Shifting Gears: AOTE Sustainability Bike Tour

The Awesome Sustainability Team

2007-01-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to ALL of our SPONSORS

2007-01-12T13:56:00.000-08:00

Very special thanks to our Sponsors:

Planet Bike
Alacer Corp.
Sock Guy
Cream of the Crop
Falcon Trading Company
Patagonia
Wheele
Bell Helmets
Jean Michel Cousteau
Brett Hammond
The Bike Kitchen
Alex Moving
Lee & Joe
Santa Barbara Farmers Market
Cambria Farmers Market
Dan Sullivan Images

Thanks to our Catalina friends that contributed and cheered us on along the way- Sara, Rose, Chris E., Keri, Brent, Dakota, Chris H., Christine, JJ, Emily! The Sustainable Living Bike Tour would not have been the success that it was without all of your support.

For more on photography by Dan Sullivan, visit www.dansullivanimages.com

Day 24 and 25: Sustainability Now and for our Futures!

2006-12-13T15:32:00.000-08:00

Day 25: Wednesday December 13th, 2006

Box bikes up and return to Los Angeles.

Back to our homes; now with a greater sense of sustainabilty and community to share with all!

We hope to see all of you again at our AOTE programs, in our communities, and next year along our annual Sustainable Bike Outreach Tour.

It was a tough good bye to good friends. Bikes were boxed up, riders flew to be home with their families throughout the country. Everyone was eager to share stories of their adventure and accomplishment.

Goodbye Everyone!
Slowly people started to trickle away- to train stations, airports, and carpooling off to our respective winter adventures.

Thank you to all of the students who provided us with the energy and inspiration to do the ride and thanks again to everyone who housed, fed, financed and supported us along the way. We couldn’t have done it without you.

See you next year!

Day 24: Tuesday December 12th, 2006

Morning ride 20 miles to Mar Vista High School.
Afternoon ride 12 miles to our last home stay and our final Sustainable Bike Tour celebration at the Brisebois'.

Reunited for our last school and our final day of riding, we catch a morning ferry to Coronado and ride down the Silver Strand bike path. Everyone in San Diego should try this flat fun ride with the San Diego Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other! After our bay side picnic we arrived at Mar Vista High School, home of the Posiedon Academy. Our riders got a chance to talk candidly about their job experience and career paths, exposing 11th graders to outdoor, adventure opportunities. We also explored biodiversity in our perspectives, skills and life. We are looking forward to some early morning soil sifting with Mar Vista on the Island in the Spring!

Then, we rode our last few miles to Friendship Park, a grassy park on the beach south of the Tijuana Estuary where the Mexican American Border fence disappears into the Pacific Ocean, a powerfully fascinating and complex space to end our exploration of California's coastal communities! This look at the beach and its surroundings captured all of our senses and curiousities- the litter, the wall, the pollution, the plantlife, and the border patrol helicoptors buzzing above. Our time on that beach reflecting on our three week journey emphasized what our riders hope that the students we visited along the way learned, that- we must "be the change we wish to see in the world". We can take action in our everday lives to make our home, school and city communities better places to be!

Our Last School!
Mellow ride to the Coronado ferry where we got some spectacular views of the city of San Diego as we rode to Mar Vista school in Imperial Beach. At Mar Vista, Kathy and Cynthya facilitated our final slideshows of the trip with the same energy as our first slideshows over 3 weeks ago. Well Done! Following the slideshows, each cyclist gave a quick history of how they ended up at Catalina and discussed what options students have for a career in environmental education. One of the main points made was that any job you have could be environmental in nature from working in an office to construction to being a doctor- everyone can strive to reduce their ecological footprint and as a steward of the earth teach others how to do the same. After Mar Vista we rode to the Brisebois home in Bonita for a final celebration feast and toast to all who supported us along our journey of over 700 miles. Emotions were mixed and bodies were tired, but you could sense the pride and satisfaction in the group. Thank you Mark, Sandy, Parker and Ross for the food and the warmth and for allowing us to take over your entire home.

That night we celebrated a safe & healthy ride, a ride filled with inspiring sights, students and schools. This tour gave us a new appreciation of cycling, a practical perspective that bikes can be used for everyday errands or for extended vacations. We learned that when we challenge ourselves, and work together we can accomplish anything!

Day 23: Home (and hamstring) Stretch

2006-12-11T14:13:00.000-08:00

The Pacific Beach group rides 10 miles east to Mission Valley for a visit to Warren Walker Middle School, where it was free dress day and everyone was in their pajamas! We shared a slideshow of our ride with the 7th and 8th graders. Then we got our hands dirty with the 6th graders, we built a raised bed for rosemary and lavender. In January the sixth graders will plant vegetable seeds. We hope things are growing well. After school, our riders explored the beautiful gardens of Balboa Park. We stayed at Warren Walker that night on a record number of couches! Thanks for your warm hospitality!

The Carlsbad crew was up early and headed off to visit The Grauer School, where Travis’ brother Isaac teaches music. After riding 12 miles south, we set up a slideshow in the science room and discussed human impact on the local wetlands and the role they plays in reducing the amount of toxins released into the ocean. Students of all ages attended the presentation. We ended our visit with a tour of their new campus construction.

The San Diego crew visited Warren Walker School, where they were welcomed with open arms. There they helped construct a new garden space for the school to add some extra color to their learning environment. Later that evening the Grauer School crew arrived and we were one big group once again. Many thanks to Warren Walker School for allowing us use of their facilities that night.

