[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] hi I’m bluey dye
hi I’m bluey dye
hi I’m bluey dye I’m an average guy in fact it might be a
I’m an average guy in fact it might be a
I’m an average guy in fact it might be a little bit below average when I was a
little bit below average when I was a
little bit below average when I was a teenager I was in our school
teenager I was in our school
teenager I was in our school cross-country running team where I
cross-country running team where I
cross-country running team where I always gave an exciting finish at the
always gave an exciting finish at the
always gave an exciting finish at the end of each race even if it was the last
end of each race even if it was the last
end of each race even if it was the last place despite my below average finishes
place despite my below average finishes
place despite my below average finishes my coach always supported me and I swear
my coach always supported me and I swear
my coach always supported me and I swear it has nothing to do with the fact that
it has nothing to do with the fact that
it has nothing to do with the fact that my coach was also my mom I was under
my coach was also my mom I was under
my coach was also my mom I was under high school basketball team where I was
high school basketball team where I was
high school basketball team where I was known more for my effort than I was
known more for my effort than I was
known more for my effort than I was actual skills I grew up on a small
actual skills I grew up on a small
actual skills I grew up on a small island in Lake Erie USA the little dot
island in Lake Erie USA the little dot
island in Lake Erie USA the little dot for the population right around 450
for the population right around 450
for the population right around 450 people there was no tunnel or bridge to
people there was no tunnel or bridge to
people there was no tunnel or bridge to the island so the only way back and
the island so the only way back and
the island so the only way back and forth during the summer was by ferry
forth during the summer was by ferry
forth during the summer was by ferry boat and in the winter and the lake
boat and in the winter and the lake
boat and in the winter and the lake froze over was by small sticks passenger
froze over was by small sticks passenger
froze over was by small sticks passenger planes we had no traffic light
planes we had no traffic light
planes we had no traffic light we had no stopping law there was no
we had no stopping law there was no
we had no stopping law there was no bowling alley to say that it was
bowling alley to say that it was
bowling alley to say that it was isolated would be an understatement
isolated would be an understatement
isolated would be an understatement in my class there were 10 students but
in my class there were 10 students but
in my class there were 10 students but at least I finished top 10 in my class
there are so many excuses we can come up
there are so many excuses we can come up with convinced ourselves not to do
with convinced ourselves not to do
with convinced ourselves not to do something new I’m not athletic enough
something new I’m not athletic enough
something new I’m not athletic enough I’m not smart enough I’m not talented
I’m not smart enough I’m not talented
I’m not smart enough I’m not talented enough why would I leave I love my
enough why would I leave I love my
enough why would I leave I love my hometown and with all the excuses in the
hometown and with all the excuses in the
hometown and with all the excuses in the world it only takes one to convince us
world it only takes one to convince us
world it only takes one to convince us not to try something new we all have our
not to try something new we all have our
not to try something new we all have our comfort zones and we all have our
comfort zones and we all have our
comfort zones and we all have our insecurities myself included my goal
insecurities myself included my goal
insecurities myself included my goal today is to hopefully convince you to
today is to hopefully convince you to
today is to hopefully convince you to embrace these boundaries these personal
embrace these boundaries these personal
embrace these boundaries these personal boundaries but also ignore them
boundaries but also ignore them
boundaries but also ignore them I want to talk to you about how I got
I want to talk to you about how I got
I want to talk to you about how I got over my personal boundaries so I could
over my personal boundaries so I could
over my personal boundaries so I could ride my bicycle across the entire United
ride my bicycle across the entire United
ride my bicycle across the entire United States of America after my senior year
States of America after my senior year
States of America after my senior year of university I decided it’s time for my
of university I decided it’s time for my
of university I decided it’s time for my first big adventure and I moved from
first big adventure and I moved from
first big adventure and I moved from very small town USA to Salzburg Austria
very small town USA to Salzburg Austria
very small town USA to Salzburg Austria also kind of small I spent the year
also kind of small I spent the year
also kind of small I spent the year working at an international high school
working at an international high school
working at an international high school traveling around Europe meeting new
