Author: Sara Salo

Guest Blog: Felice recaps a week of SFT travels

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Note from Sara: I am lucky enough to have my dear friend Felice along on the SFT for a few weeks through the desert southwest. Please enjoy her tales of life on the road! 

While taking a break from my job working with professional athletes, I have found myself volunteering my time and pedal power to the amazing Sara on her School Food Tour journey.

I spent the past summer surrounded by elite cyclists in my work as a “soigneur” for the Giant Mountain Bike Team and Team USA. My job title means I “care for the athletes”, providing massage and physiological support to elite cyclists at the highest level of competition. This amazing role presents me with numerous challenges and takes me to many beautiful locations across the world. In the last few days, the School Food Tour has presented me with new challenges, adventures and amazing scenery, and I have learned that the task of carrying out the Tour is an equally immense and admirable challenge as competing in world championship competitions.

The first chapter of my School Food Tour experience commenced with a drive from hometown Bend, OR to Joshua Tree National Park, CA with my neighbour and local endurance academy coach, Brenna Warburton. We gained a new appreciation for the impressive distance that Sara had already travelled on the Tour since departing Bend in August when it took us 14 hours of zooming down the highway in my trusty Silver Subaru to find her.

As an Aussie I had never seen a joshua tree before (and didn’t quite comprehend Brenna’s comical description), so it was spectacular to wake up to the cartoon-ish views in the National Park and be re-united with my old roommate for the first time since she commenced her pedal powered journey! Equally spectacular was the serving of whole wheat pancakes cooked up by Truckee, CA Nordic ski coach Ben Grasseschi. The delicious meal and amazing views set the scene and kick-started the School Food Tour proper for Brenna and I.

With our bikes re-constructed and water bottles filled, we set out on Sara’s declared route in the direction of Phoenix. The next 5 days were filled with pedalling, camping under the stars, eating healthy food to fuel our legs, and most importantly, laughing our way across the desert from California and Arizona. Brenna and I swapped up the task of driving ahead to scout for camp sights, gather provisions, and ensure we had enough water before backtracking on bike to meet the crew and finish up the day of pedalling with Sara who was going the whole distance.

This opportunity to provide my friend with logistical and physical support is incredibly rewarding and I am so thankful to have a chance to see parts of this truly amazing country that I would never see if I wasn’t on the School Food Tour. There are far too many highlights to note… so I have picked 5:

  • Seeing saguaro cacti and joshua trees for the first time! So cool – token tourist moments necessary!
  • Lying under the desert sky and counting shooting stars and satellites with great friends.
  • Riding up a big hill and into the head wind for 5 hours (yes, I actually enjoy this kind of thing!)
  • Discovering an unexpected amazing camp spot on the Colorado river (which was later deemed not-so-brilliant when the mosquitoes came to feast!)
  • Finding out how fast I can sprint on a bike when there is a feisty dog in hot pursuit!

The realisation of how far you can actually travel on a bicycle is incredible and I’m having such a blast that I have signed up for the next chapter of the Tour from Arizona to Texas. When are you going to join Sara?

Bikes & food in Yucaipa

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Homemade dessert at my welcome dinner. I knew it was going to be a good visit!

Months ago, I received an email from one very enthusiastic mom asking if I could fit in an SFT stop at her children’s school in Yucaipa, CA. After a bit of schedule shuffling I confirmed my arrival with the principal and we began planning. I was immediately impressed with Yucaipa Christian School (K-6) due to their dedication to cycling. Get this – each year the school’s bicycle club takes a tour from Yucaipa to Phoenix! That’s 350 miles; a long ways for elementary school kids.

Two excellent map helpers!

I was excited to speak with classes who already had a concept of what bicycle touring entails and these students did not disappoint. The young audiences were full of thoughtful questions and were very engaged in my trip and curious about my mission. The class presentations were great but the best part of the day came after the bell had run. Kids streamed down the hall decked out in bike shorts and jerseys to meet up for a ride to the local Three Sisters Organic Farm.

The super-awesome riding crew!

Smiles on the road.

The fast group set off first – we were going to pedal the entire 12 mile route – while the less experienced riders cycled about half way and were then shuttled out to meet us at the farm.  Three Sisters Organic farm is a small family-owned operation. Abby and Jason along with their two kiddos met us at the driveway and after a quick introduction on the patio of their straw bale home, we took a walk around the property. Three Sisters is a certified organic farm and uses biodynamic farming techniques. Our students tasted basil, kale, arugula and other tasty treats during the tour and were amazed at the flavors, smells and textures that accompany farm life.

Abby point out some delicious eggplant.

Mini kale nibbler.

The train passing by was a fun addition to the afternoon.

Jason pulled a turnip out for the kids.

The day concluded with a group photo and promises to stay in touch. Had my timing been better, I could have participated in the Go Strada Corsa Lynn Pletcher Memorial Ride the following weekend. This event is a road ride fundraiser for the bike club and childhood obesity programs in the valley. I hope the weather was great. Huge thanks to the students and parents at Yucaipa for making me feel so very welcome in your homes and school!

Riding for childhood obesity. Awesome!

A young Strada Corsa rider!

The School Food Tour plus two!

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Last week I was lucky to have two wonderful friends along for 5 days of SFT riding through the Arizona desert. Felice and Brenna have supported the idea of the SFT from its inception and they were both able to squeeze a quick road trip into their busy lives.

Biker chicks.

The goal was to meet in Joshua Tree and then head east across the desert to Phoenix where Brenna could catch a flight back to Oregon. We hadn’t done a ton of planning – the only details I gave them were a solid date to arrive and vague directions to a campsite. However, knowing that they were both extremely intelligent girls, I was confident that they would track me down and be ready to ride on the designated morning. Sure enough, I opened my tent the next day to a beautiful sunrise and the sight of Brenna, curled up next to my bike and trailer.

A nighttime arrival makes the sunrise even more spectacular!

Brenna snuggled up next to my bike... "I knew you would return here eventually!" she said.

After a multiple cups of tea, lots of catching up and a delicious breakfast of whole wheat pancakes with homemade canned peaches courtesy of my dear friend Ben, Brenna and I hit the road on our bikes while Felice took the first turn at driving support.

Greeting the day!

Delicious pancakes by our favorite Chef Ben = happy girls!

Brenna and I roll out of camp.

50 miles later we arrived at our first camp of the trip. A small outcropping of rocks provided perfect shelter from the sun and a privacy from the nearby highway. We ate a yummy but healthy dinner, goofed around with our cameras, listened to an episode of Radiolab and it was time for bed.

Happily standing at the stove for dinner duty!

We soon settled into a routine. Up early, steel cut oats for brekkie, pack lunches, fill water bottles, load the car and roll out for the day. Either Felice or Brenna would drive ahead to scout camping and resupply food and water while myself and the other would start pedaling. Once the person running support had everything settled at our day’s destination she would hop on her bike and ride out to meet us; each day ended with three happy but tired girls giggling around a Coleman stove amidst cacti and dust clouds. After nights in Parker, Hope & Wickenburg, we safely rolled into Phoenix 4.5 days later, much in need of a shower and some time away from the sun.

I can’t tell you how special it was to share this experience with two dear friends. Their companionship and support was and continues to be priceless. Stay tuned for the girls’ perspectives on School Food Tour life – they will both be writing guest blog posts very soon!

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