just 'cause for just cause: Balkans to Britain

Hello people!

Another year, another dollar, as they say.* That is, it’s been a year since I set off on my Canberra to Perth cycle. What a trip. It really was such a great experience and I learned so much about Australia that I’ve planned to do another big cycle trip this year, this time northern ‘sphere in Europe: Balkans to Britain.

The plan is to depart from Herceg Novi, Montenegro in late July and approximately eight weeks later arrive in London, United Kingdom. This will be somewhat different to the Australia trip in a few ways, for example:

• Bears! Oh my. Yes, Europe still has some wildlife, especially in the Balkans. Top speed of a Eurasian Brown Bear is 35km p/h (according to Google) so if I find one chasing me on the uphill I’m definitely going to cycle super-fast right back down! Gravity on my side for the win!

• Fewer snakes and spiders and other small bitey things that can kill you

• More green and trees

• More water (yes!)

• More towns in which to top up on muesli bars, nuts and fruit (yes!)

• More roads, trails and paths

• About as many different languages – Aboriginal Australia is linguistically diverse, let’s not forget

• More people – especially since the Syria crisis

That last one is the serious bit of all this. I’m just going to copy paste what I wrote for my Canberra to Perth fundraiser because it is still 100% applicable. Start copy paste:

Who am I? Why am I doing this? I’m just a Canberra gal, getting my creative altruism on. A bit of a tree hugging, bleeding heart, contemplative mind activist. You got me. Busted.

I like cycling. I like freedom. I like adventure. I like to challenge myself. I like nature and natural landscapes, and to live gently and sustainably. I also like for everyone in the world to have the same freedoms and potential for living their life to the fullest.

Sadly, this isn’t so for many people: those affected by war, extreme weather and natural disasters, political unrest, economic instability and anyone who is abused or marginalised. It seems broad, and it is. But hey, I’m just against injustice and inequality in any form where it doesn’t need to be so.

I dream of a world where common sense and compassion prevail. It’s directly connected: climate change is a human rights issue - the biggest one of our time. Protecting our beautiful, precious, invaluable habitat, and those who call it home is in everyone’s best interests. It’s well within our knowledge, technology and power to make it happen.

So, I’m going to do something I enjoy - challenge myself mentally and physically, and do it in a way that has a low carbon footprint – while using my lucky freedom to help promote awareness and raise funds for organisations that work to combat climate change and to help those in need.

I’m doing the entire trip with my own funds and all money raised will go to CARE Australia and Climate Council of Australia.

Please donate generously, as if it were for something that would directly ameliorate your life, and the lives of your loved ones…because it will.

End copy paste.

So that’s it in a nutshell. Or pickle. Or chestnut. Or 3500km of bicycle trekking.

I’ll be updating my trip on a daily basis (wifi permitting) on Facebook and less frequently on Instagram and Twitter at: Follow_alida so you can follow the trip as it happens.

I hope you enjoy the ride.

Peace!

Alida


PS For more information on the Canberra to Perth ride in June-July-August 2015 (including a pretty dorky video of me proclaiming my desire for world peace and sustainability and all that jazz) please go to:

https://www.mycause.com.au/page/94708/just-cause-for-just-cause

*Pretty sure people don't say that. Imagine earning one dollar per year!