Nathan Q&A

On Mother’s Day, May 10th in Belfast Maine, Nathan Winters will ride his bike- across the continent. and you can go with him, thanks to Greenopolis- we’ll be following Nathan every mile of his route, with a map to track his progress, daily blogs, photos and video reports of the people he meets and the places he visits along the way! He’ll be spotlighting recycling, reuse, conservation and all the ways everyday folks across North America are transforming waste to resources in their own unique ways.

Nathan’s route will take him from Maine to Seattle, and will cover the next 3-6 months. . Here’s an interview we conducted with Nathan interspersed with some Q&A from his website about the trek he and the Greenopolis community are about to embark upon:

Q: When are you taking this journey?
A: May 10th 2009 from the Maine coast.

Q: Where do you plan to go?
A: I plan to ride from Maine to Washington State over the course of 4 – 6 months.

Q: How/why did you pick this particular route?
A: When I chose this route it really came with little thought or
consideration. I have visited all but 5 states in the USA which included Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Alaska will then give me all 50. Beyond that I really identify with these parts of the country as they are the heart and soul of the American famer. I also come from a farm town back in Pennsylvania. So given the time of year and the opportune weather I am going North and West. Who would have thought a young man could dream of seeing Wisconsin!

Q: What is the significance of leaving on Mother’s Day?
A: For the past 6 years I have spent the majority of my time out west and make it back to Pennsylvania just a few times a year. This is something that I battle with personally as I grow older. So for me to have my Mother and my family with me in Maine when I head out on my journey is truly a great gift. It will be a perfect opportunity for me to display the courage and passion my mother instilled in me.

Q: Why are you doing this?
A: I have had this goal for quite some time and I promised myself that I would one day take this journey and if I didn’t I would always live with regret and wonder...and one should never do such a thing. Beyond that it has been a top priority of mine to “do good” and give back to the world and most importantly... our planet. Everybody has that responsibility at some point do they not?

Q: What stories and lessons do you hope to find/learn/share along the way (impacts of development, joys of restoration, natural/human history)?
A: I am looking for compelling stories that demonstrate the reality of both the prosperity and demise of people who work towards stewardship of our land and planet. Whether that’s a farmer in Wisconsin, a park ranger in Wyoming or a college student in Burlington VT. My main goal is to listen and create a platform for all of those who are willing to speak and voice their experiences, feelings and perspectives.

Q: Where will you stop (schools, farms, habitat, etc)?
A: I will be stopping where I feel the most compelling content will be
found. That may be at a family owned farm, local college or university or a project taking place at a local, state or national park. It is my suspicion that many of the great stories will also be found along the way when you least expect it and I by no means look to pass those by. This is a once and a lifetime opportunity and I am going to take full advantage of that.

Q: Who do you expect to interact with (teachers, students, farmers, café owners, etc)?
A: I will ask them many different types of questions. Some random, some
organized and serious. I also plan to ask these folks questions straight from my followers and audience. At the end of the day I want to learn more about their contributions to making our world a more sustainable, environmentally friendly place to live as well as what they bring to the table in regards to supporting their local communities.

Q: What will you talk about with the people you meet?
A: I will be talking about whatever they want to tell me. Whether that
is a local environmental project gone good or bad, a farmer who is being forced to sell his land or just simply whatever is important to the people I meet. This is not just about me. it is about the people I am meeting along the way.

Q: Where are you planning on staying?
A I plan to stay in many different types of places. From the family farm to the middle class American household to camping locations I find along the way

Q: What Makes This Ride Different From Other Bike Rides Across the Country?
A: This has been done before. Many people have ridden their bicycles across America for great causes… However I have not seen it done in a very, interactive, journalistic and adventurous platform. I am not on a tour, in a hurry, or on a specific route. This is a journey filled with educational content, adventure and I am going to use social media platforms to allow folks from anywhere to follow, interact, and participate with both myself and the other viewers who are following me in real time. During this trip I plan to conduct video interviews with locals in their environment, add up to minute updates with twitter and facebook, snap and upload both mobile and frame worthy photos, keep a candid online journal/blog, and get to know America as well as I possibly can in real time for the world to see. This is not a cycling "tour" this is more like an aggressive and eductaional bike ride.

Q: What type of support are you seeking?
A: All types. If a visitor tells a friend about my cause or knows a friend who might let me crash on their couch I will consider it a small victory. I am certainly hot on the trail to work with other organizations and media outlets to enhance my awareness.

Q: Can I Ride With You?
A: Sure. Just contact me and let me know when and where you would like to join me. The goal is to raise awareness, funds for nature preservation and get people involved. The more folks who want to help… the better.

Q: How Much Money Do You Want to Raise?
A: As much as possible. Both monetarily and cause oriented. I have always been one for lofty goals and intentions. I have set the goal for this event at $50,000 by the end of the 2009 year. Through organizational support, viral marketing, social networks, hitting the pavement and a solid plan… I think it can be done.

Q: What do you fear (breakdown, crime, loneliness, etc)?
A: I honestly don't fear much other than the lack of resources needed to fulfill my journey. There is a lot more than just getting on a bike and riding everyday. Equipment, planning, general expenses and many other factors come with the journey. Remember. this journey is not about the destination. It's about everything in between Maine and Washington State and the longer I can keep riding and finding opportunities, nooks and crannies the more awareness I will bring to my mission in the way of protecting our planet.

Q: What do you look forward to?
A: I look forward to being a leader most and foremost. I am proud of myself for taking on this mission and raising awareness to the importance of protecting our planet. And. I will not have to live with regret when this is all over. I will have lived out my dream and done a very good deed. And that my friend, is rare.

Want to help Nathan on his journey? Keep him fed, rested and creative? Here are some things he’ll need on his journey in addition to your attention and donations to his cause:

• Replacement gear while Nathan’s on the road. After a bit he may need to replace or upgrade out of necessity, comfort and safety the following: New helmet, gloves, shorts, shoes, rain jacket, camping gear and the like. Plus as he nears the end of the journey it may get cold in the western mountain ranges.
• Lodging. Nathan will be camping a lot, but would love to find a good guest room or hotel from time to time. A rested rider is a healthy and happy rider. Natan will need comfort, privacy and solid internet as well for his online chats with the community.
• Help with restaurants or food stores to replenish general food and drink.
• Energy bars and drinks for the spaces in between.