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As the leaves change colour and the cool fall air chills the nights, the excitement of a new stage to the adventure builds.

A year ago today, Colin and Julie were packed into a tiny rowboat, two weeks out on their epic 5 month crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. As they rowed through subtropical waters they were blithely unaware that Julie’s birthday present, one week later, would bring Hurricane Vince. They rowed happily, except for the seasickness, and hoped that they would make it to Florida in the 100-120 days without any major weather problems. Two hurricanes, 3 storms, and 145 days later they made it to Limon, Costa Rica. Not quite as planned, but most importantly terra firma was once again under foot.

During the summer, they struggled to condense 100 hours of filming from the two year journey into 55 minutes of highlights. Now, they are leaving their home in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island to travel across Canada in a speaking tour that will also premiere this documentary, “Beyond the Horizon”. The Expedition Canada Show will include a 50 minute presentation by Colin and Julie where they share their adventures around the globe followed by the film premiere. It is an opportunity to highlight the power of human-powered transportation and the unique way in which it allows us to experience our world. It is also a chance to take away some prizes that will enhance your outdoor experience, including Helly Hansen Clothing and a Norco Performance Bike!

The tour is made possible thanks to host organizations throughout Canada, and is proudly presented by Helly Hansen with the assistance of Norco Performance Bikes, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Truestar Health.

The Expedition Canada Tour will do 24 shows across Canada in the following cities. Please see www.expeditioncanada.com/books.htm for the full schedule.

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Courtenay: Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Kamloops: Saturday, October 28, 2006
Nanaimo: Thursday, October 5, 2006
Osoyoos: Sunday, October 29, 2006
Penticton: Thursday, November 2, 2006
Port Moody: Saturday, October 21, 2006
Vancouver: Wednesday, October 18, 2006, Thursday, October 19, 2006, Wednesday, October 25, 2006, Thursday, October 26, 2006
Victoria: Thursday, October 12, 2006

ALBERTA
Calgary: Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Canmore: Saturday, November 4, 2006
Edmonton: Friday, November 10, 2006

MANITOBA
Winnipeg: tba

SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatoon : tba

ONTARIO
Oshawa: Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Ottawa: Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Waterloo: Friday, November 17th, 2006

QUEBEC
Sherbrooke Friday, November 24th, 2006

NOVA SCOTIA
Fredericton: tba
Halifax: Thursday, November 30, 2006
Moncton: tba

It’s been a busy two months since Julie and Colin rolled into Vancouver finishing their 43,000 km circumnavigation.

In that time the duo moved into their new home on Vancouver Island, Colin completed his book, the fall multi-media tour has been organized, and Colin and Julie are developing their entertaining show. The film tour schedule can be viewed at http://www.expeditioncanada.com/books.htm. And the team is excited to announce that their accomplishment will be featured in a promotional video for the 2010 Olympics.

It hasn’t all been work, however, and the duo have spent time enjoying the BC wilderness on their bikes, or swimming at the local river. Colin has got a haircut and is looking civilized again. Frank Carey and Jackie Bellerose, of Wallace and Carey, kindly invited Julie and Colin to Calgary to see the Stampede and indulge in some R&R. A Toronto reception by the team’s lead sponsor, Truestar Health, is being held on Aug. 2nd to celebrate the conclusion of the expedition. For information on the event, please contact Tiffany at 416.504.3977 or tiffany@theideaworkshop.com.

Julie and Colin have fulfilled a fantasy conjured during their struggle to row across the hurricane-infested waters of the Atlantic Ocean; they have moved into a house in the country. Their rural 5-acre property has a steam (with 5-species of fish living in it) flowing three metres from their home, and is cloaked with cedar and fir forests.

Even with the added challenges of rural living, Julie and Colin are still able to maintain their zero-emissions lifestyle by using their Norco bicycles for almost all their transportation and cargo-lugging needs. Their Axiom racks and panniers along with a bicycle trailer are sufficient to carry anything from a lawn-mower to groceries. The added benefit to their low-carbon-producing lifestyle is that Julie and Colin are able to maintain their high level of fitness without having to spend any time at the gym. Additional exercise is provided in the upkeep of their hefty vegetable garden.

When Julie was asked what it feels like to be home, she replied very enthusiastically:

“I’m loving it. It’s so nice to be able to enjoy the wilderness without the uncertainties of life on the road. But, the adventures still abound. The stream running through our property is home to a lamprey that is believed to exist nowhere else in the world, other than this stream. Now, that’s exciting. We have adventures in our backyard trying to observe these guys.”