traveling around Europe meeting new
traveling around Europe meeting new people experiencing new cultures and
people experiencing new cultures and
people experiencing new cultures and after that year I’ve had this weird
after that year I’ve had this weird
after that year I’ve had this weird feeling that of guilt almost that I’d
feeling that of guilt almost that I’d
feeling that of guilt almost that I’d seen more of Europe than I had my own
seen more of Europe than I had my own
seen more of Europe than I had my own homeland and so that second year I
homeland and so that second year I
homeland and so that second year I clearly remember sitting around a table
clearly remember sitting around a table
clearly remember sitting around a table with my new co-workers and expressing
with my new co-workers and expressing
with my new co-workers and expressing that feeling is saying I think my next
that feeling is saying I think my next
that feeling is saying I think my next ship needs to be across America I don’t
ship needs to be across America I don’t
ship needs to be across America I don’t know how I’m gonna do it yet I might
know how I’m gonna do it yet I might
know how I’m gonna do it yet I might even just ride my bike across there and
even just ride my bike across there and
even just ride my bike across there and of course I said this in jest after all
of course I said this in jest after all
of course I said this in jest after all I had never owned a road bike in my life
I had never owned a road bike in my life
I had never owned a road bike in my life I never flagged more than 20 kilometers
I never flagged more than 20 kilometers
I never flagged more than 20 kilometers in a day which is why I was caught
in a day which is why I was caught
in a day which is why I was caught completely off guard when yawn the
completely off guard when yawn the
completely off guard when yawn the Englishman who I had just met a month
Englishman who I had just met a month
Englishman who I had just met a month before said I’d do that with you I
before said I’d do that with you I
before said I’d do that with you I didn’t know how to react
didn’t know how to react
didn’t know how to react so I laugh and I said let’s do it
so I laugh and I said let’s do it
so I laugh and I said let’s do it now up until that point in my life
now up until that point in my life
now up until that point in my life experiences that’s when the conversation
experiences that’s when the conversation
experiences that’s when the conversation would end we would change the subject
would end we would change the subject
would end we would change the subject but it didn’t we kept on talking about
but it didn’t we kept on talking about
but it didn’t we kept on talking about it at first it was just between the two
it at first it was just between the two
it at first it was just between the two of us but eventually we started talking
of us but eventually we started talking
of us but eventually we started talking telling more and more people about our
telling more and more people about our
telling more and more people about our idea until eventually so many people
idea until eventually so many people
idea until eventually so many people knew about it we saw that we had to do
knew about it we saw that we had to do
knew about it we saw that we had to do it in December when we decided we would
it in December when we decided we would
it in December when we decided we would actually move forward with my idea I
actually move forward with my idea I
actually move forward with my idea I realized something that changed my life
realized something that changed my life
realized something that changed my life and that’s the power of saying yes and
and that’s the power of saying yes and
and that’s the power of saying yes and that casual dinner conversation in
that casual dinner conversation in
that casual dinner conversation in October when yon said yes to an idea
October when yon said yes to an idea
October when yon said yes to an idea that I had never taken seriously he
that I had never taken seriously he
that I had never taken seriously he convinced us to do something that would
convinced us to do something that would
convinced us to do something that would probably change our life forever it
probably change our life forever it
probably change our life forever it would be the coolest thing we would ever
would be the coolest thing we would ever
would be the coolest thing we would ever do and so rule number one for pushing
do and so rule number one for pushing
do and so rule number one for pushing your personal boundaries is to stay yes
your personal boundaries is to stay yes
your personal boundaries is to stay yes in the following months we began
in the following months we began
in the following months we began preparing for our trip we quickly
preparing for our trip we quickly
preparing for our trip we quickly changed our Christmas and birthday
changed our Christmas and birthday
changed our Christmas and birthday wishlist we no longer needed new clothes
wishlist we no longer needed new clothes
wishlist we no longer needed new clothes or fancy toys but now we needed skinny
or fancy toys but now we needed skinny
or fancy toys but now we needed skinny tight biking spandex we needed the
tight biking spandex we needed the
tight biking spandex we needed the world’s smallest travel towels and we
world’s smallest travel towels and we
