Ride for Ayotlcalli

I have been presented with the opportunity to join one of my dearest friends, Robert, on the initiation of his one year cycling tour across North America. This bike trip is dedicated to his mother, Betty, whom I also came to love when I met her on my very own first cycling tour in 2012. As I traveled from Minnesota to Maine, Robert and his mother were kind enough to host me in North Adams, Massachusetts.  Although my first ride was an intrepid, spontaneous feat, I now have the chance to ride in her memory whilst raising funds for a cause near and dear to my own mother's heart, the preservation of sea turtles.

The tentative itinerary is as follows:

May 28th: Fly from Houston, TX to Boston, MA
May 29th: Bus to Caribou, ME (build and set up bikes)
May 30th -June14: Cycle to Montreal, Canada through way of Quebec City (approximately 500-600 miles)

Robert will then continue on his incredible journey. 

Now, it seems that adventure rarely presents itself to the financially prepared unless you're Bill Gates or something which, for those of you who know me, I am not.  Therefore, in order to cover some of the cost for food, equipment,  plane tickets, etc. needed for this trip I have set up this GoFundMe.  15% of the total funds raised will be donated to the non-profit organization my mother founded in 2011, the Ayotlcalli Sea Turtle Conservation Center in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.  Dedicated to the preservation of marine turtles, this center runs on the efforts of volunteers as well as donations. 

So whether you can  donate $5, $10, or maybe even a little more, your contribution will be greatly appreciated by many and go a long way.  It might provide a snack or water on the road, or feed a volunteer trying to help preserve one of the oldest species on the planet.  Regardless of which, our purposes are much aligned -  to achieve and inspire something greater within as well as outside of ourselves.

I'll leave you with a final quote by Alastair Humphreys, personal hero and one of National Geographic's Adventurers of the Year in 2012:

“Life is too brief and too rich to tiptoe through half-heartedly, rather than galloping at it with whooping excitement and ambition.”

If you are able to, I'd love for you to help me gallop.  I mean, pedal.  Cycle gallop. Whatever. Either way, thank you.

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More About the Trip: During her lifetime Betty was an inspiration to many in various ways, and I was no exception.  I carry the  conversations that she and I had over our shared  interest in art, flowers, travel, spontanaeity, and the curious nature of freedom to this day. I am honored to have been asked to join Robert on this wonderful trip in her memory.