Canadian cyclists pass through Hopi on way to BC

POLACCA -- Hopi Judge Delfred Leslie hopes that some world class bicyclers serve as inspiration for Hopi students.

Four cyclers, who have been biking from South America to British Columbia, told Hopi High School journalism students about their travels during a presentation May 18 at Hopi High.

This quartet of Canadian bicyclers rode from South America to North America, and they are continuing to make their way back to British Columbia, Canada.

The intent of the trip is to develop innovative multimedia educational tools and services that inspire learning about cultural, physical and social landscapes of the world. The bicyclers work with educators with the hopes of bringing geography to life.

Gwendal Castellan and Brahm Dorst started the journey by flying to the southern tip of South America and then starting their cycling journey. Castellan's brother joined them later in the trip.

Tania Lo, another British Columbia resident, joined them in Bolivia when they were at an elevation of about 12,000 feet.

A Hopi contingent happened to meet them in Mexico City. Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr., Judge Leslie, Eric Polingyouma and his son Lance Polingyouma were in Mexico researching Hopi history when they met and became friends with these world cyclers.

Judge Leslie said he feels these cyclers should be admired for being persistent in pursuing their dreams.

"I wanted to meet these individuals because not many do what they are doing," he said. "They're showing that no matter how tough something appears that it can be done. Hopefully, our students learn from this that they can do whatever they want to do."

During the Mexico meeting, the Hopi contingent invited the cyclers to visit the Hopi Reservation. So, the cyclers stopped on their way through as they had lunch with the chairman, received the tour of the Hopi Reservation from Eric Polingyouma and spoke with the Hopi High journalism class.

They cycled into Hopi from Winslow. Their bikes were going a bit more than 40 mph as they cycled the 60 miles from Winslow to Hopi in one day.

After three days of visiting Hopi, they headed through Low Mountain and into Monument Valley.

They tuned up for this trip by cycling through Australia. Dorst said he had bad luck in Australia when he was chased by a kangaroo, but he learned that kangaroos cannot change directions quickly so he was able to escape.

Gwendal at one point blew a tire when he was heading downhill in South America. He suffered a concussion.

"The helmet saved my life," he said.

Gwendal said traveling is an amazing experience.

"It's challenging, but rewarding," he said. "Traveling by bike is an opportunity to see the world on a human scale."

Gwendal said traveling becomes special when people realize that some can't leave the area where they live because they can't obtain passports. The quartet carries their own 24-pound filming equipment, but they have been interviewed by newspapers, radio and television stations in many countries.

They funded their trip by having a big fund-raiser in British Columbia before they left. Still, they watch their money as they often live on $10 per person per day. They also eat high energy food.

Lo said people along the way have helped them by giving them clothes and helping them in whatever way they can.

Lo noted that there are not many females willing to take the world cycling tour.

"When I started, I wondered who would want to do this everyday, but I became physically used to it," she said.

Lo said another part of cycling with three other cyclers through several countries is making sure that everybody gets along because they are together 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For more information about the bicycling expedition go to website www.antipodes-expeditions.com

(Stan Bindell, former Observer editor, is journalism and radio teacher at Hopi High School.)

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