world’s smallest travel towels and we need a chafing cream we naively
need a chafing cream we naively
need a chafing cream we naively committed to biking across the country
committed to biking across the country
committed to biking across the country before we had any idea how we would
before we had any idea how we would
before we had any idea how we would navigate ourselves across it’s easy to
navigate ourselves across it’s easy to
navigate ourselves across it’s easy to build a Google map luckily after a bit
build a Google map luckily after a bit
build a Google map luckily after a bit of research we found by specific maps
of research we found by specific maps
of research we found by specific maps that would guide us through the country
that would guide us through the country
that would guide us through the country but even with these maps I still have no
but even with these maps I still have no
but even with these maps I still have no idea how reasonably far we can bike in a
idea how reasonably far we can bike in a
idea how reasonably far we can bike in a day could we do a hundred kilometers six
day could we do a hundred kilometers six
day could we do a hundred kilometers six days a week for two months straight we
days a week for two months straight we
days a week for two months straight we biked a hundred kilometers and go over a
biked a hundred kilometers and go over a
biked a hundred kilometers and go over a 2000 meter
2000 meter
2000 meter in one day so I think what any good
in one day so I think what any good
in one day so I think what any good navigator does and I guess by April Jana
navigator does and I guess by April Jana
navigator does and I guess by April Jana had purchased his new bicycle he was
had purchased his new bicycle he was
had purchased his new bicycle he was ready to go
ready to go
ready to go I on the other hand or to mine over the
I on the other hand or to mine over the
I on the other hand or to mine over the phones from the US I gave them my
phones from the US I gave them my
phones from the US I gave them my dimensions and hopeful for the best
dimensions and hopeful for the best
dimensions and hopeful for the best point out but I traveled back so high
point out but I traveled back so high
point out but I traveled back so high other than two days before the start of
other than two days before the start of
other than two days before the start of our trip I picked up my new bicycle
our trip I picked up my new bicycle
our trip I picked up my new bicycle luckily like a dream young travelers
luckily like a dream young travelers
luckily like a dream young travelers from Austria while I after my pit stop
from Austria while I after my pit stop
from Austria while I after my pit stop in Ohio traveled on where we met up in
in Ohio traveled on where we met up in
in Ohio traveled on where we met up in Oregon after putting my bike together we
Oregon after putting my bike together we
Oregon after putting my bike together we began biking through the city of
began biking through the city of
began biking through the city of Portland it seemed appropriate to start
Portland it seemed appropriate to start
Portland it seemed appropriate to start in this bike crate city
in this bike crate city
in this bike crate city seeing as we were about to end or one of
seeing as we were about to end or one of
seeing as we were about to end or one of the most quite crazy things I could have
the most quite crazy things I could have
the most quite crazy things I could have a thought on and all was good and so we
a thought on and all was good and so we
a thought on and all was good and so we started writing that’s my buddy and as
started writing that’s my buddy and as
started writing that’s my buddy and as we were riding I hit my first small bump
we were riding I hit my first small bump
we were riding I hit my first small bump in the road literally in the front bag
in the road literally in the front bag
in the road literally in the front bag on the front so right down that’s the
on the front so right down that’s the
on the front so right down that’s the bag I needed to navigate my map was on
bag I needed to navigate my map was on
bag I needed to navigate my map was on top oh no then biked a little bit
top oh no then biked a little bit
top oh no then biked a little bit further I had another small bomb and
further I had another small bomb and
further I had another small bomb and boom a two-front back started to fly
boom a two-front back started to fly
boom a two-front back started to fly everywhere oh no at this point three of
everywhere oh no at this point three of
everywhere oh no at this point three of my five bags
my five bags
my five bags we’re either flopped down so I couldn’t
we’re either flopped down so I couldn’t
we’re either flopped down so I couldn’t use it or ready to fly off of the hinge
use it or ready to fly off of the hinge
use it or ready to fly off of the hinge de- one was getting off to a booming
de- one was getting off to a booming
de- one was getting off to a booming start we woke up the next morning
start we woke up the next morning
start we woke up the next morning excited for our new adventure my first
excited for our new adventure my first
excited for our new adventure my first goal was to get a picture along the
goal was to get a picture along the
goal was to get a picture along the ocean so that later on in the trip we
