cycling south america

Cycling south america

Bolivia - Peru - ecuador - colombia

The final continent of my world cycling tour, South America was entirely solo, navigating 6,000 kilometers over a span of three months from the world’s largest salt flats in Uyuni, Bolivia, through the high mountain passes and remote dirt road touring in the Peruvian Andes, along Ecuador’s famous volcano ring of fire, and finally into Colombia’s coffee country.

Writing from the road:

An Ode to Strong Women:

Either I’ll find a way or I’ll make one.

Along my path I’ve learned about the power of exploring limits by observing strong women around me. My mom, my sister, my teammates, and countless others. On this world cycle tour I’ve found myself drawing from those influences to bravely face each day.

That’s not always easy to do as a solo traveling female, when you’re perceived as vulnerable or crazy or unhinged or all of the above.

So I’ve continued to search around me for women I admire. Particularly in South America, I’ve drawn strength and influence from the Latina women I interact with daily. They exude a wholehearted, unapologetic fierceness that is contagious. I also admire how they drop shame at the door and pursue life without embarrassment.I’ve lost track of how many restaurants, busses and streets I’ve been wandering where women loudly sing along to a song — that they may or may not know all the words to — with unwavering joy. Many women walk right up to me and introduce themselves, trying to boldly take a stab at English, without any hesitation or self-esteem check. These subtle influences of self-assured radiance have a ripple effect. One word comes to mind when I witness these women. Confidence.

And so, I’ve began to pedal with a new stride. One of assertive perseverance. With a cadence that if there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.

And when I arrive at a jaw-dropping campsite such as this, next to Ecuador’s Cotopaxi volcano, my eyes fill with tears of gratitude for the privilege to be here, and the realization that I arrived here all on my own by the power of my legs.

As this journey nears a close, the perspective is setting in. And in an effort to replicate the Latina confidence, I continue into the final days with pride.

Because until you try, you have no idea what you’re truly capable of.

So here’s to women uplifting other women around us. Be bold, be confident, be you. You never know who you might inspire.

Are you traveling alone?

The top question I get while cycling on this world tour is, “are you alone?”

My answer can go one of two ways.

Option one builds a high wall, sharp with glass edges lined at the top. Electing a “guilty until proven innocent” approach, I assume the worst and elude to a group of friends and hurl out a vague notion of “north” when the inevitable next question of where I’m going ensues. Most of these instances are purely from curiosity, but I still find that it’s my default response.

Option two is reserved for a rare few whom I feel intuitively trustworthy enough to tell the truth. Usually a female, the horror painted on their reaction tells me that my broken Spanish was successful.

I tell these select few that I have my house (tent), kitchen (stove), water and sleeping system all on board my vehicle of choice (bicycle).

I tell them that I prefer this lifestyle in wild places, traveling across continents far from home, relying on my own human power to get me from place to place.

The truth is, it’s not easy to travel alone in foreign countries.

In the beginning your vulnerabilities outweigh your bravery.

But slowly with each choice to confront your fears — camping alone, fixing a mechanical, complete self-reliance if anything happens, other mind chatter, etc — you build up a callus of courage.

And slowly the solo adventures become more second nature.

In fact, they become so vital to your soul that you begin to need them every few moons to recharge your senses and return to your center.

To recognize your own voice amidst the ricocheting noise of society’s influences.

And to say in that voice “I’m proud of you.”

So when people ask, “are you traveling alone?”

My soul always shouts “Yes, yes I am! And you should too.”

To South America:

Five years ago I walked solo for a month on the Greater Patagonian Trail. It was my first time in South America, and although I had completed a multi-month thru hike before, this was my first footpath alone. I was in way over my head. I navigated Chile’s remote mountains along elusive horse trails, bush-whacking and route finding and attempting to accelerate my survival spanish to converse with the only humans I would encounter, gauchos. Along this isolated trail I was asked many times “sola?!” The question sunk into the fabric of my voyage. Why was I out here alone, in this foreign country, far away from home and comforts?

The heaviest item I brought with me on that hike was my journal. The excessive weight to this item was intentional. The trip was meant for writing , reflecting and listening. Eventually, the words wrote themselves. Something harmonious with the natural world radiated the truth, and South America provided the canvas for many realizations that set me on the path I am on today.

I’m telling you this story because I think it’s important from time to time to come home to ourselves. To get quiet in a place where solitude is sacred, and to listen.

Five years later I return to South America, continuing my path by human-power, northbound past Chile, this time beginning in Bolivia, continuing into Peru and however far I can manage to venture on this vast continent full of ancient wisdom. My means of travel has evolved from foot to two wheels, but my intentions remain the same.

Although alone on this journey, I have the support of my incredible partner Jim who is on his own solo journey throughout this sacred land. Having my partner and my family’s encouragement to pursue these wild and crazy dreams allows me a sense of boundless freedom, self expansion and transcendent independence. This support, in my opinion, is the epitome of true love, and because of their wholehearted backing, I never feel alone.

Pen and paper by my side I will continue to listen to all that South America will reveal.