First Post:

Check out our Kickstarter campaign here: http://kck.st/14EqSIn

Welcome!  We're getting ready for our next major family adventure: From June 28 - August 31, 2013, we will re-trace the 3,200-mile Lewis & Clark Trail by car and bicycle.  Sho, age 12, will ride his own bike, and Saya, age 6, will ride a trailer cycle connected to my bike.  My wife, Eiko, will join us for parts of the ride.

 

We will carry about 100 pounds of gear in bike bags and a trailer.  In order to complete the trip within the 2-month school summer break, we will drive the first 1,500 miles in about 2 weeks, then cycle the next 1,700 miles in 6 weeks.  We will ride our bikes over the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean.  Can children cycle over the Rockies?  We don't know, but we're going to find out.  Keep checking our blog to see what happens!  If you'd like to be added to our e-mail distribution list, send a note to familyadventureguy[at]gmail.com.

 

After we return, my kids and I would like to give presentations at schools and science museums, sharing what we learned and showing students that they can do a lot more than most adults think.  I hope they say, "If a 6-year-old can ride a bike over the Rocky Mountains, then I must be able to do some amazing things too!"  We've launched a Kickstarter project to support a book about the ride and to help pay for these talks (http://kck.st/14EqSIn).  The more funds we raise, the more students we can reach. 

Throughout the trip, we will visit famous spots from the expedition, such as where Lewis & Clark met Sacagawea.

In addition to this trip blog, I will write several pieces for National Geographic's Intelligent Travel blog.  The New York Times will publish a story about the trip in August.

We have three trip projects:

1. Natural Environment Project: Learn about the changes to the natural environment along the route since Lewis & Clark passed through over 200 years ago

2. Roadkill Project: Collect roadkill data to help reduce the impact of roads on wildlife (working with Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation)

3. Video Project: We will create short videos highlighting the things we learn and show how young kids handle such a major endurance challenge.  We will submit a short documentary to the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the George Lucas Educational Foundation (as an example of experiential learning), and use the video in our presentations at schools and science museums.

Please check back here for updates.  Thanks for your interest and support!