Thirty-five years ago, David Hawley, then 19, cycled from coast to coast across North America. Now the president of MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 Pearson College, Hawley journeyed from Boston to the West Coast.
On Monday, Hawley packed his panniers, put on his helmet and dipped his back tire in the Pacific Ocean as he headed out to cross the continent again, only in the other direction and with a few extra kilometres thrown in for good measure.
Over the course of three months Hawley plans to cycle up Vancouver lsland, take the ferry to Prince Rupert, cycle the perimeter of Haida Gwaii, and then head out across Canada, through part of the United States, and eventually over to Newfoundland.
From there he will cross the Atlantic to Scotland and cycle to Wales to attend the 50th anniversary of PearsonB次元官网网址檚 sister school, United World College of the Atlantic.
It is a 10,000 kilometre journey.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking forward to falling in love with Canada again,B次元官网网址� Hawley said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something that IB次元官网网址檝e wanted to do again.B次元官网网址�
There will be some challenges on HawleyB次元官网网址檚 journey. He doesnB次元官网网址檛 know how he is going to get across the Atlantic. His plan is to try and hitch a ride on a container ship, but nothing has been arranged. He is also interested to see how his body, fit but no longer 19, handles the miles.
And then thereB次元官网网址檚 the solitude. Hawley has no support team and no consistent travel companion. There is an open invitation for anybody who wants to join him on any portion of the trip to do so, but for the most part Hawley will be putting back the kilometres all by his lonesome.
B次元官网网址淭he big question is B次元官网网址榳hatB次元官网网址檚 it going to feel likeB次元官网网址� and how to deal with the solitude of 10,000 kilometres,B次元官网网址� Hawley said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of thinking and contemplating and planning for the future.B次元官网网址�
A side goal of HawleyB次元官网网址檚 is to meet a representative from all 50 years of United Colleges, which offer full scholarship grade 12 and gap year education to exceptional students.
There are 13 United Colleges in five continents, with alumni spread throughout the world. As Hawley travels to the original school for its anniversary celebration he hopes to randomly meet a graduate from every year of the collegeB次元官网网址檚 existence along the way.
B次元官网网址淲hile this mini-sabbatical is a personal journey and refresher for me,B次元官网网址� said Hawley in a press release, B次元官网网址淚 also know it will be an amazing learning experience and re-affirm my commitment to the United World CollegesB次元官网网址� mission.B次元官网网址�
To follow HawleyB次元官网网址檚 journey, visit crosscountrycyclist.com.
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