June 6th marked the day Wend editor-at-large Rick Olson departed from Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado to embark on a four-month, 5,000-mile bicycle tour of the National Park-to-Park highway.

While on the tour, Rick is interviewing people Livin’ the Hybridlife, such as Meaghan and Ken.  They’re on a transamerica bike ride that began in Seattle and will end in New London, Connecticut. Along the way, they’re raising money for three charities: Playing for Change, The Surfrider Foundation, and Trees for the Future.

Ken and Meaghan are yoga instructors with little bicycle experience. Before the trip, Ken hadn’t even known how to change a flat. They also did little to train for the trip, instead relying on their yoga practice to keep them on the road and in good shape.  Follow their journey at www.ridethewaveofchange.org.

About the Playground Tour

The Playground Tour, which was named after the “Playground Trail,” a 5,000-mile tour of twelve National Parks west of the Rockies that was taken by a group of Americans in 1920. Their mission was to generate awareness and support for better roads to facilitate easier access to recreational areas.

The Playground Tour is an attempt to recreate this tour by bicycle. The mission is to raise money and awareness for the United States Bike Route System. Rick is teaming up with the Adventure Cycling Association and will be observing and documenting the difficulty of travel and roads conditions for cycling throughout the ride.

Interactive Playground Tour map – click here
Daily update from Rick – click here