Embarking on a Heroic Journey: Our Bike Ride from Phoenix to Panama

Introduction to Our Ride

Get ready to dive into a thrilling new blog series here at BLeaves Farms! Join us as we recount the awe-inspiring journey of two college friends who set out on an epic quest, pedaling from the vibrant streets of Phoenix all the way to the iconic Panama Canal. Our adventure, undertaken in 2008 to honor public safety heroes, was filled with unforgettable moments, breathtaking landscapes, and the kind of camaraderie that turns ordinary trips into legendary tales. Through our stories, photos, and videos, we hope to ignite the spark of adventure within you and show that with vision, planning, and a bit of daring, anything is possible. So, gear up and get ready to be inspired to chase your own dreams and embark on your own incredible journeys!

The Definition of a Hero

Heroes come in many forms. While we often think of iconic figures like Maximus Decimus Meridius, William Wallace, George Washington, and Batman, it’s essential to remember the real-life heroes among us—law enforcement officers and firefighters. These everyday champions risk their lives for our safety, and we honor them by supporting the 100 Club of Arizona, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting the families of public safety officers who are seriously wounded or killed in the line of duty.

To pay tribute to these brave men and women, we’re embarking on an epic adventure—a journey that will push our own limits of courage and determination. Over the next four months, Jonathan and I will pedal through scorching deserts, towering mountains, stunning coastlines, and lush rainforests, traveling from Phoenix, Arizona to Panama City, Panama. We’ll share every thrilling moment, breathtaking view, and heart-pounding challenge with you, pedal stroke by pedal stroke. Join us as we ride in honor of our heroes and inspire you to find the hero within yourself!

Charting the Course: From Dreams to Reality

As I finalize our route, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey that brought us here. My love for adventure ignited early, as I roamed Phoenix’s city streets as a child on my trusty bicycle, driven by an insatiable need for discovery.

I was that kid, the one who poured over the World Book Encyclopedia and collected National Geographic maps and dreamed of far-off places. I’d spend countless hours planning a bike ride around the world, always starting by “heading south”. The thought of riding just a few hundred miles south of my hometown and finding myself in a new country, immersed in a different culture, felt like destiny.

My high school yearbook is filled with comments about my dream of biking around the world, so it’s clear this idea has been with me for a long time. The running joke was always, “How are you going to cycle across the ocean?” Thankfully, our ride to Panama won’t require any ocean crossings, as I never figured that one out!

In 2004, while sitting in a Pei Wei in Chandler, I sketched out a potential ride to Panama. It felt like a calling, something I was destined to do. By 2006, a friend and I were seriously discussing the logistics of a solo bike trip around the world. Even my mom, who worries about my safety, suggested I take time off to bike the world. A friend gifting me a book about a man biking around the world only reinforced my resolve.

My commitment to charitable causes fueled my desire to support a cause greater than myself, and hearing the 100 Club of Arizona speak about their work, I knew that I wanted to support their cause with my bike ride. I spent some time drafting up a proposal for them, and the day it arrived at their office, a police officer in Phoenix was killed in the line-of-duty. It was at this time, I knew I had made the right choice of charity–I wanted to do everything I could to support their noble efforts.

I’m thrilled to have my dear friend Jonathan as my co-adventurer. He’s been a trusted friend for years, and we share a passion for exploring life’s possibilities. A few winters ago, he suggested we bike to the Mexico border, but life happened and we never got around to it. Now, we’re not just making that trip happen—we’re going much farther south to make a lifelong dream happen as well!

I can’t wait to share every moment of this adventure with all of you!

Day One of a (3,500 Turned) 5,000 Mile Bicycle Adventure

It’s 5:31 a.m., and Jonathan and I have just wrapped up our exhilarating first day! Part of my pitch to Jonathan to embark on this transcontinental adventure with me was that it would boost his chances of getting into his dream law school, a life long goal of his. We timed our departure so his application would be among the first received, with our journey showcasing his determination and grit in a truly unique way.

The day was an absolute whirlwind. Jonathan and I put the finishing touches on his law school applications, sent them out, and we packed our entire lives onto our bicycles. By 11:30 p.m., we dropped our vehicles off at my cousin’s house across town, a moment of realization hitting us—after years of planning, our adventure was finally happening.

We didn’t wait for the morning as any commonsensical and less committed person would have. Already exhausted but determined to avoid any excuses, we loaded our bikes and set off in the middle of the night. Leaving my mother’s house in the McDowell Mountains was an emotional farewell. I fought back tears, seeing the fear in her eyes, wondering if it may be the last time we’d ever see one another alive. We made a promise to celebrate at Flo’s Asian Diner when I return, giving us hope this was merely “until we meet again”.

Our fully loaded Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bicycles named Viva and Alba, affectionately called our “iron donkeys” and weighing well over a hundred pounds each, proved to be a formidable challenge. The hurricane-like winds in Fountain Hills didn’t help, and the weight of our bikes was a new obstacle, especially as we tackled uphill climbs.

But what goes up must come down. We eventually hit a downhill stretch, cruising onto the Beeline Highway east of Scottsdale at breakneck speeds. From there, it was surreal—riding through the Arizona desert under a clear, starry sky, with a gentle breeze and the sweet smell of desert creosote filling the air.

Twenty miles later, we reached our first destination. My former roommate, best friend and fellow Virgo, Kimba, welcomed us into her charming townhome, which felt like a cozy bed and breakfast. It was the perfect end to an unforgettable first day.

Now, we’re settling in for some much-needed sleep before the next leg of our journey tomorrow. Jonathan is sleeping upstairs, and I’m testing out my sleeping bag on the floor downstairs.

To our surprise, we also discovered extra room in our Ortlieb panniers (#ad), despite them being packed to the brim with our entire lives. We’ll reorganize our bags to better distribute the weight and make frequently needed items easier to access. We continue to figure it all out as we go along and gain experience.

When we wake up, we’ll be off to Picacho Peak in southern Arizona! The forecast is a beautiful 75 degrees—I’m excited for the ride and will update you all again soon!