ocean so that later on in the trip we
ocean so that later on in the trip we could take a similar picture in the
could take a similar picture in the
could take a similar picture in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean well eager and nervous that we would
well eager and nervous that we would
well eager and nervous that we would miss the water we stopped at the first
miss the water we stopped at the first
miss the water we stopped at the first beach the only problem was there was a
beach the only problem was there was a
beach the only problem was there was a field of huge rocks in between us in the
field of huge rocks in between us in the
field of huge rocks in between us in the water
water
water the length of a football pitch so what
the length of a football pitch so what
the length of a football pitch so what did we do well right over those rocks
did we do well right over those rocks
did we do well right over those rocks forty kilo likes to take this picture
the worst beach we picked how we did the
the worst beach we picked how we did the break our ankles I’ll never know I swear
break our ankles I’ll never know I swear
break our ankles I’ll never know I swear there was a whole page of rocks there
there was a whole page of rocks there
there was a whole page of rocks there and after that our first mini adventure
and after that our first mini adventure
and after that our first mini adventure we then reached our first stoplight now
we then reached our first stoplight now
we then reached our first stoplight now admittedly young and I haven’t really
admittedly young and I haven’t really
admittedly young and I haven’t really practiced enough on how to clip in and
practiced enough on how to clip in and
practiced enough on how to clip in and out of our bike pedals and that became
out of our bike pedals and that became
out of our bike pedals and that became comically evidenced when at that first
comically evidenced when at that first
comically evidenced when at that first stoplight young fields unclip from his
stoplight young fields unclip from his
stoplight young fields unclip from his bike and he fell over and was being like
bike and he fell over and was being like
bike and he fell over and was being like slow motion I figured with my bag drama
slow motion I figured with my bag drama
slow motion I figured with my bag drama and yawns falling over on day one at
and yawns falling over on day one at
and yawns falling over on day one at that point there was probably about a
that point there was probably about a
that point there was probably about a 20% chance we actually made it to New
20% chance we actually made it to New
20% chance we actually made it to New York City but we did what we always do
York City but we did what we always do
York City but we did what we always do we laughed and he kept on going
we laughed and he kept on going
we laughed and he kept on going despite out really drama we quickly fell
despite out really drama we quickly fell
despite out really drama we quickly fell into a beautifully simplistic daily
into a beautifully simplistic daily
into a beautifully simplistic daily routine we get up with the Sun we biked
routine we get up with the Sun we biked
routine we get up with the Sun we biked for about eight hours this was stupid by
for about eight hours this was stupid by
for about eight hours this was stupid by the way this was that about 130
the way this was that about 130
the way this was that about 130 kilometers in my legs were stationed so
kilometers in my legs were stationed so
kilometers in my legs were stationed so that was a bad idea we would then set up
that was a bad idea we would then set up
that was a bad idea we would then set up our camp and we’d go to bed with the Sun
our camp and we’d go to bed with the Sun
our camp and we’d go to bed with the Sun we haven’t really trained for the
we haven’t really trained for the
we haven’t really trained for the trigger so I expected the worst muscles
trigger so I expected the worst muscles
trigger so I expected the worst muscles so sore wouldn’t be able to walk
so sore wouldn’t be able to walk
so sore wouldn’t be able to walk changing between my legs so bad would
changing between my legs so bad would
changing between my legs so bad would get infected and sunburns so extreme
get infected and sunburns so extreme
get infected and sunburns so extreme that we would be glowing at night and
that we would be glowing at night and
that we would be glowing at night and despite the fact that I thought all of
despite the fact that I thought all of
despite the fact that I thought all of those things were gonna happen I still
those things were gonna happen I still
those things were gonna happen I still thought this was a good idea
thought this was a good idea
thought this was a good idea I tend to plan for the worst and hope
I tend to plan for the worst and hope
I tend to plan for the worst and hope for the best
for the best
for the best luckily hope prevails and we never had a
luckily hope prevails and we never had a
luckily hope prevails and we never had a serious chafing we were never very sore
serious chafing we were never very sore
serious chafing we were never very sore and I only had one bad sunburn and
and I only had one bad sunburn and
and I only had one bad sunburn and that’s because I forgot the Sun would
that’s because I forgot the Sun would
that’s because I forgot the Sun would get through the holes in my helmet