And what’s the next adventure, Julie?

“The wedding. We’re getting married in June of 2007.”

Colin and Julie do have another adventure planned, but for now they are focused on using their past expedition to promote low or no-emissions transportation.

“People talk about diminished standards of living,” Colin says, referring to many people’s reluctance to make significant lifestyle changes to prevent global warming, “But, it’s a proven fact that increased exercise makes for happier people. Is being happier a worse way of life?”

As many may know, a trail is currently being built that will span Canada from all three Oceans: the Trans-Canada trail. This corridor will enable hikers, and cyclists to explore Canada away from the hustle and bustle of highways. It is an immense undertaking which involves an extraordinary amount of planning, finances, and the combined efforts of many dedicated volunteers.

Creating cycling and walking corridors are a major step in luring people out of their automobiles, and the Trans-Canada Trail is definitely an inspiring pathway. Julie and Colin plan to use their upcoming books, tour, and film to promote and raise funds for this Canadian project. They have met with director James Clark and working together to complete the longest trail in the world.

Julie and Colin reached the totem pole in Kitsilano on Saturday completing the first human-powered circumnavigation of the planet.

Julie and Colin have stopped for a quick breather in North Bend, Washington, a small town nestled in the Coastal Mountain range. Yesterday, as the duo crossed the coastal divide and coasted their bicycles down into the rich, sweet-scented rain forests of cedar and fir, Colin remarked that he already felt like he was home.

From North Bend the duo have about 300 kms left to cycle before finishing their two-year odyssey. They are definitely on target for reaching Vancouver on the morning of May 20th.

When asked what she thought of finally arriving in the Pacific Northwest, Julie’s reply was simple, “It’s so beautiful.”

So many people have been pivotal to this journey and these last few days are filled with the thoughts of all those who have made this expedition possible by being a part of it, either on the road or from home. Colin and Julie wish success to those who are still travelling and hope that those who are able to will join them in celebrating the end of their journey on May 20th.

Julie and Colin have reached Brigham City, Utah. The geology here is astounding, and the duo are currently cycling along the Great Salt Lake towards Idaho. They have slightly changed their route after making a slight navigational error. Oops.

Things are going smoothly and they are still on track for their May 20th arrival.

Julie and Colin have reached Brigham City, Utah. The geology here is astounding, and the duo are currently cycling along the Great Salt Lake towards Idaho. They have slightly changed their route after making a slight navigational error. Oops.

Things are going smoothly and they are still on track for their May 20th arrival.

Pueblo, Colorado

It has been six weeks since Julie and Colin bade goodbye to their rowboat in Limon, Costa Rica, and in that time they have cycled six thousand kms (with only two days off) through Central America, Mexico, and the USA. As the duo now cycles past the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, finally the prospect of reaching home is looking like a reality.

Cycling through the United States has been a pleasure, and after traversing seventeen countries, Julie and Colin report it being at the top of the list for safety. The shoulders have been wide and drivers courteous. The hospitality and warmth of Texans has been absolutely astounding, making the journey through this giant state a relaxing and enjoyable affair.

Remembering 2 Years of Travels

It has been almost two years since Expedition Canada departed from Vancouver on a drizzly June morning. Since that time the team cycled north through Canada and then voyaged the entire Yukon River by canoe and rowboat. From Alaska they rowed across the dangerous Bering Sea to Siberia, becoming the first to travel from Alaska to Russia by rowboat. Far Eastern Siberia is a land without roads and thousands of kilometers of wilderness were traversed by trekking, skiing, and cycling along frozen rivers. After reaching the Road of Bones in Eastern Siberia, the team still had sixteen thousand kilometers of dirt and asphalt roads to pedal through Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain and Portugal until reaching the Atlantic Ocean.

From Lisbon, Portugal, Julie and Colin departed on a 9,965 km unsupported rowboat crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. The couple battled four cyclones including two hurricanes, were almost hit by two ships, and had to subsist on fish after being delayed by contrary winds. On February 24th, 2006, after 145 days at sea the duo reached Limon, Costa Rica. They became the first to row from mainland Europe to mainland North America, and Julie became the first woman in the world to row across the complete Atlantic Ocean and the first Canadian woman to row across any ocean.

In Limon they remounted their Norco bicycles and began cycling the final 8,000 km leg to Vancouver.

The physical rigours, difficulties and dangers of conducting this expedition are almost beyond description. The physical output alone is equivalent to running a marathon a day, day after day, month after month, year after year. But it is also combined with the difficulties of fundraising from the road, organizing logistics, dealing with bureaucracy, penning a book and creating a film.

