Ready to ride and spread the sustainable word
By Josh Posted on April 27th, 2009 in Featured, Latest News, TravelEditor’s note: Our latest author is Josh, here to keep us updated as he bikes 2,000 kilometres across Canada’s Prairies – nary food or a dime to his name, and keeping it 100% sustainable. Check out his bio and keep up to date with his progress. We welcome him to the ecoki team!
With only a couple days left before the beginning of my new journey, I find myself with almost no time, running and riding all over town trying to tighten all my loose ends. Saying an appropriate goodbye to everyone is an impossible task when they all need at least a day of complete 
attention. I’ve discovered I have to compress it all, compiling a few goodbye potlucks and just go.
If I turn around to give my farewells again I probably won’t ever get out of here, and this is something I truly want/need to do.
I’m Josh Suppan and I will be spending the entire summer on my bicycle.
The birth of this idea took place a couple years ago when something just sparked in my mind; I had to get a bike and learn everything possible about it! This same attitude rings true still today as I type this with fingers covered in bicycle grease, in a basement littered with bikes and bicycle parts.
My fascination with bikes is not really something I can describe; I just see a bike and want to get to know it intimately. This all probably sounds crazy and, well, maybe it is, but I’ve found what makes the most sense to me in the world and now I’m going to share it with everyone.
To kick off my bike adventure this summer I have teamed up with The Otesha Project (www.otesha.ca), an organization out of Ottawa that designs bike tours through Canada. The tours take the riders to different towns and cities and into their schools/community events to educate people on sustainable living practices (i.e. water conservation, organic food, bicycles, clothing).
The tour I am apart of (Prairie Sky Tour) runs from Calgary to Edmonton, over to Saskatoon, and down into Regina, stopping in towns in between. Myself and 10 others will be doing this ride starting May 7th into the last week of June, roughly 2 months of living in tents and eating delicious, delicious vegetables!
To be apart of Otesha we are expected to fundraise $1900.00 which goes towards our food/lodging, et cetera, as well as different administrative costs. With our fundraising contributions Otesha is much less dependent on government and corporate sponsorship, which is definitely noteworthy!
I raised money in different ways, ranging from bake sales to opening a bike shop in my basement. I spent about 6 weeks raising the money and it went very successful. I am very grateful at the amount of support my community has given me.
Following this Otesha tour I am planning a ride from Regina to Vancouver, and then probably ride along the coast. I’m not too sure, really, a lot of this stuff is still in the air; all I really know is that I will be riding my bike. To keep in touch with what I’m doing check out my periodical updates here at ecoki.
Image courtesy of The Otesha Project
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Discussion Take a look at what is being said about this article.
Jameson, on April 27th, 2009 says:
Last summer I camped in Yellowstone, and as I was driving through the entrance, there was a guy on a bicycle riding up an extremely steep slope on his way out. You could tell by his beard that he had just finished biking through the whole park. It was an extremely inspirational image for me.
Good luck Josh, I’m sure you’ll inspire many of the people you pass on your trip!
Eric, on April 27th, 2009 says:
I rode my bike across the U.S. (4,250 miles) almost 10 years ago. I look back on it as one of the greatest experiences of my life. I can’t wait to get the chance to do it again. Next time, I’d love to ride across Canada. Good luck Josh…I’m sure you’ll have a great time!
Justin Hartland, on April 28th, 2009 says:
Hey Josh, this is pretty awesome mate, keep up the great work! Would love to see some video of your travels here also.
Envira, on April 28th, 2009 says:
This is a great example of what people can do to make a difference. Not to mention that you will be in fantastic shape. We are glad to have you as part of our team here at Ecoki mate, cant wait to see what adventures you have coming up!
Vanessa, on April 29th, 2009 says:
Hey Josh! It’s Wednesday morning and you’ve been gone less than 12 hours but I can’t help but think about you stuck on a bus. Soon you will be back on Evelyn, pedaling your way through the Prairies. Hang in there! I can’t wait for you to write more as your adventure continues to unfold. I missed you even before you left, but I know our paths will cross again soon! Much love Jash!
Dad, on April 29th, 2009 says:
I am so glad you are doing this, it is for many good reasons and you also take a little of me with you on this trip. I hope it will inspire a lot of other people to think about our land and the world we live in. It is a beautiful world and we as citizens can make it even better. Love and Blessings
Principessa, on May 24th, 2009 says:
I hope you’re well! Reread this article to a bunch of friends that have heard of Otesha after the Folk Arts Festival last night. It was amazing! Lazo and the Radicals are a wicked reggae band Sheenstar told me about and they were playing for free at Montebello! It was kick ass! Anyways, after reading this article out loud to a group of people (it has now been the third or fourth time), I had to post a comment in reference to the last paragraph of your article. WE are traveling the coast from Vancouver to sunny California. I’ve always wanted to (even my mother when she was my age) so it’s happening! And if we can build a tandem together when I head to Vancouver at the end of August (or early September) and ride that down, the journey would be even sweeter! But that’s my least of my worries. Right now, I’m trying to tell everyone about Ecoki (so as to check out your articles and future updates, which also updates me so I can live vicariously through your travels! I can’t wait until work is over and I can head back to the city where my soul entered this world!
Much love ALWAYZ!
Vanooshka
xoxox