waking 140 kilometers a day six days a
waking 140 kilometers a day six days a week for two and a half months sounds
week for two and a half months sounds
week for two and a half months sounds intimidating by the time we completed
intimidating by the time we completed
intimidating by the time we completed our journey we had wiped through 14
our journey we had wiped through 14
our journey we had wiped through 14 states in over 6,000 kilometers let me
states in over 6,000 kilometers let me
states in over 6,000 kilometers let me tell you that is a long time to look at
tell you that is a long time to look at
tell you that is a long time to look at the same backside
in order to pass our time in the saddle
in order to pass our time in the saddle would come up with different games to
would come up with different games to
would come up with different games to play our favorite game is called top 5
play our favorite game is called top 5
play our favorite game is called top 5 making your top 5 favorite musicians
making your top 5 favorite musicians
making your top 5 favorite musicians name your top 5 favorite athletes well
name your top 5 favorite athletes well
name your top 5 favorite athletes well one of the questions we came up with or
one of the questions we came up with or
one of the questions we came up with or what are the top 5 words you would want
what are the top 5 words you would want
what are the top 5 words you would want someone else to use to describe it
someone else to use to describe it
someone else to use to describe it wasn’t all fun games for us on the road
wasn’t all fun games for us on the road
wasn’t all fun games for us on the road sometimes we got philosophical
sometimes we got philosophical
sometimes we got philosophical coincidentally at that time in our riot
coincidentally at that time in our riot
coincidentally at that time in our riot I had heard from different family
I had heard from different family
I had heard from different family members and friends who had said that
members and friends who had said that
members and friends who had said that all right had inspired them to be more
all right had inspired them to be more
all right had inspired them to be more active if even just a little bit it was
active if even just a little bit it was
active if even just a little bit it was at that point that I realized I could
at that point that I realized I could
at that point that I realized I could inspire people to be more active to do
inspire people to be more active to do
inspire people to be more active to do more if again it was only on a small
more if again it was only on a small
more if again it was only on a small scale this moral support reminded me of
scale this moral support reminded me of
scale this moral support reminded me of what became the second rule – breaking
what became the second rule – breaking
what became the second rule – breaking personal boundaries and that is believe
personal boundaries and that is believe
personal boundaries and that is believe in yourself you can do more than you
in yourself you can do more than you
in yourself you can do more than you think you’re capable of and when you
think you’re capable of and when you
think you’re capable of and when you think of the five words you want someone
think of the five words you want someone
think of the five words you want someone used to describe you I hope that small
used to describe you I hope that small
used to describe you I hope that small scale inspirational is one of them for
scale inspirational is one of them for
scale inspirational is one of them for the most part the biking itself wasn’t
the most part the biking itself wasn’t
the most part the biking itself wasn’t terribly challenging we biked at a very
terribly challenging we biked at a very
terribly challenging we biked at a very casual comfortable pace but when the
casual comfortable pace but when the
casual comfortable pace but when the weather decided to get involved things
weather decided to get involved things
weather decided to get involved things got interesting I remember taking our
got interesting I remember taking our
got interesting I remember taking our last rest break on a hot 140 kilometer
last rest break on a hot 140 kilometer
last rest break on a hot 140 kilometer day when I asked Jana said hey young
day when I asked Jana said hey young
day when I asked Jana said hey young does that look like to you he said hmm I
does that look like to you he said hmm I
does that look like to you he said hmm I don’t know we don’t have tornadoes in
don’t know we don’t have tornadoes in
don’t know we don’t have tornadoes in England that kind of looks like what
England that kind of looks like what
England that kind of looks like what I’ve seen in the movies I said yeah I
I’ve seen in the movies I said yeah I
I’ve seen in the movies I said yeah I kind of thought it was like a funnel
kind of thought it was like a funnel
kind of thought it was like a funnel cloud and a right at that moment a man
cloud and a right at that moment a man
cloud and a right at that moment a man pulled over at his party said hey
pulled over at his party said hey
pulled over at his party said hey there’s a tornado you guys got a go
there’s a tornado you guys got a go
there’s a tornado you guys got a go right well couldn’t take a ride in a car
right well couldn’t take a ride in a car