Even more daunting than the non-stop toil, are the dangers the team has continually faced. On the Atlantic Ocean Julie and Colin were affected by two hurricanes and two tropical cyclones (the closest being Hurricane Vince where the eye passed 95 nautical miles from Ondine). A cargo ship off the coast of Europe almost ran the rowers over, and they were only spared by the bow wave of the freighter, which tossed the small rowing vessel aside, allowing Julie and Colin to regard the spectacular view of 15,000 tonnes of steel sliding past from a metre away. In Eastern Siberia, during white out conditions and a wind-chill temperature of minus one hundred degrees, Colin was separated from the group and given up for dead. He huddled through the night in a snow cave he built, and was saved by the fact that the winds relented enough to reveal the lights of a distant settlement which he staggered to, frost-bitten and hypothermic.

But now the difficulties are behind the team, and only wide roads and temperate breezes lie between them and Vancouver. On May 20th Julie and Colin plan on cycling into Vancouver completing the world’s first human-powered circumnavigation.

And why are they doing this?

Global temperatures are rapidly warming, and human actions are considered a contributing cause to climate change. A huge source of CO2 emissions is from automobile usage.

Julie and Colin are hoping that their journey around the planet will help to inspire others to use zero-emissions transportation as a fun and healthy means of getting around. It may take more discipline pedalling your bicycle to work on a rainy morning, but physically and mentally it will make a positive difference on a personal level. And by doing so you’re helping to move us all into a greener future.

Ironically during their self-propelled journey around the planet, the team encountered an extraordinary number of meteorological disasters. They fought their way through the smoke and flames of Alaska and the Yukon as record temperatures and low rainfall caused the forests to burn. In Europe Julie and Colin cycled from the floods of Germany, which caused the Danube River to overflow inundating towns and villages, to the drought-ravaged countryside of Portugal. The duo then rowed from the dry shores of Portugal and on into the worst hurricane season in recorded history.

Nobody knows exactly how much our future will be affected by global warming, but one thing is for sure; as human beings our choices affect the future health of our planet. Expedition Canada urges everybody to do their bit to help preserve earth for future generations.

Join the Team!

Julie and Colin plan on cycling into Vancouver on May 20th and will complete their journey at the totem pole in front of the maritime museum where they began two years previously.

For those that want to show their support for green transportation, come join the team on your bikes, rollerblades, etc. at the Museum of Anthropology at U.B.C. and journey the final six kilometres of this round-the-world odyssey.

Julie and Colin will be reaching the totem pole in front of the Maritime Museum near Kitsilano Beach at 11:00 am, and welcome anyone who wishes to share the final moments of the expedition with them. For more details please go to www.expeditionplanetearth.com/homecoming.html.

On April 13th, Julie and Colin crossed Rio Bravo, dividing the USA and Mexico, and entered Laredo Texas. They are now cycling north through Texas and will go through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington and then on into Canada.

They will arrive in Vancouver on Saturday, May 20th and there will be a ride along and celebration to mark the expedition’s end. If you are in the area, we would love it if you can come out and celebrate with us. More details will be on the website.

MEXICAN DELIGHTS

The roads in Mexico improved drastically from those detailed in the previous update, and the team thoroughly enjoyed passing through North America’s third largest country. The people were extremely friendly and helpful, and the landscapes beautiful.

After crossing the continental divide the landscape flattened, roads widened and beautiful shoulders appeared. As the road approached Mexico City, suburbs sprang up and the density of the world’s second largest city became apparent.

Over 18 million people live in this metropolis and it was an incredible city to experience from the seat of a bicycle. Buses and cars sped along roads without lines, honking as they passed each other with amazing speed and precision. The bikes joined the controlled chaos and the crazy cycling felt like more like a high-tech video game than anything else. It was much more fun than imagined and a friendly Mexican bus driver added to the enjoyment when he stopped his crowded bus (blocking a lane of highway traffic) to give the duo two juice icicles.

Thankfully, the temperatures also dropped as elevation was gained. Mexico city sits at 7,350 feet and several mountains seen enroute even had snow on their summits, including Mexico’s highest mountain, Pico de Orizaba, which at 18,490 ft is the third highest mountain in North America. Four days after passing through Mexico City, Colin and Julie crossed the Tropic of Cancer, leaving the tropics that they have been in for the last 5 months.