Day 21 and 22: Beach Break

2006-12-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

Day 22: Sunday December 10th, 2006

Half the team stays in Carlsbad, while the other half of the team rides 30 miles to Pacific Beach.
Afternoon time at the beach!

After our morning regroup and repack, half of our riders took Hwy 1 south to Pacific Beach, a leisurely coastal ride through the towns and lagoons of northern San Diego County. During a smoothie stop we ran into a Sock Guy, what a small cycling world this is. Curry for dinner with Emily.

Day 21: Saturday December 9th, 2006

First non-biking day in 21 days!
Nice to get a little bit of a break from the saddle.

No schools, no planning and no biking were on the agenda today. Some people walked into Carlsbad village for coffee and brunch, others relaxed at the beach house, reading and napping. The rest of the crew braved the chilly pacific and suited up for a surf session right across the road from the beach house. Thanks to the Langen family for our wonderful accommodations and for loaning boards and wetsuits to everyone
On Saturday night we headed up to Travis’ parents home for a celebration dinner and impromptu slideshow of the trip so far. Many thanks Rich and Janice Langen for hosting and feeding us and to the rest of the Langen family and friends for their support.
On Sunday the group will split again, the majority heading down the coast to stay with an island friend Emily Fox in San Diego. Emily hosted last year’s riders

The holidays are coming? We had no idea. Sleeping in, surf sessions, bike shop visits, book store, beach walks, sore muscle hot tub soaks, communication with family, naps, and celebrations fill our day in Carlsbad. Thanks Langens for a lovely holiday party! The evening rain made us very thankful for the indoor accomodations.

Day 20: How many Bananas have we eaten?

2006-12-08T23:34:00.001-08:00

Morning ride 8 miles to St. Annes.

Our riders have hearty appetites, we especially love our fresh fruits and veggies. We decided to compost all of our food during the bike tour and Tim Dundun, the Compost Guru of Altadena, generously accepted our food scraps to feed his chickens and abundant compost heap. The energy and health from his vibrant compost heap refueled us for the urban portion of our tour. Thanks Tim, your passion for compost continues to inspire us. Check him out at www.2doo.com

Today Picnic in the park.

Ride 35 miles to Carlsbad. Home stay at the Langen's.

Our 3 riding crews reunited at St Annes in Laguna Niguel for the largest single assembly of the tour. Next we split to work with students and explore the choices we can make in our everyday lives and how those affect other people and the environment! Students came up with some great ways that they could give back to their home, school, and city communities. Then, we celebrated the season and students' visit to Catalina with an Island style sing-a-long!

Rick and friends from the AIDS Lifecycle hosted our picnic in the park. It was exciting for us to share cycling stories with real cyclists! Many thanks for the tasty lunch.

Back along the coast, through Camp Pendelton, we cruise to our home in Carlsbad for the next couple of days. Being in one spot for 24 hours, what will we do? Go for a bike ride?

Our riders have hearty appetites, we especially love our fresh fruits and veggies. We decided to compost all of our food during the bike tour and Tim Dundun, the Compost Guru of Altadena, generously accepted our food scraps to feed his chickens and abundant compost heap. The energy and health from his vibrant compost heap refueled us for the urban portion of our tour. Thanks Tim, your passion for compost continues to inspire us. Check him out at www.2doo.com

St. Anne’s
The morning began with a short ride from our host families’ homes. Many thanks to Joan, Colleen and Kathy for welcoming us into their homes. The school day started with a theatrical introduction in front of the school following an enthusiastic welcome from both staff and students. From there we broke off into class groups and discussed the ecological footprint of consuming conventionally grown commercial produce versus supporting local organic farmers. Using an apple as our produce, the students acted out all the processes need to bring an apple from a conventional farm from the seed to our homes. The students then discussed what happens to the line of processes when the apple core is composted (it becomes a circle!) and how that cycle can sustain itself for as long as we want to keep growing apples!
Following our successful morning we finished with a group sing-a-long to some camp and Christmas favorites and hopped on our bikes for a short ride to the park for a fresh lunch provided by fellow cyclists Rik Katzmaier and friends. Many thanks for the wonderful lunch, the great conversation and the inspiration to continue riding.
With full stomachs we jumped on the bikes for a coastal trip to the Langen Family beach house.

Day 19: (Ride on) Right on !

2006-12-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

Up at 6for a 7am departure, frosty foggy air and
slick roads in the morning at Huntington beach,
covered some rolling uphill for 30miles
to our only school for the day….

Serra Catholic- we had a chance to visit with
the students from thepast 2 fall seasons.
Instructors were excited to reunite with students
from the last School of the fall that came to
Catalina Island AOTE program.

Cruised back to the coast and then split up for
our homestay.

Day 18: Foothills to the Beach: Separation Anxiety

2006-12-06T18:01:00.001-08:00

Half the team rides 30 miles to Environmental Charter
High School.

Half the team rides 15 miles to Carden of the
Foothills School.

As a full team we ride 43 miles to Manhattan Beach.

An early morning wake up in the CIC office in Altadena
led to some sad goodbyes as this would be the first time
our team splits up for morethan a half a day.
We now know the meaning of "separation anxiety".

