Edmonton’s Bob Fletcher is celebrating his eightieth birthday by occurring an journey and using an ebike from Alaska to Panama.
A retired educator and biking fanatic from Edmonton is using 13,500 kilometers over 155 days to interrupt a world report, and he made a fast cease in Richmond this week.
Bob Fletcher set off on the “Octogenarian Odyssey,” as he calls it, on July 4, 2022 from North Pole, Alaska (sure, there’s a metropolis known as North Pole). He goals to interrupt the Guinness World File for the longest journey on a motorized bike, and he has simply ridden 3,550 kilometers, placing him 1 / 4 of the best way in his journey.
The thought for this epic journey got here to Fletcher when he was considering of the way to rejoice his 80th birthday, which is arising on August 19.
“I began considering of several types of adventures that I might do till I watched the collection on Apple TV known as ‘Lengthy Means Round’ with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. Within the final (episode) they rode an electrical motorbike from the underside of Argentina to Los Angeles.
“I stated, ‘I can do this,’” Fletcher defined.
Whereas his preliminary purpose was simply to rejoice his birthday with an journey, he has since added a pair extra objectives to his guidelines.
“I wish to draw consideration to all of the individuals which can be doing unbelievable adventures however should not pro-athletes and never Olympians,” he stated.
“And I wished to inspire individuals of all generations to be energetic, to get on the market to do one thing, to get out of your consolation zone.”
Lastly, Fletcher wished to point out the world you may stay “a productive and energetic life” after retirement.
On the suggestion of his hosts in Fairbanks and Panama, Corrine Leistikow and Nina Tartakoff, Fletcher can be within the strategy of fundraising for Christmas presents for children in Panama. (With a place to begin of North Pole, he’s sounding quite a bit like a sure jolly and red-coated somebody.)
Getting the ball rolling
Earlier than I spoke to Fletcher, I had imagined the preparation for his journey would contain rigorous coaching. Because it seems, it was principally enterprise as ordinary.
“I journey a minimum of 5 days every week, anyway. I simply maintain in form and there’s nothing particular,” he stated.
Though, Fletcher isn’t any stranger to long-distance worldwide bike rides, having ridden in 22 completely different international locations. His longest journey to this point was 10,400 kilometers from Anchorage, Alaska to Mexico Metropolis in 2015.
What makes this quest completely different, nonetheless, is that he’s not going with a journey company however is planning the journey himself.
“Planning the roads, the lodging, getting sponsors – issues like that took loads of time,” Fletcher defined.
Considered one of Fletcher’s sponsors is Airbnb, which he reached out to as a result of he wished to remain inside native communities.
Fletcher additionally put collectively his personal help group, which incorporates long-time good friend Wayne Grover, and different companions reminiscent of Kim Voogsgeerd and Yiota Georgakopoulou, whom he recruited from Fb.
Going through the headwind – head on
Considered one of Fletcher’s most memorable moments on the search to this point is the day he rode in Yukon. It was six Celsius, and he was battling a powerful headwind within the pouring rain.
Climate has been the most important challenges of the journey, stated Fletcher.
“[A strong headwind] shouldn’t be my favorite factor, in any respect,” he stated.
However he tells himself: “Simply put your head down, let’s get it performed. We flip the nook and the headwind turns into a tailwind.”
Fletcher can be dealing with an extra problem in his try to interrupt the Guinness World File. Though the present report is round 8,200 kilometers, only a week in the past a pair completed a probably record-breaking journey of round 11,500 kilometers from Florida throughout the northern a part of the U.S.
“After I began I solely needed to get to Mazatlán, Mexico. Now I’m going to should get to Antigua, Guatemala to interrupt the brand new report as soon as it will get established,” he stated.
Regardless of all of the challenges, Fletcher stays staunchly devoted to biking.
“It’s due to the unbelievable individuals all alongside the best way, particularly when you could have established pals all around the world. I can journey to any continent and there’s any individual there that I’ve ridden with,” he stated. Simply this week, Fletcher met a pair from Germany who made him lunch.
Another excuse he enjoys biking is that it’s humbling.
“My very first lengthy worldwide journey after my spouse handed away, I confirmed up considering I used to be an actual hotshot rider,” he stated. He rapidly realized that different rides had a plethora of experiences as nicely.
Though his time in Richmond was transient, Fletcher managed to take pleasure in a hearty seafood dinner in Steveston beneath the sundown on Tuesday night. At this time, he crossed the border to the U.S. to proceed on the subsequent leg of his journey.
Subsequent up is one deadline he can’t miss – his 80th birthday celebration on August 19 that he’s internet hosting alongside his route.
And household and pals are travelling from throughout Canada and different locations to come back to the get together.
“So I gotta be there,” he stated.
With the assistance of his help group, Fletcher is documenting his journey on Facebook, Instagram, and his website. He’s additionally within the strategy of writing a book about the journey – speak about a productive life after retirement!
