“Our rides began each day as the sky woke up around 6 am. As we traversed 1,500 miles of Europe, from Amsterdam to Barcelona, we would tackle as many early miles as possible. And each morning, whether it brought with it an exquisite sunrise, a heavy downpour, a thousand-meter mountain pass, or miles of vineyards, presented a unique opportunity to look around before the rest of the world was in motion.
Our group of ten high school students made this trip in 20 riding days, averaging 75 miles per day with fully loaded bikes (and baguettes bungee-corded to our panniers). We experienced great camaraderie with riders from all around Europe, and in each of the 7 countries we passed through, we met new faces, obstacles, and adventures. On our periodic rest days in remote Belgian, Swiss, and French towns, we appreciated good coffee, old castles, and local shop owners who maintained conversations with us—despite varying levels of proficiency in a common language.
Traveling lightly was essential, and carrying all our gear quickly brought to light how little we actually needed. We improvised when the GPS led us up a mountain with a washed-out switchback and laughed it off when things didn’t go as planned or when we spent all morning (or day!) climbing. I took lots of pictures but had my camera stolen on the last day of the trip. Regardless, I remember most of these climbs more vividly than I remember eating breakfast this morning.
If there’s one thing I learned, it’s that presence begets preservation, much more than pictures or stories can. Some things you can only experience once and no photo can capture. Running into the Mediterranean off the Barcelona shore following the intensity of the previous month was one of these instances. In order to really feel connected to the world, you have to engage with it, meet the people in it, and (sometimes) wake up before 8 a.m.” ~ Cassie from the United States #FearlessGlobalCitizen
