Almost Home - From Alaska to Panama on Bicycles
Peter Loveday from England and Jan Moneke from Germany set out to cycle the American Continent from North to South. They met each other in Alaska as each was setting out on their own monumental journey. Finding common ground in each other, they decided to cycle together. I met up with them when they pulled into Meson Suiso Restaurant in San Carlos, Panama for lunch. The pair were a day away from their final destination in Panama City, five and a half months from Alaska. While both men had different reasons for setting out on their journey, they share a love for cycling and travel. Jan says, "I wanted to see the world with my own eyes". The trip gave the cyclists a chance to take in cultures and landscapes, "the most beautiful places were probably the mountains of British Columbia and the desert in Baja, California", says Peter, even though 40C heat in the Baja desert had the pair facing dehydration and sun stroke. "We drank all our water in a couple of hours, and all the places on the map were either not there or closed", Jan remembers. "Luckily we were rescued by a Mexican driving a pick up truck who was willing to help us and asked for nothing in return". Like the Mexican, Peter and Jan found many people on their travels who were willing to help. "People cheered us on, and passed us water and beer, bought us meals and gave us places to stay", says Peter.
Pushing through mountains, deserts and every kind of weather imaginable, the pair cycled 13,000K, covering an average of 80K a day. Peter is cycling to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care, a palliative care organization that allows cancer patients to spend their last days at home with their families. Peter's girlfriend's father died of cancer. Jan who is a master gardener at the Hanover Botanical Gardens wanted to experience the climate changes through different growing zones across North and South America. Cycling through countries, Jan and Peter noticed the effect of global climate changes, "Alaska had the rainiest summer, Canada had forest fires due to heat and Mexico had floods" Jan says.
Both men are looking forward to flying home from Panama City, after they do some Christmas shopping and see the Panama Canal. Peter is excited to see his family and girlfriend. He has raised $7000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Jan is looking forward to seeing his son, who is waiting to cut down the family Christmas tree with him. "I want to cycle all the continents in my lifetime", says Jan, while Peter is looking forward to settling down and starting a family. "I don't know if I'll be able to do another trip of this extent again", says Peter. But he sure will have many remarkable stories to tell his children in the years to come.
You can read Peter and Jan blogs about thier journey:
