John's America Bike Tour: March 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.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

52 Days To Go! HALO Costume and Derby Car

I am Anna, John's sister. I am stepping in to keep you up on what John is up to these days. I can't believe he only has 52 days left before he rides across America.

This week John recorded another radio commercial for Kodiak Subway. John talked me into being in it with him. I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet.

So John is tearing up the house to film a short movie for a college scholarship. He is making a big mess!

He's a lot of fun to have around. He makes me laugh.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

55 days to bike tour!

Hello Bike Tour Followers:

This is it! I am in the crunch time. And I am enlisting a team to help me finish this epic adventure.

As the ride comes closer I have many things I am juggling.

I am finishing a short movie narrative to compete for a scholarship. This is taking almost every minute of my time until April 6. I plan on nearly destroying the family home for the end of the film. I love my supportive parents!

Then my student government is hosting the Alaska Association of Student Government Spring Conference the week of April 9-14. I have a short film and many things to do there too.

The KHS KMXT radio show is going well and the recording schedule cannot be interrupted.

Then there is this little thing about finishing high school.

It is all working, but I am behind in this blog.

My sister and friends from all of the country are volunteering to guest blog to keep the energy going.

I have experimented with the chapters and videos titled "All About John" and "All About The Bike Tour". These early posts have taught me much about what works and what doesn't. It is time to shift gears and go in a new direction.

I can't believe it. I started with an idea when I was seventeen. It was a crazy and impossible dream.

Now I have real sponsors that are making this trip possible. I have Subway restaurant owners and other small businesses backing me. I started out to find my America and I think I am already discovering what makes America wonderful.

I have a dream to go to college and chase my American dream. I had a need. I designed a plan to earn some money to make that dream come true. American small business owners are teaching me how to earn my own way to find that dream.

Now my friends and family will be helping me keep up with all my websites and this blog. I am going to fully engage in the last major steps before I start this journey.

I can see that when this trip is done I'll have the makings of a major documentary about my generation and the new American Dream. I can't wait to put this on a big screen and share what I learned along the way. Stand with me and tell my generation that the best part of America is still in front of us all. We must have a vision, and work to earn it. It made our nation great and will make it great again!

Thank you for supporting me.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Sunday, March 11, 2012

It's go time!

The reality of this trip is rapidly encroaching upon my being at a rate in which I find completely soothing. The past 2 weeks of my life I have been tirelessly writing, stamping and licking 515 envelopes to send off to Subways on my route! Now that this is complete I can continue with the cleaning and repairing of my bicycle!

The tides are turning and I think that this feat is now doable. In just 60 or so days I will be leaving the Subway here in Kodiak setting out to... find... my... America!

It's go time.

This is my route as of now!