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Home > South America News > Five Vancouverites Cylcing From Patagonia Arrive In Hometown
Five Vancouverites Cylcing From Patagonia Arrive In Hometown
(PRWEB) June 16, 2005 -- Five-hundred and eighteen days ago, Gwendal Castellan set out to cycle from a town the furthest south you can reach by road in South America; Ushuaia, Argentina to the most northen tip of North America. Now on June 25th, 2005, just in time for Bike Month, with partner, Tania Lo (who began in Bolivia), brother, Armel Castellan (who began in Ecuador), friend, Brahm Dorst and sister, Maiwenn Castellan (who began in USA), he will arrive in his hometown, Vancouver, Canada to visit family and friends before continuing his journey to reach the Arctic Circle. Inuvik, in the North West Territories, is the ultimate destination of this cycling expedition.
Over this 17-month period, Gwendal has inspired 8 other cyclists to join his adventure. The primary goal of the expedition is education. Cycling through 18 different countries he has learned Spanish and Portuguese, how to cook different cuisines, how different cultures survive and incorporate into today's pop culture. He has seen how people south of the 49th parallel view us, from and how the seem on the other side.
Through the entire expedition, The Antipodes Expedition Team have kept a website: antipodes-expeditions.com, and update it bi-monthly with photographs and articles about their adventure. With over 1000 new subscribers to their updates, the team is constantly receiving emails of encouragement.
On a budget of 10 USD a day, Gwendal and his teammates spend nights in eclectic locations: in parks, under bridges, at fire depts, with families, on the edge of a 1830m deep canyon and even next to a prison cell.
In Latin America, the team was able to sample many local /traditional dishes from Cuy (guinea pig), Chicharonnes (deep fried pig skin), Argentinian parillas (bbq’s), Colombian arepas, El Salvadorean Pupusas, Peruvian Ceviche, and of course Mexican Tortillas and Gorditas.
As the team headed north, they also relied on their creative culinary skills. Equipped with a wok and pressure cooker conveniently stored in a trailer (provided by Bike Box Trailers, a local Vancouver company), the team can cook up a storm baking breads, cakes cooking curries, stir-fries, lasagnas, carbonara pasta, soups, stews, drawing from local ingredients for their inspiration and to keep within their budget and their daily 7000 calorie needs.
When the team reaches Inuvik in the late summer, the cycling adventure may come to an end but the team will begin work on their educational goals. For the near future, the team will visit schools in the lower mainland giving presentations about their trip, what they learned along the way and also relating their experiences with a variety of school subjects such as geography, social studies, life and career skills.
The team hopes to raise enough money to tour across Canada, next spring, giving presentations to schools from Vancouver to St. John’s Newfoundland. Still to come are plans to produce a documentary of their adventure.
On Saturday June 25th the team is hoping that others inspired by what they are trying to accomplish will ride into Vancouver with them from Gary Point Park in Steveston, Richmond to Hastings Mill Park in Vancouver. The ride will begin at 9am and a Celebration BBQ will be held at Hastings Mill Park between 12:30 and 5pm.
For more information please contact:
TANIA LO
Executive Director
(Please note: We will respond as soon as possible, interviews may be provided between June 25th and July 4th)
The Antipodes Expedition:
Adventure Education Inspiration
#409-1688 East 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC,
Canada, V5N 1J8
The Antipodes Expedition Project is primarily personally funded by the participants. They have received donations in kind from local small businesses: The Bike Box, The Bike Doctor, The Brickhouse Bistro, Victoria Florist, Perry + Associates Landscape Architects, Arvon Cycles, Stormfront BC and numerous generous individuals.
Saturday June 25, 2005 Join local cyclist, Gwendal Castellan and the Antipodes Expedition Team and cycle from Steveston, Richmond to Vancouver as they ride into town 518 days after leaving Patagonia by bicycle. Meet at 9:00am at Gary Point Park by the needle sculpture with water and snacks. BBQ/Potlock Celebration to follow at Hastings Mill Park (east of The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club) from 12noon - 5:00pm.
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