Trip details
Where will we ride, and what is the schedule?
Our route follows a relatively new route with more rails-to-trails sections, fewer interactions with cars and less climbing than other traditional routes across the country. The journey starts in Seattle, Washington state, and will end on the East coast at Washington D.C. Along the way, we’ll be focusing on passing through Anabaptist communities, and on communities that are impacted by climate change in different ways.
The map below shows our current route plans. (Route subject to some changes yet)
Can I participate if I don’t want to ride the entire journey?
Yes. We’re planning to have events along the way where riders can join for the day. This is a chance to talk with those riding the entire route, to learn what they’ve been hearing and experience. In addition, we may have certain sections, such as at the beginning and end, where riders can join for multiple days. Check back for details.
Who is leading the trip?
Joanna Friesen will ride with
participants for the entirety of the trip. She is currently a coach at EMU,
(triathlon, cross country, and track), a seminary student at EMU (graduating in
May 2021), and has a history of bike touring (including a cross-country trip in
2017). She will provide coaching and training support leading up to the trip,
and work with participants in team and community building before and during the
trip.
David Landis will facilitate planning and ride with participants for portions of the trip. David, an EMU grad (2004), has led and completed numerous cross-country and long-distance bike tours, including Bike Movement, a cross-USA trip facilitating conversations across Mennonite communities. David is the founder of Village to Village Press, specializing in publishing guidebooks and developing trails worldwide for community based adventure tourism, including the TransVirginia Bike Route, a gravel bikepacking route across Virginia, the Jesus Trail, a trek across the Galilee, and provided resources for many Camino routes in Europe. He lives in Harrisonburg with his wife and three children.