Both Colin and Julie love trying the local cuisine and with their 150km/day cycling schedule they have ravenous appetites. The food improved dramatically as they neared Mexico City and stayed delicious all the way to the US border. Most of the Mexican restaurants they encountered were family run businesses, often sporting only a couple of tables and a handful of children running around. Julie’s favourite dish was Taquito Dorado Con Pollo, which are crispy tacos stuffed with chicken and topped with salad, salsas and sour cream, while Colin loved the Ranchero egg dishes served for breakfast.

MILLIONS OF FLATS

The last few days in Mexico proved to be more difficult than expected as Julie and Colin’s worn bikes tires protested after cycling almost 4000 km of rough dirty roads. In the first 27 days, they had 40 flat tires but the following day they had 15 more and the next day the tubes proved to be broken beyond repair.

Usually road wire from burst or shredded truck tires inflicts the damage, with thorns or glass causing only a handful of punctures. Even though the duo ran out of patches, they improvised by creating new patches from an old bike tube. This system worked flawlessly until some of the store-bought glueless patches started peeling off. The sticky residue they left behind made it almost impossible to affix a new patch and then the valves started breaking from overuse.

With only 60 km to the US border and well stocked bike stores (correct sized tires had been impossible to find in Mexico), a tube broke beyond repair and there were no more replacements. It was impossible to continue, so they put Julie’s disassembled bike and gear on top of Colin’s bike and took turns riding while the other person ran. But a marathon and a half in blazing heat turned out to be impossible and they had to hitchhike into Neuvo Laredo for bike supplies. The next day, instead of entering the US as originally planned, they rode the 120km round trip to where the bike broke down.

IN THE USA

Entering the US was a much more stark contrast than any previous border crossings. As they cycled on the wide highway towards Lorado’s only bike shop, an astonishing array of glitzy box stores and chain restaurants greeted them.

Texans are proving to be incredibly friendly, constantly holding doors open and saying in their southern drawl, “You all be safe now”. On the road, most motorists honk and wave, and whenever someone passes they move into the other lane, even though the shoulder is 6 feet wide. Restaurants all serve enormous meals with refillable drinks, which is great for a cyclist’s huge appetite and, of course, the tap water is good to drink, making refilling water bottles much cheaper and easier.

Julie and Colin look forward to seeing New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington as they pedal towards Vancouver. They will arrive in Vancouver on May 20th and would love to have you celebrate their homecoming with them if you can. Please check the website for details.

Colin and Julie are now in Mexico, riding through its mountainous centre and heading towards the US border. Currently they are 180 kms from Mexico City.

It has been 20 days since the duo departed from Limon Costa Rica, and in that time the team has passed through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and southern Mexico. Although the landscapes traversed have been stunning, both Julie and Colin are looking forward to reaching the safer roads of the USA. The dangers of the middle Americas have been all too apparent, and the team feels very fortunate to have made it through unscathed.

DANGERS IN CENTRAL AMERICA

Nicaragua was the country most intimidating to pass through. It is the second poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and civil violence has created a large number of desperate, jaded citizens with little regard for human life. Often, as Julie and Colin cycled the quiet roads in this country, locals would ride alongside, machetes strapped to hip, eyeing every item of gear secured to the bikes. Julie and Colin tried to pass it off as curiosity, but this was difficult when their attempts to start conversation initiated nothing other than a spit of disdain. Even worse were the men who would cycle within a metre of Julie ogling her from head to toe completely unabashedly, repeatedly issuing catcalls. Stopping the bikes and waiting for the oglers to carry on was fruitless. They would simply stop too, and silently wait for the show to resume.

Despite the fact that Nicaragua and Honduras were extremely nerve-wracking to pass through, it seemed the greatest danger would be traversing the Chiapas region of southern Mexico - a Zapatista stronghold. In the past five weeks four different groups of cyclists have been robbed by pistol and machete wielding bandits in this region. Since there is only an average of about one group of long-distance cyclists passing through this area a week, the odds of being attacked are extremely high. Julie and Colin received a warning from Gregg Bleakney, who is currently cycling from Alaska to Argentina, and was recently attacked in the Chiapas region. This is his tale:

“At noon on Sunday March 5th, while cycling near the ruins of Palenque, Mexico, 4/5 men ran out of the jungle and attempted to attack us near the top of a long uphill climb. A car drove by and they all moved to the side of the road, giving us just enough time to accelerate past them to a downhill section where we distanced ourselves from the scene. We hailed the passing car and asked the driver to escort us to the next safe town or village. He agreed and one mile later, a police car passed and we stopped him to ask for help. He told us that he would drive ahead 3 miles to the major tourist attraction of Agua Azul falls, secure the road, and then loop back and forth to make sure that we were safe. He guaranteed that the road ahead was secure.