right well couldn’t take a ride in a car to be cheating we had to ride our bikes
to be cheating we had to ride our bikes
to be cheating we had to ride our bikes across America and it was while biking
across America and it was while biking
across America and it was while biking away from that tornado as fast as we
away from that tornado as fast as we
away from that tornado as fast as we could that I realize we might have lost
could that I realize we might have lost
could that I realize we might have lost just a little bit of our sanity
happy to report we were faster than you
happy to report we were faster than you tornado I don’t actually know if it ever
tornado I don’t actually know if it ever
tornado I don’t actually know if it ever touchdown everyone as far as I know was
touchdown everyone as far as I know was
touchdown everyone as far as I know was okay
okay
okay while we were biking in Minnesota we
while we were biking in Minnesota we
while we were biking in Minnesota we experienced an unbelievably intense heat
experienced an unbelievably intense heat
experienced an unbelievably intense heat wave the temperatures in the road would
wave the temperatures in the road would
wave the temperatures in the road would exceeded 48 degrees Celsius yeah and we
exceeded 48 degrees Celsius yeah and we
exceeded 48 degrees Celsius yeah and we were still biking 130 kilometers dead
were still biking 130 kilometers dead
were still biking 130 kilometers dead I’ll never forget being totally confused
I’ll never forget being totally confused
I’ll never forget being totally confused by this weird popping sound that was
by this weird popping sound that was
by this weird popping sound that was happening and so finally I realized that
happening and so finally I realized that
happening and so finally I realized that was the sound of our bike tires going
was the sound of our bike tires going
was the sound of our bike tires going over the road which was actually melting
over the road which was actually melting
over the road which was actually melting beneath us we survived while the weather
beneath us we survived while the weather
beneath us we survived while the weather made things interesting the most
made things interesting the most
made things interesting the most dangerous part of Iraq was by far the
dangerous part of Iraq was by far the
dangerous part of Iraq was by far the traffic and I got a quick introduction
traffic and I got a quick introduction
traffic and I got a quick introduction into that on a third day when we had one
into that on a third day when we had one
into that on a third day when we had one of our first big descents I wasn’t quite
of our first big descents I wasn’t quite
of our first big descents I wasn’t quite yet comfortable with my extremely heavy
yet comfortable with my extremely heavy
yet comfortable with my extremely heavy bicycle and maneuvering what all of a
bicycle and maneuvering what all of a
bicycle and maneuvering what all of a sudden I found myself barreling down a
sudden I found myself barreling down a
sudden I found myself barreling down a hill at 50 kilometres an hour
hill at 50 kilometres an hour
hill at 50 kilometres an hour terrifying and so we realized there was
terrifying and so we realized there was
terrifying and so we realized there was construction and we then had to merge
construction and we then had to merge
construction and we then had to merge into traffic and I ended up directly in
into traffic and I ended up directly in
into traffic and I ended up directly in front of a huge transportation truck I
front of a huge transportation truck I
front of a huge transportation truck I have never been more aware of my
have never been more aware of my
have never been more aware of my surroundings or my mortality then while
surroundings or my mortality then while
surroundings or my mortality then while 10 meters in front of that truck I’m
10 meters in front of that truck I’m
10 meters in front of that truck I’m knowing that if I made one small move I
knowing that if I made one small move I
knowing that if I made one small move I was doing I later found out those are
was doing I later found out those are
was doing I later found out those are the stories don’t tell your mom
the landscape we crossed was absolutely
the landscape we crossed was absolutely gorgeous and when we did have roads that
gorgeous and when we did have roads that
gorgeous and when we did have roads that were long flat boring there were some
were long flat boring there were some
were long flat boring there were some pretty major a sense that we had to bike
pretty major a sense that we had to bike
pretty major a sense that we had to bike over and while they always expected
over and while they always expected
over and while they always expected biking over the Rocky Mountains would be
biking over the Rocky Mountains would be
biking over the Rocky Mountains would be challenging and it was that wasn’t even
challenging and it was that wasn’t even
challenging and it was that wasn’t even almost difficult to senator it was in
almost difficult to senator it was in
almost difficult to senator it was in the middle of the country I want to be
the middle of the country I want to be
the middle of the country I want to be specific well there are no mountains in
specific well there are no mountains in
specific well there are no mountains in study that we had our most difficult