The crew of 6 going to Environmental Charter High School
(ECHS) in Lawndale got ready for their 50 mile morning ride
through LA.
Thankgoodness for bike paths… we love them!
They certainly made our morningride fun and full of
laughter and singing most of the way (can't tell you how
many doughnut shops and McDonalds we saw).
We were struck by the change of scenery as we rode into the
heart of the LA urban jungle, getting to explore some new
human communities.
It's amazing to think about how many diverse communities we
have passed through on this bike trip…from the Redwoods to
beaches to canyons and now through cities.

And our fun certainly did not stop when we arrived at ECHS.
The highly energetic students made us feel like rock stars,
if only forthe day. We presented our slideshow to ~130 loud
and energetic 9th graders who were extremely excited to see
and reconnect with us. Then we broke up into smaller groups
for some conscious consumerism activities. It was inspiring
to see how the teachers and students at ECHS are working
together on various projects to better their community.
Thanks to the entire ECHS community for the energy given
to us, and a special thanks to Jenni for letting us overrun
her place!
Good times had by all.

Pegasus- Those of us who had the opportunity to visit
Pegasus School also had the chance to ride nearly 60 miles
before noon! It was a fun ride down a nice bike path along
the San Gabriel River to Huntington Beach. Along the way Nate
got two flat tires! At Pegasus we presented our slideshow to
the entire middle school and chatted about our dearly
beloved bikes. We also met with Pegasus faculty members
and discussed ways in which we could green the school's campus.
Thanks so much to the Contis for the warm reception.

Another crew rode to Carden of the Foothills- full school
intro/presentation, team building, composting introduction,
greening your school discussions. High parent and teacher
interest, participation and support. Thanks to Mona for looking
after all our gear while we rode.
Thanks to Jim Sims and family for hosting us.

Carden of The Foothills: Our visit to Carden started with lunch with the 6th, 7th and 8th graders. It was great to catch up with some students that we remember from the Island and meet some students that we will see on the Island soon! Students shared some of the ways that Catalina has inspired them to live more sustainably. After lunch we had an assembly for the entire school, k-8. Some of the Monrovia City Council Members came to show their support. Also, the local news Kgem filmed our presentation. Then, we split into a rotation of fun workshops: Team Building through Cooperation, Compost Relay/Red wrigglers and How to Give Back to My Community! Thanks Carden for the warm welcome and action packed afternoon! We put our blinky lights on and rode the bike paths to our overnight at Jim Sims.

Day 16 and 17: Keep on Pedaling

2006-12-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

Day 17: Tuesday December 5th, 2006

Half the team rides 12 miles to Flintridge Sacred Heart
and will continue in the afternoon to ride 7 miles to
homestay destination.

Half the team rides 7 miles to Ribet Academy and will
continue in the afternoon to ride 15 miles.

We knew Flintridge Sacred Heart Acadamy was located on top
of a hill,but no one was prepared for what we encountered.
The directions said "rolling uphill", our experience was
more of extreme/massive uphill climbs (the 12 mile ride could
very well have been the most challenging yet for some!).
We barely made it on time, sweaty and tired, but energized
again as soon as we were greeted by the girls from Flintridge.
What a morning!
Beautiful view from campus, expo in amphitheatre, discussing
bike maintenance, ecological footprint, sustainable seafood
choices, and water pollution. It was great to see
the ladies at Flintridge striving to make their lives
greener one step at a time.

Another crew rode to Ribet School for some
"greening your school"activities and slide show presentations.

Carrie, Owen, Christine, Jacob, Travis, Heather and Laurie started the day off with a nice ride through Griffith Park en route to the Ribet Academy. After a picnic breakfast on the front lawn, the team started their presentation with an introduction in the dining hall. Being met with enthusiasm by the entire middle school, the sixth, seventh and eighth graders broke into their respective grades and set off for an afternoon of activity rotations. Carrie and Jacob gave a slide show presentation way up on the 5th floor (thank you students for making the trek up), while Owen, Christine, Laurie and Travis led the students through a handful of activities outside on the patio and in the bleachers including the Seafood Café, Conscious Consumerism, and a new Non-Point Source Pollution game developed by Laurie. It was great to see some familiar faces as well as have a chance to meet some future CELP students. A big thanks to Jamie and the rest of the great folks at Ribet for arranging our visit and making us feel welcomed.

Catalina Island Camps party at night in Altadena (we'll
miss you Courtney and GoGo).
Thanks CIC for the food and the space to sleep!

Day 16: Monday December 4th, 2006

Ride 3 miles to Viewpoint School.
Ride 28 miles to Burbank; homestay at Casa de Nate!

Woke up in Malibu with frozen h2o bottles and people.
A short chilly ride to Viewpoint, fingers numb from the cold.
Took a short time to thaw out our bodies while gardening with
primary school and slide shows with middle and high school.
Worked with all ages this day…K-12! A whirl-wind of a day, we
all felt like we didn't stop moving and it was amazing how much
was accomplished! Pizza party lunch... then to Burbank at
night through beautiful LA bike paths.
Thanks Nate for letting us take over every inch of your place!

Day 15: Last tent and rider standing

2006-12-03T23:13:00.001-08:00

Woke up after a windy sleepless night...
that's right the wind did not stop
-tents were flapping in the gale force
winds howling through the canyon. But
luckily, no matter what was blown at us
somehow our tents stayed standing.
Little did we know our teamwork and creativity
extended to staking and wind proofing.

Rode uphill into the challenging headwind
winding through the beautiful hills of Malibu.
Some riderssay this ~20 mile day was in fact
the hardest day yet, making the downhills on
the other side even more exciting and rewarding.
Arrived at Malibu Creek State Park in time for
lunch, some hiking, and a nap.

