Kellen Smetana
It’s safe to say that pretty much the only movies I watch fall under the action/adventure or comedy genres. One of the things I’ve noticed recently is – and this is especially true of action movies – there appears to be a general fascination with the beginnings of many of the most well-known sagas. The new James Bond, X-Men, Batman, and Bourne films all tune in to this thirst for understanding of how the seeds were first planted. Similarly, I have been asked innumerable times how I thought of the idea for such a trip. Here is the story of how it came to be.
Like anything, for me it probably has its roots much deeper than I expect. I grew up under the directive to “go play outside” and spent countless summers hiking and biking through national parks with the family. As a runner through school, I picked up cycling training for triathlons after almost certainly being drawn to the sport by the somewhat popular Mr. Armstrong. And I have continued to feed an incessant appetite for adventurous travel by fitting in at least one major trip to faraway lands each year, flanked by a group of friends who’ve made a pact to do the same.
It’s safe to say that pretty much the only movies I watch fall under the action/adventure or comedy genres. One of the things I’ve noticed recently is – and this is especially true of action movies – there appears to be a general fascination with the beginnings of many of the most well-known sagas. The new James Bond, X-Men, Batman, and Bourne films all tune in to this thirst for understanding of how the seeds were first planted. Similarly, I have been asked innumerable times how I thought of the idea for such a trip. Here is the story of how it came to be.
Like anything, for me it probably has its roots much deeper than I expect. I grew up under the directive to “go play outside” and spent countless summers hiking and biking through national parks with the family. As a runner through school, I picked up cycling training for triathlons after almost certainly being drawn to the sport by the somewhat popular Mr. Armstrong. And I have continued to feed an incessant appetite for adventurous travel by fitting in at least one major trip to faraway lands each year, flanked by a group of friends who’ve made a pact to do the same.
Then three years ago while traveling for work, I happened to catch a couple episodes of Long Way Round, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s documentary about a motorcycle trip around the world. I was in awe. I think they were in some muddy, cold corner of Siberia grumbling about washed up bridges and thieving locals. No doubt there are many who place an entertainment value on this and yet would chuckle at the suggestion of doing anything similar. But I was hooked. Right then I promised myself I would one day do that, and I tucked the idea nicely away.
Last year I sat down to do some heavy thinking about what I wanted to accomplish before returning to business school. Sitting outside a coffee shop, the idea clawed its way back up and I jotted it down. But of course, why just equal the Brits when I could better them. Motorcycle, c’mon, how about a bicycle…
Around the same time I saw this ad for the World Bicycle Relief while watching the Tour de France. Intrigued, I researched the organization and found I was 100% supportive of their message; I reached out to discuss the opportunity of partnering on my journey. To my delight, WBR loved the plan and had a number of great suggestions to help with the process!
Around the same time I saw this ad for the World Bicycle Relief while watching the Tour de France. Intrigued, I researched the organization and found I was 100% supportive of their message; I reached out to discuss the opportunity of partnering on my journey. To my delight, WBR loved the plan and had a number of great suggestions to help with the process!
No matter how much I questioned or suppressed this irrational idea, it already had a vise-like grip on my mind and was not about to release. Spurred on by a group of encouraging friends and family, I set out to assemble the team. Bill will probably have his own version of the story, but I brought the idea up to him between beers before a Michigan football game in Ann Arbor. It took another three months of convincing from those humble beginnings; nevertheless, he was in for Europe. I then reached out to Ben as I knew he would already be cycling in Asia at the time. One week and seven emails later, and he was in for as far as his schedule would allow.
With the help of some very supportive people at Deloitte, I secured an approval to take the time off work, bought a couple maps and a whole case of midnight oil, and started to quite literally put some wheels in motion…
With the help of some very supportive people at Deloitte, I secured an approval to take the time off work, bought a couple maps and a whole case of midnight oil, and started to quite literally put some wheels in motion…
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