study that we had our most difficult
study that we had our most difficult ascent we were biking along the river
ascent we were biking along the river
ascent we were biking along the river when all of a sudden the directions call
when all of a sudden the directions call
when all of a sudden the directions call us Rick sharp right turn out of the
us Rick sharp right turn out of the
us Rick sharp right turn out of the valley back steep unbelievably steep
valley back steep unbelievably steep
valley back steep unbelievably steep rainy bike of that pillar
rainy bike of that pillar
rainy bike of that pillar almost killed us again it didn’t we
almost killed us again it didn’t we
almost killed us again it didn’t we spent most of our nights in a small
spent most of our nights in a small
spent most of our nights in a small two-man ten better students for one
two-man ten better students for one
two-man ten better students for one adult we found that in most small towns
adult we found that in most small towns
adult we found that in most small towns we could pretty much set our tent up in
we could pretty much set our tent up in
we could pretty much set our tent up in any public area as long as we asked the
any public area as long as we asked the
any public area as long as we asked the right people only the police and we
right people only the police and we
right people only the police and we could end up next to a playground or a
could end up next to a playground or a
could end up next to a playground or a swimming pool was gorgeous we also set
swimming pool was gorgeous we also set
swimming pool was gorgeous we also set up our tent along the Mississippi River
up our tent along the Mississippi River
up our tent along the Mississippi River in the middle of random fields and in
in the middle of random fields and in
in the middle of random fields and in people’s front yards with the permission
people’s front yards with the permission
people’s front yards with the permission of course I also managed to get a shower
of course I also managed to get a shower
of course I also managed to get a shower every night except for one which was
every night except for one which was
every night except for one which was really important for me because after
really important for me because after
really important for me because after sweating and sunscreen and bike dirt our
sweating and sunscreen and bike dirt our
sweating and sunscreen and bike dirt our skin actually turned 20 colors because
skin actually turned 20 colors because
skin actually turned 20 colors because the dirt the last thing I wanted to do
the dirt the last thing I wanted to do
the dirt the last thing I wanted to do was climb into his sleeping bag over all
was climb into his sleeping bag over all
was climb into his sleeping bag over all our camping experiences were quite
our camping experiences were quite
our camping experiences were quite positive but by the time we were
positive but by the time we were
positive but by the time we were finished with our big adventure and
finished with our big adventure and
finished with our big adventure and never needed camp again
never needed camp again
never needed camp again we obviously spent most of our time
we obviously spent most of our time
we obviously spent most of our time biking that’s what we were doing but we
biking that’s what we were doing but we
biking that’s what we were doing but we also found time to
also found time to
also found time to everything that small-town USA has to
everything that small-town USA has to
everything that small-town USA has to offer we visited the random tourist
offer we visited the random tourist
offer we visited the random tourist traps across America that’s makes it so
traps across America that’s makes it so
traps across America that’s makes it so endearing the world’s largest thermal
endearing the world’s largest thermal
endearing the world’s largest thermal spa the geographic center of North
spa the geographic center of North
spa the geographic center of North America the world’s largest boots
America the world’s largest boots
America the world’s largest boots but for me I’m most exciting or fun
but for me I’m most exciting or fun
but for me I’m most exciting or fun leisure activity was when we decided to
leisure activity was when we decided to
leisure activity was when we decided to go to a baseball game in Great Falls
go to a baseball game in Great Falls
go to a baseball game in Great Falls Montana now experiencing a baseball game
Montana now experiencing a baseball game
Montana now experiencing a baseball game with an Englishman was interesting in
with an Englishman was interesting in
with an Englishman was interesting in itself but it was an extra bonus when we
itself but it was an extra bonus when we
itself but it was an extra bonus when we showed up and relaxed they were giving
showed up and relaxed they were giving
showed up and relaxed they were giving away free boxes of cereal to the first
away free boxes of cereal to the first
away free boxes of cereal to the first 500 people now we didn’t have room for a
500 people now we didn’t have room for a
500 people now we didn’t have room for a box of cereal on our bikes and we were
box of cereal on our bikes and we were
box of cereal on our bikes and we were always hungry
always hungry
always hungry so the who shamelessly ate those boxes
so the who shamelessly ate those boxes