Day 14: Celebrations in Malibu

2006-12-02T18:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Kathy!
We slept in at the Emma Woods campsite in
Ventura, some of us not waking up until 8:30am.
WOW!!! We thought the 25 mile day would be a "leisure" day, so
many took advantage of a relaxing morning to swim, eat, lay around,
etc. We even had the time to swing in and visit a good friend
at the Patagonia store in Ventura who had helped us out
tremendously with gear donations. With cold mornings and windy
afternoons the gear has certainly proven to be more
than helpful. Thanks Chris Hearst and Patagonia friends!

The "leisurely" 25 miles to Leo Carrillo campground
outside of Malibu turned out to be just a little more challenging
than we expected. With tremendous and excruciating headwinds
blowing us backwards, sideways and some to the ground, we felt
like we survived a tornado. You never know what Mother Nature will
blow at you! That's what makes this trip so exciting though,
as we all celebrated our accomplishments that night with chocolate.

Day 13: Aliso School Botanic Butterfly Cafe

2006-12-01T18:35:00.000-08:00

12 mile Ride to Aliso School in Carpinteria from
Santa Barbara.

Our last day in the Santa Barbara area, we rode to
12 miles to Aliso Elementary school where we were greeting
with smiling faces and welcome signs. More compost games and
lots of time to revamp their butterfly garden with 6th grade
classes. When we left the garden it was filled with colorful
butterfly-attracting flowers, plants, and energy. Good times and
great teamwork! Another 15 miles led us to Emma Woods campgrounds.

We also got the privilege to sit in on a lecture given by the
wonderful Peggy O'Neill, a tiny speaker with a HUGE message.
We lovedher talk on celebrating diversity. She certainly
inspired us! Check out her website at:
http://www.yopeggy.com/

Day 12: Goleta and Carpinteria

2006-11-30T23:01:00.000-08:00

Half the team rides 24 miles round trip to La Patera
Elementary School in Goleta, creating gardens and composting
systems with the 4th grade.

At La Patera School (24 miles round trip) we rolled up in
the morning and got busy on their raised garden beds.
Pullin' weeds, plantin' seeds (in the ground and in minds),
breakin' up clumps and chit chattin' with the 4th grade classes.
Their enthusiasm was certainly contagious and continued with
our composting games too. And we can't forget the worms...
we all loved playing with the worms who certainly
have a very important role!

AND

Half the team rides 24 miles round trip to Carpinteria Middle
School in Carpinteria, teaching the entire middle school
(over 400 students) about the AMBASSADORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
4 Principles of Nature ....

EVERYTHING RUNS ON ENERGY

THERE IS NO WASTE IN NATURE

BIODIVERSITY IS NECESSARY

EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED

At lunch our bikes were showcased and our bellies were filled.

Day 11: The last of the Bermuda Grass

2006-11-29T23:33:00.000-08:00

An easy-breezy 24 mile round trip ride to Brandon School in Goleta
seemed like a piece of cake. As we pulled up to the school we were
pleasantly surprised to see the bike rack filled with bicycles. Each
Wednesday at Brandon School is BOW-WOW day: "Bike on Wednesday, Walk
on Wednesday" What a cool idea!

When we arrived the 5th grade class was waiting and ready to work in
their garden and learn about composting. Together we pulled out
bermuda grass, amended the soil to plant peas and lettuce in their
garden, and played in compost. We hope the visit not only left a
positive mark on the school community, but also encouraged the 5th
graders to become ambassadors of the environment.

The day ended with a pot-luck dinner with our Ocean Futures family in
the Santa Barbara office (our home base for the next few days in Santa
Barbara). Such a wonderful and welcoming community, and the gathering
left everyone with full bellies and smiles on our faces.

Day 10: Gardening and Composting

2006-11-28T22:52:00.000-08:00

Crane Country Day School Gardening and Composting Projects in Monteceito, California.

We woke up on the floor of the Library at Crane Country Day School
refreshed and ready for a big day. Spirits were high as we prepared
for the students arrival because after all THIS is what we do best.

Some of the AOTE volunteers spent their time in Crane's garden working
with the students to build a compost bin and other garden projects.
The rest of the volunteers led a workshop on Greening Your School with
the 6th graders.

The positive feedback we received after our slideshow presentation to
the entire school gave us the energy we needed to keep on pedaling.
Thank you so much Crane Country Day School for your support and
generosity!!!

AND

Brandon School Gardening and Composting Projects in Goleta, California.

We pulled and weeded lots of Bermuda grass and prepped for planting Mr. Ranson's 5th grade native and edibles garden. We also cleaned and prepped the school compost bin so now all of Brandon School's students can actively compost food waste and create fresh compost for their new garden.

Day 9: Warm Welcome in Santa Barbara

2006-11-27T20:09:00.000-08:00

Ride 59 miles Lompoc to Santa Barbara.

As our heads were hitting the pillow we could hear the pitter-patter
of rain on our tents. The thought of riding 60 miles in the rain made
us toss and turn in our sleeping bags. But as we unzipped our tents
the clouds parted and provided us with nothing but sunshine ahead.