Two miles later, we were attacked again by two men wearing black masks and carrying machetes. They sprinted out of the jungle and were upon us in only a few seconds making it impossible to escape. We put our hands over our heads as they struck us several times with the blunt sides of their machetes and attempted to tear our pannier bags off the bikes. They were only able to remove two of the bags from Gregg´s bike and over the next minute or so the conflict escalated as their frustration increased. They retreated to the side of the road to dump Gregg´s bags and hide from a passing car.

At that point, we turned around and cycled 300 meters to a family´s roadside hut at the bottom of a hill. We asked them if it was OK if we waited there for help and they agreed. We then asked them if it was safe for us in that location and they said no. A few minutes later several shady characters with hostile looks on their faces appeared out of the jungle near the hut. We were both weary of a third attack and created a road block with our bikes and bodies to stop passing cars and draw attention to ourselves. Though several cars drove around us in the ditch and refused to stop, this tactic did buy us enough time for the police car to return on his loop back to assist us. He tossed our bikes in the back of his truck and escorted us out of the area.

Neither of us were physically harmed during this assault but have both been rattled mentally. We urge all tourists and cyclists to avoid the road from San Cristobol to Agua Azul falls to the ruins of Palenque to the border of Bethel in Guatemala. After our discussions with local police we have learned that attacks on tourists in these areas are now occurring several times per week. Some of the attacks have even involved large tour buses and shuttle vans.” (Courtesy of www.ribbonofroad.com)

Much of the Chiapas region is controlled by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, an armed revolutionary group in the poorest Mexican state. Their stated goals are to represent the rights of the indigenous Mayan population and oppose capitalization. They have created their own government in communities and currently there are 32 “rebel autonomous Zapatista municipalities” in Chiapas. However, the Chiapas region continues to be unstable and many unfortunate stories have been relayed. Their use of force and violence separates them from the hippies on Hornby Island sharing some of the same ideals.

Upon crossing the border from Guatemala into the Chiapatas region, Julie and Colin reached a roadblock of burning tires and chanting villagers. As the cyclists skirted the roadblock and pedalled through the angry throngs, the crowd took notice, and a new chant was voiced, saying something about the gringos. The team quickened their pace and cycled hard until Chiapatas was in their wake, two days later.

Most of the human dangers are behind the team now, but a new one has arisen. Surprisingly the roads of Central America (especially El Salvador) have been excellent, with huge wide shoulders for cyclists. In Mexcio the roads have deteriorated drastically, often times being without shoulders at all. Additionally, the drivers in Mexico are the worst yet encountered. Head on accidents are frequent, and judging by their love of passing on blind corners, perhaps considered a shortcut to heaven. Julie and Colin are often cringing as transport truck drivers, wired on speed, pass within inches of their panniers.

Some cyclists Julie and Colin have encountered have taken the bus through the most dangerous areas. That option doesn´t exist for Expedition Planet Earth, since the goal is to complete the world´s first completely human powered circumnavigation.

Despite the dangers and hardships, Julie and Colin have extremely enjoyed their passage so far. Most of the people have been friendly and helpful and Central American food has been good. And every once in a while, the team removes their road-weary bodies from the asphalt to watch a red sun setting over a cactus dotted landscape. And that makes it all worth while.

TEAM PERFORMANCE

Expedition Planet Earth would like to welcome a new sponsor: Kelowna Flightcraft. Kelowna Flightcraft, a company that shares the team´s ideals of environmental stewardship, has partnered with Expedition Plant Earth in order to help the team reach their goal of both reaching Vancouver, and of getting out the message of reducing personal fossil fuel emissions.

Additionally Julie and Colin would like to thank the rest of their sponsors for their continued support. A big thanks goes to Wallace and Carey, who continues to stand behind the team every step of the way and a huge part of this expedition’s success is due to their solid support.

Physically Julie and Colin are in perfect shape, having cycled non-stop for the past 19 days, cranking out 150 kms per day. Without a doubt, their excellent health and spirits is largely attributed to the nutritional supplements being supplied by Truestar Health. So far the team has clocked almost 35,000 km through some of the roughest places on the planet. Being in top-notch health is the single most important ingredient for success.

And of course the Norco bikes are continuing to perform flawlessly. A lot of people expressed concern that Colin and Julie had chosen to use such feather light bikes through Central America. Well, the VFR 2 bicycles have lugged the load, traversed the dirt and the potholes, and kept on ticking without so much as a broken spoke. Not that the team had any doubts when choosing bikes from this Canadian company.