so the who shamelessly ate those boxes of cereals throughout the game which
of cereals throughout the game which
of cereals throughout the game which surprisingly no one else did they were
surprisingly no one else did they were
surprisingly no one else did they were pretty dry in the end the hardest part
pretty dry in the end the hardest part
pretty dry in the end the hardest part of biking across America was having it
of biking across America was having it
of biking across America was having it come to a close we’ve spent over six
come to a close we’ve spent over six
come to a close we’ve spent over six months planning for it and over two
months planning for it and over two
months planning for it and over two months actually doing it and we biked
months actually doing it and we biked
months actually doing it and we biked through New York City and have a great
through New York City and have a great
through New York City and have a great as a bike in the New York City
as a bike in the New York City
as a bike in the New York City I was not only overwhelmed by all of the
I was not only overwhelmed by all of the
I was not only overwhelmed by all of the carbons but also this mix of feelings
carbons but also this mix of feelings
carbons but also this mix of feelings that I didn’t expect this only
that I didn’t expect this only
that I didn’t expect this only intensified as we stood at the Atlantic
intensified as we stood at the Atlantic
intensified as we stood at the Atlantic Ocean realizing we had made and when I
Ocean realizing we had made and when I
Ocean realizing we had made and when I thought back to those first days and all
thought back to those first days and all
thought back to those first days and all of the adventures in-between couldn’t
of the adventures in-between couldn’t
of the adventures in-between couldn’t believe we were actually there and then
believe we were actually there and then
believe we were actually there and then with the excitement of two small
with the excitement of two small
with the excitement of two small children we plunged riding
children we plunged riding
children we plunged riding that salt water has never tasted so
that salt water has never tasted so
that salt water has never tasted so sweet before I was overwhelmed with
sweet before I was overwhelmed with
sweet before I was overwhelmed with pride but also sadness that I was over
pride but also sadness that I was over
pride but also sadness that I was over one thing was for sure though we had
one thing was for sure though we had
one thing was for sure though we had accomplished one of the most special
accomplished one of the most special
accomplished one of the most special things we ever would well also not just
things we ever would well also not just
things we ever would well also not just inspiring ourselves but also inspiring
inspiring ourselves but also inspiring
inspiring ourselves but also inspiring others when we completed the ride I
others when we completed the ride I
others when we completed the ride I think that this would be the pinnacle
think that this would be the pinnacle
think that this would be the pinnacle sure godmother well hopefully have other
sure godmother well hopefully have other
sure godmother well hopefully have other lifetime milestones like getting married
lifetime milestones like getting married
lifetime milestones like getting married and having kids but what I ever
and having kids but what I ever
and having kids but what I ever experienced an adventure quite like this
experienced an adventure quite like this
experienced an adventure quite like this probably not but I promised myself I
probably not but I promised myself I
probably not but I promised myself I would be open to new ideas and that
would be open to new ideas and that
would be open to new ideas and that leads me to the third and final rule for
leads me to the third and final rule for
leads me to the third and final rule for breaking personal boundaries and that’s
breaking personal boundaries and that’s
breaking personal boundaries and that’s to allow yourself to be inspired by
to allow yourself to be inspired by
to allow yourself to be inspired by others especially after two people don’t
others especially after two people don’t
others especially after two people don’t just hear people when they speak but
just hear people when they speak but
just hear people when they speak but listen allow yourself to be moved and as
listen allow yourself to be moved and as
listen allow yourself to be moved and as I mentioned earlier small-scale inspired
I mentioned earlier small-scale inspired
I mentioned earlier small-scale inspired and with that I found myself back in
and with that I found myself back in
and with that I found myself back in Salzburg back in the cafeteria when an
Salzburg back in the cafeteria when an
Salzburg back in the cafeteria when an the other new staff member said was a
the other new staff member said was a
the other new staff member said was a year ago today that my brother was on
year ago today that my brother was on
year ago today that my brother was on top of Kilimanjaro yawn and I looked at
top of Kilimanjaro yawn and I looked at
top of Kilimanjaro yawn and I looked at each other
thinking no our mold people climb
thinking no our mold people climb Kilimanjaro
but that is for another talk
but that is for another talk [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment