The inveterate author-adventurer Glen Hanket is preparing once again to put his two wheels on the road, traveling across the land, speaking to students and adults about the country, the environment, and pursuing their dreams.
This year's two-week trek takes him from Chicago to Denver, through the scenic Wisconsin Dells and along the Platte River.
It's been said that people fear public speaking more than anything else -- even more than death. Plus, most people doing an athletic feat (like bicycling across the country) resereve the entire day to cover their distances. Starting early in the morning allows them to miss the hottest hours of the day.
However, traveling solo can be a lonely venture. When the idea of bicycling coast-to-coast first occurred to me, I questioned my ability to persevere with little moral support. (Not to speak of questioning my sanity -- but others do a great job of that.) By scheduling talks at schools (and now libraries, also), it gave me an incentive to keep rolling. It also gave me something to look forward to each day, knowing I would meet up with friendly faces at every stop.
I first talked to schools during the LitterWalk, and discovered the enjoyment of sharing our adventures with the students. Their contagious enthusiasm never failed to spark our energy and raise our moods. That has continued on the bike trips, as I spoke at schools from elementary to community college, from country schools with 16 students to assemblies in front of hundreds.
In 2006, I added libraries to my itineraries. As a prolific author (of over twenty bicycling guides in CO, and ghost-writer of two financial planning books), I have done dozens of library talks, locally and while on the road. This year, I am also expanding my reach by contacting local scouting organizations and cycling clubs and offering to speak.
Art Linkletter knew the scoop: kids DO say the darndest things! I had just completed a talk at the elementary school I biked by every morning en route to work. In the Q&A that followed, a 4th-grade girl caught me with one of the best questions I have ever fielded: "Have you ever inspired someone?"
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