John's America Bike Tour: January 2012

Out Of The Wild: An Alaskan's Adventure To Find America

My name is John. I was born and raised in Alaska. I have been hearing how the American Dream is no longer possible for my generation; how the pursuit of a college education will leave my peers and me in crippling debt; and America is no longer the beacon of hope it once was. Too many of my generation believe what they are hearing. I am not going to surrender to such news.

I believe what made America great in the past can make it great again. I know many small business owners that are living their American Dream right now. I have heard these people talk about their dreams. They work harder than anyone I know every minute of every day. These are dreamers that act on their dreams. I want to chase my dream in the same way. My personal motto is, “Risk much, forgive much, and gain much”. I want to pursue a career in film. I want to chase my dream too.

I need to see more of this country to better understand my homeland. I want to meet the people who make this country work. Upon graduation from high school I am riding my bicycle 6,000 miles from Kodiak, Alaska to Key West, Florida to find my America. I am not going on this tour just to ride my bike. My plan is to document the people I meet that have put their dreams to work. I will interview them in their environment and interview the people they serve.

Using my bicycle, a tent, and a camera I will tell this story in a documentary I call “Finding My America”. I will begin in my hometown of Kodiak, Alaska on May 22, 2012. I am partnering with small businesses that will sponsor this trip. I am working with many Subway restaurant owners who are sponsoring me in exchange for a commercial I will make and post on the Internet.

When my trip is complete, I want to share what I learn with everyone. Look for the finished documentary in the late fall of 2012. The blog will serve as a behind the scenes update to chronicle my grand adventure. I am accepting financial support from anyone interested in inspiring my generation to embrace the hard work of bringing America back to a new era of greatness. I hope to tell the stories of the real American dream. I hope to raise enough money to pay for college without student loans. Help me tell this American story. Together we can be the difference.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Chapter 1: All About The Bike Tour Episode Interview Part 3

Interview

Kodiak Daily Mirror

Part 3

Reporter Wes Hannah did a three part interview about John's America Bike Tour.

Chapter 1: All About The Bike Tour Episode Interview Part 2

Interview

Kodiak Daily Mirror

Part 2

Reporter Wes Hannah did a three part interview about John's America Bike Tour.

Chapter 1: All About The Bike Tour Episode Interview Part 1

Interview

Kodiak Daily Mirror

Part 1

Reporter Wes Hannah did a three part interview about John's America Bike Tour.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Chapter 1: All About John Episode 7

This episode features the St. Innocence Academy in one of their annual celebrations! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Things like this make Kodiak a unique place.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Second Video Test for the Blog- Filmed Oct. 2011

This is a video test for explaining the blogs that I would soon be making. I filmed it in October 2011. The video does not freeze at the end. I am just thinking about what I should do next. It is early in the morning and there was so much to get started for this project.

My First Video Blog From October 2011

This video was made about 230 days before the bike tour begins.

This is the first attempt at starting my video blog. Although I did not use it in the beginning. I think it helps explain what I am doing in many of the episodes I have already uploaded.

Go to my YouTube Channel

Friday, January 20, 2012

Chapter 1: All About John Episode 6

This is the last of the blogs for now. The next blogs will come back revamped and ready to blow minds!

This episode takes inside the recording studio of KMXT in Kodiak. Visit the Kodiak High School In The Know radio show's FaceBook page to listen to the program.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Chapter 1: All About The Bike Tour Episode 6

Early morning update! Tired and groggy, but excited none the less!

Chapter 1: All About The Bike Tour Episode 5

Check out this late night update on my bike tour! Only 125 more days till my departure!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Chapter 1: All About John Episode 5

The first episode you really get to know me! This week is gonna be slammed with fun! So stay tuned!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Chapter 1: All About John Episode 4

Receiving calls at two in the morning couldn't feel better! Im so excited to start creating relationships with these managers!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Chapter 1: All About The Bike Tour Episode 4

Check out our telemarketing team!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Chapter 1 All About The Bike Tour Episode 3

Chapter 1 All About The Bike Tour

Episode 3

This is an exciting day. This weekend there is a Subway conference in Miami, Florida and my project is going to be part of the discussion with many Subway store owners.

There are 129 days before I take my last ride by both Kodiak Subway restaurants and onto the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system to Homer. About 120 days later I'll be in Key West, Florida.

This will only come together with strong partnerships and collaboration from many people across America. I look forward to interviewing many of you at a Subway along the way.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Chapter 1 All About John Episode 3

Chapter 1 All About John
Episode 3

One very windy day in Kodiak creates the setting for this new installment of All About John :)
I hope you enjoy!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Chapter 1: All About John
Episode 2

I just realized that All about John series has a lot about preparing for the trip in this episode. After all this 'John's America Bike Tour' is about me. It is 133 days before I roll away from the Center Street Subway in Kodiak to the Alaska Marine Highway ferry dock. I'll spend the night on a slow boat to Homer, Alaska. There is so much left to do. And I still have 21 weeks of school.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Progress is progress

Hey everyone, thank you so much for visiting my blog as frequently as you have been doing :)
Things are just about to start picking up pace here at the head quarters :)
I am in the middle of uploading another "All About John" video blog so stay tuned :)

Right now I am working on spreading my name around the country through Subway restaurants.
This is taking quite a while. I spent roughly 8 hours today on the telephone and barely made it half way through my list of 515 stores, but progress is progress so I can't complain :)

Chapter 1: All About the Bike Tour
Episode 2

It's early morning in Kodiak. I'm on my bike trainer talking about my telephone contacts to Subways across America. I already have sponsorship in Alaska. I am now seeing how many other Subway owners want to participate in this adventure to find my America.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

This is the first in a series that will tell all about the bike tour and things helping me prepare for the bike tour, like bike maintenance, gear selection and route choice.

I hope you enjoy it!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Here is the first of many vlogs to come. The ones following the "All About John" series will give you, the viewers, a better sense of who I am and what sparked this plan.

This specific vlog is meant to introduce the series, so it covers a broad assortment of things.

Hope you enjoy it!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

SUBWAY Facebook Fan Videos

Starting tomorrow I will be posting biweekly video blogs that keep you guys updated on my progress for the trip!!
On an even more exciting note, I just posted the pilot Subway video to the Subway facebook page.
Follow this link to the posted pilot film in the SUBWAY Facebook fan videos

Monday, January 2, 2012

The future holds... well...the future :)

Alright, I have been blog grazing and I have seen really high quality bike blogs and some that are like mine, in the early stages of becoming well known. The ones that are well run and have good content ask weekly questions and have a very interactive layout. These are all things I need to work on:)

So while I am busy constructing quick and easy topics and weekly themes that can be swiftly posted while I'm on this tour relax and read some of my favorite cycling quotes :)

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race.
-H.G. Wells

Nothing compares with the simple pleasure of a bike ride.
-John F. Kennedy

Learn to ride a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live.
-Mark Twain

Never use your face as a brake pad.
-Jake Watson

Hope these make you laugh :)

Sunday, January 1, 2012

More Subway Radio Commercials

I want to thank:

Kelly Nymeyer for writing;
KVOK enginneering staff for recording; and
Dan Rohrer owner of Subway of Kodiak.

They made these radio commercials possible. I enjoyed doing each one.

Happy New Year!

Hello my fellow cycling enthusiasts! Last night at 12:30-ish the blog breached the 1000 view mark!! What a fantastic way to start off the year of 2012! As all of you are deciding on your New Years resolutions take a moment and think about a question. When I first heard this question I couldn't stop thinking about it! So here it is: If bicycles were never invented how would your life be affected?

Post your thoughts and sign up to become a member!