The climbing started early as we pushed to reach the highest elevation
of our trip at over 1,000 feet. What goes up must come down! We all
loved the screaming downhill where we clocked in at 40 mph!!! We
refueled at sea level with a picnic lunch at El Capitan State Park. We
ended our day's ride at Crane Country Day School in Santa Barbara.
They greeted us with warm smiles and lots of cheers. What a beautiful
campus and wonderful school community!

We were welcomed by Country Day School with a nice library to snuggle up and sleep in tonight and a pizza party to fill our bellies!

Day 6, 7, 8: Lots of Riding and Fresh Air to Appreciate

2006-11-26T22:22:00.000-08:00

Day 8: Sunday, November 26th, 2006

Ride 49 miles Pismo to Lompoc.

Camp at River Park RV Campground.

We're getting addicted to biking!!! We're definitely beyond loopy,
which makes our riding even more entertaining, singing songs and
giggling 49 miles from Pismo to Lompoc. Monarch butterflies were
certainly a highlight of the morning, and a nice women taught us all
about the fascinating creatures.

Some of us may have psyched ourselves out after rumors of a giant hill
(the "Biggest One Yet"), but it actually wasn't that bad. More
fields, more agriculture, more pesticides. We're really getting good
at this whole biking thing…although we found out later that night that
our talents don't necessarily transfer over to bowling.

Day 7: Saturday, November 25th, 2006

Ride 54 miles San Simeon to Pismo.
Camp at Pismo State North Beach.

Frost in the morning??? We thought we were in sunny California! Oh
well, back on our bikes early in the morn to ride ~60 miles to Pismo
Beach State Park. We're getting good at this whole biking
business…seems like our legs and spirits are getting stronger every
day.

A nice day of rolling hills led us through the beautiful Morro Bay to
eat a big organic lunch at our good friend Rose's place. A few of us
spent the morning at a farm gleaning organic peppers and avocados from
a nice farmer we met at the farmer's market the day before. The
afternoon seemed surprisingly short with more rolling hills and time
to rest up and take a dip at Pismo Beach State Park.

Day 6: Friday, November 24th, 2006

Ride 38 miles Plaskett Creek to San Simeon.
Camp at Simeon State Park.

Another beautiful 40 mile ride to San Simeon State Park, another day
of enormous up and downs, another day of encouraging each other to
push ourselves and do things we never thought was possible! Wow…isn't
this what we try to teach our student who come out to Catalina Island
and push their comfort zones?

Along the ride we got the opportunity to stop off at a waterfall (some
of us took a quick dip in the fridged water), and we ate lunch along
side the elephant seals at the beach. Not bad for a morning ride!

We got to the campsite early enough to stop buy the local farmers
market where we chatted, informed, and ended up leaving with boxes
full of local organic produce due to generous donations. Yummy!!!
Finally we got some much needed broccoli in our bellies. Big thank
you to the many many people who have supported this trip so far!!!

Day 5: In Gear for Thanksgiving

2006-11-23T23:10:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Ride

Ride 38 miles: Andrew Molera to Plasket Creek.
Camp at Plasket Creek.

Thanksgiving was our hilliest day yet. Big Sur left our legs burning
but it was all worth it for the inspirational views of the coastline.
What a great way to see the coast of California!!!

We rode approximately 40 miles up and down, taking short breaks to
stroll through the Redwoods, stop off at waterfalls, and enjoy the
scenery. We ended our days ride to camp at Plasket Creek.

Day 4: Hurray! Monterey!

2006-11-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

Ride 63 miles Capitola to Andrew Molera
Camp at Andrew Molera Campsite

Whooo!!! Big day of riding! Little bike computers clocked us in at
over 70 miles to get to Andrew Molera Campsite at the Northern end of
Big Sur.

The morning led us on bike paths through rolling hills of colorful
foliage, leaving some of us reminiscent of East Coast autumn leaves.
We also rode through agricultural fields, getting up close and
personal with the pesticide sprayed crops. We could smell and taste
the chemicals. Can you imagine what that must be like for the farm
workers? Wow! Even our photographer Dan got a mouthful of chemicals
when trying to get some shots of the monoculture. The afternoon
consisted of more bustin' up big hills until a spectacular sunset that
brought us into our campsite.

Day 3: Down to Santa Cruz we go!

2006-11-21T16:52:00.001-08:00

Early morning ride 21 miles to San Jose.

Outreach presentations at Almaden Country Day School

Afternoon ride 10 miles to base of Santa Cruz Mountains, and then continue 21 miles to Santa Cruz Camp at New Brighton State Beach.

Hey check it out...we made the news from our visit to Almaden Country
Day School! http://www.almadentimes.com/current/schools.htm

We woke up at the crack of dawn to bike 21 miles to Almaden. They
welcomed us and we began programming in the garden with 1st graders,
quickly followed by some more classroom activities with 5-8th graders.
So cool to see these students in their own community!!!

Next we had an amazing celebratory Thanksgiving feast with the whole
school! We felt like guests of honor amongst various teachers,
students, and parent volunteers. The AOTE volunteers headed up
compost monitoring for the 450 people who attended the event. Our
visit ended with a party in the compost bin (mixing in food and
tearing up paper table cloths). Thanks for the warm welcome and
fantastic visit ACS.

A exhilarating mostly downhill ride through the redwoods led us to New
Brighton State Beach, where we had our 1st night of camping.
Burrrrrrrrr...... [Happy 25th Birthday Becky!]

