THE ROUTE

The route we have settled on will span roughly 6,000kms,  focusing on the natural wonders and icons of the American West. With a timeframe of 3 months, Luke and Ada will need to average a demanding 70-110kms per day. The circular route traverses the states of Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, California, Nevada and Arizona. Here's what we're looking forward to...

UTAH

Defined by its mountains, canyons and multi-hued sandstone formations, Utah will be the beginning and the end points (beginning of the end?) for our journey. Destinations here include Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, as well as a couple of places of special interest to Luke: Salt Lake City for a Utah Jazz basketball game and the fossil beds of Dinosaur National Monument, both sure to satisfy a few childhood obsessions.

WYOMING

Sparesly populated Wyoming will provide a lot of lonely, open road. While the route meanders north through the Grand Teton mountain range, what we're looking forward to most, possibly moreso than any destination on the whole trip, is Yellowstone National Park. Cycling through Yellowstone's alpine forests, lakes and rivers, coming face-to-face with its profound wildlife and gushing geysers promises to be a lifelong highlight and hopefully an inspiration for Ada and her jewellery making.

IDAHO

We then head west, cutting through the largely forested state of Idaho. The main attraction here will be Craters of the Moon National Monument, a region of lava fields and volcanic craters.

NEVADA

The route weaves its way twice through Nevada. On the first occasion, the state will be a stepping stone on our way to California, cycling Highway 50, the so-called 'Loneliest Road in America'. Heading east a few weeks later, we'll be passing through the Nevada nuclear test site and then onto the bright lights of Las Vegas for a little flutter.

CALIFORNIA
We'll be skirting the east of Cali, passing through the world-famous granite domes of Yosemite, the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park, the world's largest trees at Sequoia National Park, then finally into Death Valley, a testing, barren desert devoid of life that will challenge mind and body on the bike.

ARIZONA
The tour will briefly enter Arizona at two points, firstly to get to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, and later to cycle amongst the red buttes and mesas of Monument Valley, both high on our must-see lists.



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Every cent goes to Bicycles for Humanity

FUNDRAISING

FUNDRAISING

I suppose it is important to note that all funds raised will be donated to BICYCLES FOR HUMANITY  as Luke and I are funding the trip ourselves.  So if you are kind enough to donate, please do so in all confidence that your money will be going towards a great cause.  Please watch this short video of some fortunate South Africans and their bikes!!

BICYCLE POTRAITS- STAYING ALIVE

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Every cent goes to Bicycles for Humanity

PREVIOUS ADVENTURES

Completing an Open Water Dive Course in the Solomon Islands, 2012

Here's a snippet....

Waiting for Leatherbacks to come ashore on Tetepare Island, S.I

SOLOMON ISLANDS Jan 2012. We spent a few weeks scuba diving in the Solomons, first in Munda, where we completed our Open Water course, then we dived some more at Uepi Island. Saw plenty of critters, big and small. Highlights were the many sharks, manta and stingrays, kalaeidoscopic corals and pygmy seahorses. Also spent a couple of days on Tetepare Island, taking part in the local community conservation program there, spotting the resident dugongs, turtles, crocs and birdlife.

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Diademed Sifaka, Mantadia NP

Hiking in Isalo NP

MADAGASCAR July 2011. Luke and his brother, Tom, spent 3 weeks wildlife watching and trekking through Madagascar. Highlights were spotting (and hearing!) the Indri, tracking a family group of Red-bellied Lemurs through the rainforest, witnessing the elusive Fossa hunting a Wooly Lemur, as well as the hiking through Andasibe, Mantadia, Andringitra and Isalo National Parks with the brilliant local guides.

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Cirque de Salazie

Piton de Neiges, 3074m

REUNION July 2011. Luke spent 10 days in the Indian Ocean island, mostly traversing the Grand Randonee Route 1, a trek encompassing the three Cirques (calderas), Cilaos, Salazie and Mafate. A major highlight was the walk to Piton de la Fournaise, a highly active volcano, and the surrounding lava fields. A more unexpected highlight was giving an English lesson on Australia to the handful of students at a school in Mafate, a remote region accessible only on foot.

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The road to Mt. Cook

NEW ZEALAND Nov-Dec 2010. A 40 day, 3000km, fully self-supported cycle tour of New Zealand's south island. Battling hills, more hills, a few downpours, gale force headwinds and a lot of open, lonely road, there were also countless magical moments. Favourite spots were the ride to Mt. Cook, Fjordland and Milford Sound, and riding through Mt. Aspiring National Park. Luke's father, Rod, joined him for the first 10 days.

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Paddling through the 'Milky Way'

Snorkelling at Jellyfish Lake

PALAU Nov 2009. Luke and Tom spent 2 weeks in the Micronesian country, kayaking between islands and camping on uninhabited beaches. Equally beautiful above and below water, Palau is also littered with WWII wrecks and relics. The reefs here are among the most biodiverse in the world, so the snorkelling here and in Jellyfish Lake was incredible. The beaches scattered throughout the Rock Islands were some of the best I've seen.

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OTHERS...Multi-day hiking and camping trips around Victoria and Tasmania together, zip-lining and motorbiking through Laos, climbing peaks, paragliding and white-water rafting in Slovenia, talking global politics with monks in Burma, wildlife-watching in Thailand, beach combing the Philippines and Greek Islands, skydiving in the Swiss Alps, mountain climbing in Slovakia and more...throughout Europe, Asia, the Pacific and at home there is always an adventure or two to be had.

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 Every cent goes to Bicycles for Humanity

ADVENTURE BROOCH

Adventure Brooch. Matching Mountains.  Made by Ada Hodgson from

Bowen Street Collective

One for you and

one for me

These brooch's are the inverse of each other 

and fit perfectly

Both for adventure when together

and when apart

match forever


Luke and Ada

WELCOME

to the...

Planning and preparation for a 3 month, 6000km cycle tour of the natural wonders and icons of the American mid-west. Luke and Ada will be raising funds for Bicycles for Humanity.

Bicycles for Humanity is a charity which essentially sources unused, donated bikes from the developed world, fills a shipping container with them and then delivers it to countries in need. Current projects are located in Namibia and Zambia. A bike can mean better access to school, work, health care and fresh water. The shipping container is converted into a bike workshop, providing skills and employment in the local community.

You can learn more about Bicycles for Humanity HERE

In the process we hope to raise awareness and incentive for more people to get out on their bikes. We both strongly believe in cycling as a sensical, alternative means of transport to cars. Bikes are HEALTHY, CLEAN, FREE, FAST and FUN. We love them and want to spread the good word.

Click here to donate.
Every cent goes to Bicycles for Humanity