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Guests: Paul Putman & Jonathan Cain; Paul K.W. Dunt
I don’t know how you feel about trees, but I for one think they may be vastly underrated and WAY more important than people might give them credit for. Although, you as a listener are probably not one of those people!
My guests today, Paul Putman and Jonathan Cain, are here to talk about the annual Tour des Trees, a small and very significant ride taking place this September through the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Tour Des Trees is a long-standing ride on the multi-day circuit. It raises funds for exploration and science while teaching daily along the way.
I learned about the Tour des Trees a few years ago when some of our clients, who worked for a local tree company, told us they were going to ride this event to celebrate trees!
Turns out, this ride has been going on for a long time, and it not only celebrates trees, it educates folks along the route AND raises money for tree research.
Scheduled for September 12-18th, and traversing the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s a fully supported ride and here to elaborate are Paul Putman, CEO of TREE Fund – he’ll explain that acronym – and Jonathan Cain, the ride director.
As of this posting, there are already 82 riders signed up, so if you are interested in joining them or just learning more about the ride, go to tourdestrees.org.
Then, I speak with cyclist and author Paul Dunt. In the summer of 2014, Paul, who lives in the U.K., came over to the States with a traveling companion to ride the original 4,000+ mile Bikecentennial Trail. His new book, TRANSAM – Cycling Coast to Coast on the Trail that the US Loved first, chronicles his journey across the U.S.and he has some great stories to tell.
This summer, the Adventure Cycling Association will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Bikecentennial Ride back in 1976. Then, several thousand people took to what has become the “trail that American Loved First,” according to author and cyclist Paul Dunt.
With the upcoming 50th anniversary of the original Bikecentennial Ride, Transam gives us a thorough look into not only the trail itself, but what he found about the U.S. 12 years ago.
Back in 2014, British riders Paul Dunt and Terry Willer, took “redundancy” – or retirement as we know it here in the States – packed up their bikes and panniers, and came over to ride that trail, using the original ACA paper maps.
Paul and his cycling companion Terry Willer, found the Trail very friendly then, 
and his comments about the differences between folks in the U.S., where he learned more about someone in half an hour at a gas station stop than in the U.K. where people are much more reserved, were amusing if not quite illuminating!
Not all of their experiences were sweetness and light, but overall, the U.S. showed its best side during their trip.
His new book, TransAm is available now and, with the upcoming 50th anniversary of the original Bikecentennial ride, it might be just the ticket to get you signed up! If not, it’s at least a great summer read.
Let’s take a short break and when we come back, I ask Paul if he and Terry had any frightening encounters. You’re listening to TOC. We’ll be right back.
Today’s episode was the first in a series that will highlight rides in and around the U.S. this spring, summer, and on into fall.
Remember that May is National Bike Month – so, there will be a lot of great opportunities to celebrate by riding your bike!