Our AOTE Sustainable Bike Outreach Team

2006-11-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

Name: BECKY
Where from: Downers Grove IL
Educational Background: Communication major
What do you like to learn about? Arabic literature
Why are you doing this bike ride? I like late night meetings.
Favorite quote: “Never let ‘hard to do’ get in the way of something worth doing”
Ways in which you give back to your community? I had always gone to schools in towns outside of the one I grew up in, and never felt very connected to the people that lived there. When I recently had 9 months to live back at my parent’s house, I decided I would take a job that would connect me back to my community. I ended up working in a day care facility, interacting with the children and parents of my hometown. Now when I go home I have more familiar faces and deeper connections to people I see everyday.
What inspires you? Teaching
Who inspires you? My co-workers
Organizations you’ve been a part of: DuPage County Forest Preserve – Fleet Services.
Favorite company to support: Heartland Café, Rogers Park Chicago, IL
Favorite food: creamed cucumbers
Furthest you rode your bike before this trip: It’s almost a tie, but there is a small difference. My second longest trip was 30 miles from Santa Monica to San Pedro, it took about four hours. I suppose I’ll never know how many miles we traveled during my longest bike trip. All I can say is that we went from San Pedro to Santa Monica, it took us eight hours, we were seriously lost, but ate some good burritos.
What type of music do you listen to? The Stones & The Clash.
Favorite book: Skinny Legs and All – Tom Robbins
Favorite biking gear/outfit: bike gloves. My grandma had a pair growing up that I begged her to give me. She never did, but that might be why I’m so happy with mine today.
Name of your bike: Haven’t asked her yet.
Favorite ice cream: mint chocolate chip

Name: CAROLINE GASSER
Where from: Waukesha, WI
Educational Background: B.S.-- U of Minnesota/Twin Cities
What do you like to learn about? Right now I’m really into learning about birds and rocks, but mostly people, bikes, and Spanish speaking tips.
Why are you doing this bike ride? It’s a baby step in the right direction for saving our planet.
Favorite quote: Don’t write a check your butt can’t cash.
Ways in which you give back to your community? I like to hangout with kids and educate ourselves about community happenings, by just getting involved.
Favorite company to support: I like to spread the dough around
Favorite food: my grandma’s potato salad…yummy.
What’s the furthest you rode your bike before this trip: 600ish miles
What type of music do you listen to? Anything that inspires me to dance and sing
Favorite book: anything by Shel Silverstein
Favorite biking gear/outfit: warm clothes while night riding/cruising
Name of your bike: One Crotch Rocket (OCR 1)
Favorite ice cream: Blue Moon

Name: COURTNEY
I’ve traveled a long way for this bike trip and I’m pumped! My name is Courtney, I grew up in Tasmania, Australia and I own a pre-loved Trek 1000, fully kitted out and sold to me by a wonderful guy named Ralph. My dream is to ride sustainably down the east coast of Australia, but for now my unconditioned butt will have to try and slog it out 700 miles along the beautiful Californian coastline. I’m most looking forward to getting to see sunrise everyday and the home communities of children I know; helping them to develop more sustainable paths in their lives.

Those who come to know the grace of nature will find in it a strength to nourish them for the rest of their lives

Name: CYNTHIA GOULET
Hi, I’m Cynthya Goulet and I am from Montreal, Canada. I graduated this past May from the University of Illinois with finance and accounting degrees. I played on the varsity tennis team and am very active but I’m fairly new to biking. I am very excited for this bike trip because I have never seen the coast of California. Riding our bikes, we will get a closer and more intimate look at the beautiful coastline. The longest time I have ever spent on a bike is a day. So I am a bit worried about sitting on a bike daily for three weeks but being with such great friends and coworkers will make it memorable. I just bought a used bike and hope that I love it even after spending three weeks riding it. I’m hoping to find a name for my bike along the ride. The best part of this trip is that we are using our own energy to travel and not fossil fuels.

Name: HEATHER
Where from: Massachusetts
Educational Background: Anthropology
What do you like to learn about? Eastern philosophy
Why are you doing this bike ride? I wanted to run along the California coast during the bike tour. Everyone tells me that will take much longer, so I will just ride.
Favorite quote: "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."-- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Ways in which you give back to your community?
What inspires you?
Who inspires you? My Mom.
Organizations you’ve been a part of: Naturalists at Large
Favorite company to support: Santa Barbara Roasting Company
Favorite food: Thai
Furthest you rode your bike before this trip: To my Grandma’s house
What type of music do you listen to? Bob Dylan
Favorite book: Catch-22
Favorite biking gear/outfit: maroon sleeveless riding jersey
Name of your bike: Mocha
Favorite ice cream: Strawberry

Name: JACOB SCHEIDLER
My name is Jacob Scheidler, and I’m from Indiana. I moved to Michigan for a degree in Biology from Hope College. I’ve worked with a range of wildlife from mongooses to condors and now people. For me, this trip is an opportunity to see the California coast from the unbeatable perspective of a bicycle as well as to help reconnect students with their environment.

