Joe and Jordan are celebrating their one month on the road! The two college seniors took on the challenge of cycling across the country during the summer. They started an ambitious fundraising campaign called The Bendable Road in March, sharing their goal to raise awareness about access to public lands for urban youth, while supporting Outdoor Outreach’s programs. They started off their journey in Camden, Maine, and just celebrated the Fourth of July on the Oregon Coast, gorging on delicious cheese and ice-cream. Quite an adventure in just a few weeks…!
From Maine to Oregon
The two cyclists have had to improvise and be creative along the way. They changed their plans when Jordan was offered his dream job in DC, and Joe got accepted to graduate school. After cycling for hundreds of miles and reaching the Midwest, they decided to follow their heart and bypass parts of their initial itinerary, to arrive in Washington for the summer solstice. Still reaching for an impressive milestone of 2,600 miles, J & J have, in the past few days, been making their way through Washington and Oregon, marveling at some of the most scenic landscapes the country has to offer, experiencing the generosity and hospitality of strangers and longtime friends, and taking in the transformative power of the great outdoors.
Sharing the Love for the Outdoors
The pair has been keeping their followers updated on their blog; we’ve enjoyed reading about awe-inspiring Mount Rainier views, the crossing of the Astoria-Megler bridge, their now-expert knowledge of local breweries, and the evolution of their cycling abilities —they started off covering 30 miles a day, and now proudly push a 74 miles standard. More importantly, the two friends have been extensively sharing about their passion for this project; the ability to inspire kindness, admiration and respect for nature through a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one that encourages people to go beyond their capabilities, explore the unknown and feel empowered.
It is that joy that Outdoor Outreach strives to inspire everyday, through activities that challenge youth to build confidence, self-esteem and resilience.
Joe and Jordan still have a long way to go, and they need your support!
They will be cycling down the West Coast for the next several weeks, aiming to be in San Diego by August 20 to participate in OO’s summer programs and share their stoke for the outdoors with our young activity participants.
They have already raised $1,200, and are hoping to reach their $5,000 goal by the end of their journey.
Your donation can have a tremendous impact on young people’s lives. Click here to support Outdoor Outreach and help Joe and Jordan reach their goal.