Portland provided a great backdrop for this photo by Justin Myers from Myers Photography. 
Thanks Justin (and crew) for the entertaining chilly morning, hot coffee and great shot!
We had great weather for our School Food Tour photo shoot at Bella Organic Farm on Sauvie Island. The Island is a small pastoral paradise just outside of Portland, Oregon. As I drove away from the hustle and bustle of the city and headed out into farmland, my mind’s frenzy of School Food Tour to-dos quieted to a simple appreciation for everyone who continues to support this project. Green space and fresh air really can bring about new perspectives and feelings of serenity.
The shoot was super fun and totally made me feel like a movie star. I can only imagine that given the amount of physical exertion ahead of me, I’ll have many days where I don’t feel at my most attractive so it was especially nice to let me girly side shine bright. Erik Urdahl from Urdahl Photo was fantastic to work with; he and his assistant Kate were totally on top of things and adapted to the ever-changing light conditions like the pros that they are.
Stay tuned for some great images!
Posted in SFT
Tagged Erik Urdahl, Organic Farm, photography, Portland Oregon, Sauvie Island
I can’t imagine a city that loves its bikes more than Portland, Oregon. Its two-wheeled (and sometimes three!) pedaling obsession was proudly displayed this past weekend at the Portland Bicycle Show. While I entered the show a bit groggy from my early morning drive with a sick dog and multiple pit stops, I was soon swept up in the energy of the event and was chatting up a storm. As I grabbed a Clif Bar sample, the energetic guys from Ruckus Components tagged my coffee cup with a sticker and I was off in a flurry to the next booth in line.
I attended the show with dual purposes. My role as School Food Tour ‘Spokes’woman allowed me to connect with many like-minded folks and I was pleasantly surprised with how many attendees were very interested in both cycling and good food.
Along with promoting the School Food Tour I was also there as an ambassador of People for Bikes and spent my days collecting signatures, handing out buttons and spreading the good word of bike love. People for Bikes is working to gather one million signatures of people who are ‘for bikes’ – unifying cyclists and leveraging our collective voice in Washington DC. This great program is an initiative of Bikes Belong, a national bike advocacy organization. If you haven’t done so yet, please sign the pledge!
It was a fantastic two days of bike-related celebrations and cycling gear. There really was something there for everyone – children and adults alike had smiles on their faces. A few other photos from the weekend:
There was a freestyle area:
A test-ride track:
Ryan Leech gave an amazing trials riding demo:
Family fun:
More photos here.
Posted in SFT
Tagged Bikes Belong, Clif Bar, Cycling, PedalNation, People for Bikes, Portland Oregon, Ryan Leech
Ok, not really… But I did appear on Keen’s Hybridlife Radio yesterday. You can find the recording here. And today the Tour is featured on the awesome blog The Lunch Tray. I have really been enjoying spreading the word about the Tour and talking to individuals eager to get involved in healthy kids initiatives.
I had a great time in the studio yesterday with Hybridlife’s hosts Adam and Heather. Todd was in the corner operating all sorts of equipment while the rest of us chatted around a table cluttered with mikes, notes and computers. The show went really smoothly and conversation flowed easily during the 30 minute live broadcast. The only hiccup arrived in the form of a rouge golden retriever who attempted to nose his way into the recording studio during the middle of our piece. Luckily, we managed to suppress our giggles and shoo him away without any major interruptions. I really enjoyed the experience and am hopeful that I will be able to update Hybridlife on the Tour’s progress throughout my ride.
Don’t forget – You can tune in to their great show every Wednesday at 1p.m. PST.
On a side note, I felt very fortunate to witness one of the more spectacular sunsets I’ve ever seen over Mt. Hood the the Central Oregon Cascades on my drive back to Bend from Portland. Additionally, I took Mr. Grizwald the Siberian Husky, for a jog along the waterfront downtown before our departure and had a splendid urban run in the sunshine. I am feeling very thankful for life these days!
The School Food Tour began as a 5,000+ mile self-supported bicycle tour to inspire and energize students and communities to create healthier school environments. Along her route, Sara gathered best practices in school food, educational gardens and food policy. The SFT will soon expand to include additional riders covering more regions of the country. Stay tuned!
Current location: Houghton, MI (Made it!)
Mileage count: 5,200 miles
here to help with Tour expenses.
Sara is pedaling as a 
athlete. Visit her athlete page to join her in the fight against cancer.
Thank you for your support!
