An Old Man’s Solo Bicycle Tour for Climate
An Old Man’s Solo Bicycle Tour: A Hózhó Journey of Wellness for Mother Earth and her Children--Seeking Sponsors
Honoring the Indigenous Spirit and Land
Promoting Climate Change Awareness and Its Solution: Living in Harmony, Balance and Beauty with Nature, Others, and Ourselves
Promoting Climate Change Awareness and the Solution: Living in Harmony and Balance with Nature, Others, and Ourselves
In these times of great climate change, social polarization, and possible extinction of vast number of species, including our own, indigenous peoples can teach us much about living in balance and harmony with nature and each other. These cultures had sacred relationships with nature and the land. Their very lives depended on it. To really know the land and nature, you must directly experience it. Aside from walking, there is no better way to directly experience a broad stretch of land than bicycling.
In September 2022, at age 74, I am planning a once in a lifetime adventure: a solo bicycle tour beginning in St. George, UT, and ending in St. Augustine, FL. Starting with the sacred canyon country of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, first on the Utah Cliffs Loop and then the Western Express Route (all routes from Adventure Cycling.org). Dropping south from Dolores, CO, some 387 miles of wending backroads on NM western border, I will continue eastward along the Southern Tier of the Trans-American Bicycle Route (Image above) at Silver City, NM, heading eventually to St. Augustine, FL. Total trip distance, some 3,252 miles.
I will be crossing three deserts, several mountain ranges, and numerous Southwestern, Central, and Southeastern American Indian peoples’ lands and sacred sites. In addition to the many wilderness areas, national and state parks, and other interesting natural areas along the route, there is the possibility of additional side trips.
My journey will take me across lands of the Pueblo tribes of Hopi, Zuni, Acoma, and Laguna; the Navajo; Apache; and the Ute. Further east on my journey, the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Cherokee, and Seminole. The tour will cover two deserts, the state of Texas, and along the lower portions of LA, MS, and AL, ending in St Augustine, FL.
Along the way, I will be posting photos, journal entries, and photo journaling videos of my experiences on my website blog at www.darrellyardley.com . You can read more about my tour at https://darrellyardley.com/bicycle-tour-2022/
My tour will be compiled into a book format that weaves together my tour experiences and American Indian spirituality with my background in evolution, ecology, neurobiology, and psychology. I hope to experience a taste at least of the deep spiritual connection of the indigenous peoples with these sacred lands. An overall “theme” is the importance of balance, harmony, and deep respect for nature and our connection to it.
If I can average 50 miles a day, a distance I am working toward, I am estimating about $4000-$6000 for the tour itself. Add $2000 or so for writing and self-publishing the book (my third). I am estimating a total of at least, $8000. This is my adventure of a lifetime--and probably my last Big adventure. The tour's cost is going to put my very limited budget and savings to the wall. I'm liable to run out of savings before I run out of life. Any help would be appreciated. To that end, I am offering donation bonuses as follows:
GoFundMe.org Donations Bonuses:
$25-- Free autographed copy of my book WindWalker: Journey into Science, Self, and Spirit WindWalker
$50—Free autographed copies of Guru on the Mountain: Chiggers, Lizards & Desert Heat: My Vision Quest to Discover the Source of
Spirit, (https://www.amazon.com/Guru-Mountain-Chiggers-Lizards-Discover/dp/1733841199/ ), and WindWalker
$100 or above—Free autographed copy of Tour book when it comes out, plus both Guru and WindWalker autographed copies now.