Name: KATHY ROSE
Where from: New York
Educational Background: Sociology and Art at Vassar College
What do you like to learn about? Communities around the world
Why are you doing this bike ride? A fun way to learn about different communities in California, spend a lot of time near the ocean, and at the same time we’re spreading the word about issues I care about!
Favorite quote: “Freedom is for all or it’s all for nothing!”--Team Dresch
Ways in which you give back to your community? Educating, Agitating, and Organizing around issues that are important to me.
What inspires you? Art, music, good discussion, critical thinking, and laughing
Who inspires you? People who overcome challenges and make a difference in their communities
Organizations you’ve been a part of: Community Works, Student Activist Union, Student Environmental Action Coalition, Books Through Bars, Food not Bombs
Favorite company to support: Thrift stores and really cool non-profit organizations
Favorite food: Thai
Furthest you rode your bike before this trip: From LA to Phoenix last year
What type of music do you listen to? Music my friends make, pretty music, fun music to dance to
Favorite book: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
Favorite biking gear/outfit: hot pink anything
Name of your bike: Last year I had a purple bike named Purple Lightning, this year I don’t know yet
Favorite ice cream: Soy Dream
Biking in November and December? This is unheard of where I come from…My name is Kathy and I grew up in Syracuse, New York. Then I went to school in Poughkeepsie, New York where I studied Sociology and Art. There’s snow on the ground in New York now, so I’m extremely excited to be on my bike out here in California near the beach! Such a fun way to get around, and I get to wear funny biking outfits with bright colors. I moved out to California in the summer of 2005 I’ve back and fourth between Catalina Island and Berkeley, where I teach art in San Francisco jails. Both places are pretty fantastic in my opinion.

Name: KENNY MEESE
Where from: I was born in Auckland, NZ and grew up in Melbourne, Australia
Educational Background: Graduated high school, decided to take a year off before going to university (that was 5 years ago!)
What do you like to learn about? The Biome that surrounds me
Why are you doing this bike ride? To enjoy one of the most amazing coastlines on the planet and have the opportunity to take the sustainability message on the road.
Favorite quote: “Think Globally, Act Locally”
Ways in which you give back to your community? Supporting Local Organic Farmers
What inspires you? Seeing people learn something new
Who inspires you? Paul Watson, Founder of Sea Shepherd
Organizations you’ve been a part of: Greenpeace, Freecycle.org
Favorite company to support: Any company that uses sustainable practices and pays fair wages to its suppliers.
Favorite food: Mexican
Furthest you rode your bike before this trip: A few miles, I haven’t owned a bike since I was a teenager.
What type of music do you listen to? Beck, Bob Dylan, The Decemberists, Speakeasy, John Farhnam
Favorite book: “Into The Wild” By John Krakouer.

Name: LARS GAALAAS
I am Lars Gaalaas and I grew up in the lakes region of northern Minnesota swimming, canoeing, fishing, cross country skiing in the winter, and generally spending time outdoors. I am 23 years old and studied chemistry and environmental studies at St. Olaf College, a small liberal arts school in Minnesota. To tour the west coast on bicycle stands as one of my life goals, and this trip catapults me into getting it done! I look forward to teaching students all along our California route about how they might help their communities become more sustainable. Between stops see me on my steel frame Novara Randonee touring bike pedaling by the words of Trey Anastasio: “Set the gearshift into the high gear of your soul!”

Name: LAURIE HENRY
Where from: The beautiful Garden State- New Jersey
Educational Background: Stockton College of New Jersey BS in Environmental Studies
What do you like to learn about?
Why are you doing this bike ride? I think it is important to take our message on the road and to follow up with students. I also think it will be a great personal challenge to complete the ride and a cool way to see California.
Favorite quote:
Ways in which you give back to your community?
What inspires you? Nature and music
Who inspires you?
Organizations you’ve been a part of: Clean Plate Club
Favorite company to support:
Favorite food: Ice cream
Furthest you rode your bike before this trip: 650 miles on last years bike trip
What type of music do you listen to? Anything I can sing to
Favorite book: A Walk in the Woods
Favorite biking gear/outfit: My new bike hat
Name of your bike: Silver bullet
Favorite ice cream : Ben and Jerry’s Chubby Hubby

Name: MAGGIE GRISET…Reading, MA…
To me, this bike tour (although it’ll probably kick my butt) is a total dream. My name is Maggie and I come from just north of Boston, Massachusetts where going anywhere or doing anything “requires” riding in a car fueled by expensive, destructive gasoline—even if the destination is only one mile down the road. I am thrilled to ride down the beautiful California coastline in a more sustainable manner—powered by nothing but the food I’ll eat, the friends who’ll support me, and the second-hand bike so graciously donated to our cause. More than 60 years ago my grandfather rode solo on his ten-speed road bike from Massachusetts up the east coast into Canada, all the way to the northern tip of Nova Scotia. Someday I hope to follow his path up north. But for now these 700 or so miles southward from San Francisco to San Diego should do the trick—especially with such an incredible group of riders to encourage me and the inspiring communities we’ll visit to motivate me.

Name: MEAGAN
LEAVING LITTLE IMPACT are my three words for this bicycle tour. I can speak for everyone when I say we love, love, love the idea of taking the sustainable word on the road. I’m Meagan coming to you from Indiana. The message of Ambassadors of the Environment has spurred many including myself to take action in their communities all over the world. Inspiring to me are grass root movements making big statements and empowering people to help themselves. Vandana Shiva is on my must read list as a gal with a mission in the arena of food politics. On the subject of food I can’t resist home grown fruits or veggies. They’re the fuel that can power you to get from point A to B, which is typically 5 miles or less, everyday!
“Be the change you want to see in the world”~Gandhi

