Heidi Beierle

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Heidi Across America - the tour begins

Heidi Beierle

Olympic Discovery Trail | Adventure Cycling Association Pacific Coast Trail | Great American Rail Trail

Dear Friend,

The Heidi Across America slow travel bike-book tour has begun!

It took some doing to depart home. I’d given myself a departure deadline of a single digit date in May. On May 9th, I was still not ready by 3 pm, so Barney suggested I stay another night at home. Easy yes. That gave me time to sort out my plan for getting to Portland where I had an in-person TV spot and will have my first tour author event at Powell’s on Burnside, Sunday, May 19th at 3 pm.

Please share this event with friends you may have in the Portland, OR, area and bring friends if you're able to attend live. I'd love to see you!

This tour is markedly different than the trip I made in 2010, and I’m slowly adjusting. One of the most difficult things to accept is that I can’t just hop on my bike and pedal 75 miles like it’s nothing, especially loaded with touring gear. I’m leaning into slow travel.

My bike waited patiently to board the ferry in Coupeville, WA. The 10:15 am sailing was canceled, and we were eager to get rolling after catching the 11:45 am ferry.

Here I am loving the beginning of my tour on the Olympic Discovery Trail, which I picked up in Port Townsend, WA, near the ferry terminal.

As I considered my route to Portland, OR, I realized I hadn’t given myself enough time to get there pedaling the whole way, especially with a safe/comfortable crossing of the Columbia River. Conveniently, my route went through Centralia, WA, an Amtrak stop, and I caught the train the rest of the way to Portland.

I appreciated the relief the train ride offered. I’d wrecked my sitting parts.

The Amtrak station attendant in Centralia, WA, ensured I was in the right spot to load my bike, and even though my panniers couldn't be on my bike in the train, they rode along so I didn't have to haul them in and out of the passenger car. Yay!

It was an easy ride to Portland Union Station, where I then pedaled a few miles on bike routes to the house in Alberta Arts District where I'm staying for the week.

I’ll ride the rails again between Portland and Eugene.

On Monday, May 20th at the University of Oregon at 5:30 pm, I’ll be at the EMU, Room 008, which is where the University’s Bike Program is housed, presenting on slow travel, reading excerpts from my book, and responding to questions. The event is open to everyone.

Students and community are invited. Please bring friends!

I hope my sitting parts will be in better shape when I pedal north to Corvallis, OR, where on Friday, May 24th at 7 pm at Grass Roots Books (251 SW Madison), I will offer a brief presentation followed by Q&A and book signing.

Please share this announcement with people you know in Corvallis, and, you know, bring friends if you plan to be there or have your friends bring friends if they plan to be there. Thank you!

After Corvallis, I’m still working out details and venues, but I have a date in Jackson, Wyoming, so that’s my next known event. On Saturday, June 8th, I’ll be doing an author meet and greet at Valley Bookstore from 10 am to noon.

Please share this event with your people in Jackson, WY! If you have connections to Harrison Ford...it'd be a trip to meet him. Hah!

Slow travel encourages travelers to keep plans loose
It’s uncomfortable surrendering to the unknown, especially when I want to share with you when I will be somewhere. While I have no idea what the plan is before it gels, I find there’s still a middle ground between rigidity and listlessness where things happen. It’s an untidy space, and there's much I appreciate in it.

Making it possible
​This year’s six-month, cross-country, slow travel, bike-book tour is possible with the support of friends, family, and strangers. Help me promote a lifestyle where healthy outdoor places, community vitality, and kindness to self and others are at the core of every day by donating and/or sharing this GoFundMe fundraiser within your circles. Thank you. You have my undying love.

Please consider donating and/or sharing with your circles.

If you’d like to help me organize an event in your town or city and you’re roughly on this map, let’s talk! I’m primarily looking for community gathering opportunities (not necessarily bookstores). Do you have property or a business and would like people over, know of a reading group, are connected to women’s groups or people who like to ride bikes, are linked to colleges, universities or libraries, dabble in yoga, pilates or other wellness programs, are associated with a nonprofit that hosts talks? If so, let’s collaborate.

Stay in touch​
If you’re on social media, please follow me on Instagram (@heidibeierle) and join The Wonder of Slow Travel Facebook group to catch updates on my tour and be in conversation with other slow travelers and slow travel fans.

Gratitude
​Thank you. Sincerely. My heart is full, the love you share and support you offer moves me.

Thank you!
LOVE
Heidi