your bicycle for an extended time, allows you to combine your love of pedaling with the excitement of travel.  While bicycle touring can be individual and self-organized, many travelers enjoy a guided tour where the logistics of the trip (gear and support, food & lodging, safe and enjoyable routes, etc.) are per-arranged by a tour company of their choice.  An organized tour lets you fully focus on enjoying the cycling, the spectacular views and the local cuisine while getting the most out of your holiday.

Participation in organized bicycle tours is growing rapidly as people of all ages and backgrounds have begun looking for fun, physical and entertaining ways to:

• Meet new people and make new friends
• Enjoy delicious local foods and drinks
• See the world’s most amazing places
• And create experiences they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Created by Darren Alff: the famous bicycle traveler, author of four popular cycling books and the man behind the #1 Google ranked “bicycle touring” website in the world (BicycleTouringPro.com), GoBicycleTouring’s clean, modern design makes it easy and fun to search for incredible bicycle touring experiences all around the world.

The GoBicycleTouring.com website went live on January 1st 2013, yet it already boasts over 100 tour listings in 30 countries worldwide.  Define your search by location, price, difficulty, total tour length, and average daily distance and discover remarkable tours in exotic locations like Australia, Laos, Kenya and Hawaii!

To celebrate the official launch of the website in the new year, GoBicycleTouring.com is giving away 3 FREE European bicycle tours! Winners are selected in random drawings on February 1st, March 1st and April 1st. The prize tours include a “Taste of South Bohemia” tour in the Czech Republic, a “Camino de Santiago” tour in Spain and a “Challenge Tour” offered by Bike Switzerland.

Take a few minutes to fill out the entry form and enter for a chance to win all three bike tours! http://gobicycletouring.com/giveaway

We hope that you enjoy this new bicycle touring directory as much as we do… it’s certainly all about loving the bike, and loving it while traveling too!

Check out www.gobicycletouring.com to find your ideal bike tour today.