Name: NATE ERLANDSON
Where from: Minnesota
Educational Background: Bachelor of Arts from Saint Olaf College (Biology)
What do you like to learn about? The Way Things Work
Why are you doing this bike ride? To see the beautiful coastline of California, and to educate people on how to keep it beautiful along the way.
Favorite quote: Today’s problems cannot be solved if we still think the way we thought when we created them. -Albert Einstein
Ways in which you give back to your community? Volunteering
What inspires you? Nature
Who inspires you? Endurance athletes
Organizations you’ve been a part of: Boy Scouts of America, Junior National Biathlon Team, Mount Itasca Biathlon, Saint Andrews Youth Group, PADI Diving Society, St. Olaf Nordic Ski Team
Favorite company to support: Any company that believes in a sustainable future
Favorite food: Venison
Furthest you rode your bike before this trip: A couple Hundred Miles
What type of music do you listen to? Everything but Country
Favorite book: The Walking Drum
Favorite biking gear/outfit: USPS team gear
Name of your bike: Big Sur
Favorite ice cream: Mint Chocolate Chip/Cookies n Cream

Name: OWEN FARCY
Where from: Vashon Island, WA
Educational Background: BS from Emory University (Atlanta)
What do you like to learn about? everything
Why are you doing this bike ride? because this is the only real way to see California.
Favorite quote: Every little bit counts.
Ways in which you give back to your community? In any way I can!
What inspires you? Anything and everything
Who inspires you? The students!
Organizations you’ve been a part of: Emory Cross Country and Track teams, PADI Diving Society
Favorite company to support: Trader Joes
Favorite food: Salmon
Furthest you rode your bike before this trip: From camp to Two Harbors and back (10 miles)
What type of music do you listen to? A little bit of everything
Favorite book: I, Lucifer
Favorite biking gear/outfit: my scorpion shirt
Name of your bike: yet to be named
Favorite ice cream: Black Cherry w/ chocolate chunks
Owen Farcy hails from a tiny island in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, near Seattle. He studied biology and ethics at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, before making the long and arduous journey back out west to arrive on Catalina Island. Having spent so much of his life on islands, he feels a strong connection to the ocean and nearly everything in it (the litter and pollution he could do without). While he loves to spend time in the ocean, he’s also big on running and has run on five of the seven continents. Biking represents a new challenge, however, and he’s hoping to survive the trip long enough to visit at least three schools - he’s sincerely sorry if the others miss out on his shining presence, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.

Name: CHRISTINE SCHWICHTENBERG
Christine Schwichtenberg, 23 years old, from Minnesota.
I recently graduated from St. Olaf College with a Biology major and an Environmental Studies concentration. I have always craved doing a trip down the California coast, and what better way to see the coastline than from the seat of a bicycle. I am a little nervous for this adventure because I am new to the sport of biking. I think the longest time I have spent on a bike is three hours, and now I’ve signed up for three weeks! Despite my lack in experience, I am excited to feel the wind in my face and the burn in my thighs as I pump up those hills. Transportation minus fossil fuels is not only sustainable, but good for the body; hopefully this trip will begin a lifelong endeavor to diminish my reliance on nonrenewable resources.

Day 2: Bart to Mountains

2006-11-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

We woke up early this morning and rode 1 mile to Bart.

Bart to San Francisco Embarcadero station.

Ride 3 miles to Claire Lilienthal School for school outreach visit.

Ride 43 miles to Los Altos in the Foothills.

Get a good nights rest and up and at 'em again early tomorrow morning!

Day 1: On the Road

2006-11-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

The AOTE Bike Team riders are all gathering in Berkeley, CA today.

Most of the AOTE team is coming from Catalina Island, meeting in San Pedro at 6:30 am and piling into the Sustainability Tour RV and Cargo Van; bikes in tow for the up the coast route.

Tonight all the riders will meet and prep for our 25 day bike tour by carbo loading at the Sustainable Bike Tour Garden Pesto Feast/Fundraiser at Suzie Rose's.

"EVERYTHING RUNS ON ENERGY"

organic pesto pasta + hungry bike riders = Sustainable Bike Outreach Tour: Day 1

Sustainable Bike Outreach Tour

2006-11-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

WELCOME
Sustainable Bike Outreach Tour Enthusiasts!

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In efforts to form a greater sense of and educate communities and schools about "sustainability" and protecting our environment, 17 Naturalists volunteers from California based Jean-Michel Cousteau's "Ambassadors of the Environment"(AOTE) Environmental Education programs are biking along the California coast (San Fransisco to San Diego) embarking on our 2nd annual SUSTAINABLE BIKE OUTREACH TOUR.

Along our route we are educating about 2,000 students in close to 30 different schools with outreach activities: interactive pictorial tours of our journey entitled Touring our Communities with an Eco Perspective as well as hands-on workshops such as Cooperation through Team Building, Students Guide to Protecting our Coasts, Greening Your School, Growing Your Own School Gardening and Composting Program and many other restoration projects.

Our Mission:

Our team’s mission is to continue promoting sustainable living and community building in our present and future AOTE schools’ home communities. Our overall aim is to provide educational and inspirational programming that enhances students’ ecological awareness and further encourages them to make positive contributions to their communities. By delivering our program via bicycles, we demonstrate our commitment to alternative transportation and sustainability.

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To learn more about "Ambassadors of the Environment" (AOTE) programs please visit the following websites, or contact Karen Keltner phone: (805) 899-8899
email: kkeltner@oceanfutures.org

http://www.aote.org

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We look forward to hearing back from you and your schools and hope that we will see you soon along our SUSTAINABLE BIKE OUTREACH TOUR.