Wander & Wonder
Climate-friendly and slow travel, equitable access to outdoor recreation, and nature’s awesomeness
daily practice
When you go slow enough, you create things
Michael Yang experiences shinnage while traveling by motorcycle
Michael Yang weaves together his motorcycle adventures with his immigrant story and entrepreneurial adventures in Silicon Valley in his memoir, Coming Alive on the Ride: A Memoir of Motorcycle Travel, Self-Discovery, and Korean Heritage. I spoke with Michael to learn more about motorcycle touring and understand how this form of travel offers a unique slow travel experience.
Pascale Landriault - a soul-led solo traveler
Pascale is a digital nomad who has a soulful, spiritual approach to travel. She creates heart-opening experiences and soulful spaces for those ready to explore new paths, step into their truth, and transform through travel and conscious living. Her book, She Travels – Real Stories of Women Transformed Through Solo Travel, is a guide to inspire women to explore the world on their own and invite in the transformation that travel offers.
Carolyne Whelan - an adventuring writer with dysgraphia
Carolyne combines creativity as a writer with a love of outdoor adventuring and teaching. In addition to being a creative and slow traveler, Carolyne has neurological disabilities: dysgraphia, ADHD, and tinnitus. I wanted to understand better how their disabilities shaped their experience with the outdoors and learn more about what attendees of her fall retreat, Eso Terra, will be invited to explore.
Anna Zivarts - mobility system advocate
Anna Zivarts has a visual impairment that prevents her from driving. In recent years, she’s been working as a disability and mobility advocate to shed light on U.S. car dependence and how that dependency fails everyone in our culture. Her book, When Driving Is Not An Option, published with Island Press in 2024. In addition to discussing the effects of car dependency, we also talked about the challenges of book touring as a nondriver and her experiences in other communities in the U.S.
Spokes Fighting Strokes - Kristin Weiss and recumbent triking
Kristin Weiss is a bilateral stroke survivor. She and her partner, Brad, co-lead the Wisconsin Chapter of Spokes Fighting Strokes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting stroke survivors and other people who have difficulty with balance and coordination. Adaptive cycling, in the form of a recumbent trike and community, gives Kristin and others a way to enjoy the outdoors and support each other in their recovery.
Kelsey Long - Indigenous trail runner, mountain biker, and Rising Hearts athlete advocate
Kelsey Long is a Diné/Navajo trail runner, mountain biker, and community builder who lives in southeast Oklahoma on the Choctaw Nation Reservation. Kelsey is a co-founder of We Run Long, a community of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) trail runners that seeks to expand BIPOC presence in the sport while honoring Indigenous lands and amplifying diversity at races and beyond.
You’re more capable than you know - Whitney Washington in South Korea
Whitney Washington is an adventure filmmaker who enjoys long-distance bike touring on paved trails. After completing a solo bike ride across America on the Great American Rail Trail in 2021, Whitney pedaled solo across South Korea along the 4 Rivers Trail in 2024.
She believes everyone has unique capabilities to be adventurers and hopes other people will set aside limiting narratives and explore what their bodies can do.
Mike Steen - attending to health and mobility
Mike Steen lives in Portland, Oregon, and experiences cerebral palsy. He loves spending time outdoors and feels fortunate to live close to Forest Park where he walks and pedals his recumbent trike. He shared the health benefits of time outdoors and exercise, and we discussed the opportunities and challenges of using an adaptive bicycle to access recreation.
Kevin Belle and the Great American Rail-Trail
Kevin Belle is Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Project Manager for the Great American Rail-Trail, an east-west route that connects trails and paths in 12 states between Washington, D.C., and Washington state.
Kevin enjoys running, biking, performing in drag shows, and hosting trivia events as Whiskey Ginger.
Embracing the magic of life - Whitney Washington
Whitney Washington is an adventure film maker, bike tourer, kind-hearted soul, and expert at conceiving big adventures. Her creative work is about seizing the moment of being alive, of discovering her capabilities, and inspiring others to lean into their fear and find their own story in the world.
Rose City Chica - a walk in the neighborhood
Shelli Romero and I walked and talked in her neighborhood, stopping to appreciate flowers and plants we encountered. Shelli works in transportation equity and owns a career-coaching business.