About
The Plan
Cycling For Water – Brittany App & Garrett Russell Cycle Coast to Coast for WaterAid
Brittany App & Garrett Russell bicycled across this massive continent in the Fall of 2010 to raise awareness of our Global Water Crisis, and to raise funds to provide fresh water to those who need it most.
They followed the Southern Tier – a route established by the Adventure Cycling Association – covering 3,159 miles between San Diego, California and St. Augustine, Florida. They completed the journey in three months – averaging 50 miles a day.
Brittany, photojournalist extraordinaire, wrote and shot daily. She is now hoping to have the words and images published as a book. Garrett, film-maker extraordinaire, filmed the entire experience, and is now working to create a documentary about the journey. You can contribute to the film’s success here.
The two rode to raise awareness about the global water crisis, and to raise money for WaterAid. Their fundraising goal was, and still is, $20,000. To this point in time, over $14,600 has been raised for WaterAid International.
WaterAid is an incredible international charity that works in Africa and Asia to provide the world’s poorest people with their most basic need: access to safe water and effective sanitation. Read more about the organization here.
The Peeps
Brittany AppSan Luis Obispo, CA I love images. And I love to play, and laugh, and share. And catalyze the mysterious time-space continuum between our present, and our past. It is my life, and my joy. These insatiable eyeballs have led me around the world… to Africa, Brazil, China, England, Japan, India, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, Ireland, Malaysia, Vietnam, and more – to places and people that have inspired my current life-path. As a photographer, I suppose you could say that I specialize in people. Our lives, our stories, and the emotions and events that truly make us human. The inspiration for this cross-country ride originally came from a trip around the world with Semester at Sea. I was well aware that poverty existed, but I had no idea the severity of it until it was right in front of my face. Until that moment when I could feel it, smell it, and cry with it. I have since become driven to BE the change that I want to see in the world. And I want to inspire others to do the same. My inaugural fund-raising effort was the running of a half-marathon, completed in February of 2010. Thanks to the generosity of many lovely people, $2605 was raised for WaterAid. With the race under my belt, I immediately began to wonder… If I could raise that much for running 13 miles, how much could I raise if I did something really crazy… like…. ride a bicycle all the way across the country? And that was it. It had to be done. So the planning of this glorious adventure began. The even crazier part of it all? I didn’t even own a bicycle… “The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” – Charles Dubois |
Garrett RussellPortland, OR I am a filmmaker hailing from Portland, Oregon who focuses primarily on international social and environmental justice documentary work. Growing up in a multi ethnic family, which advocates for human rights, international aid and adoption I was instilled from a young age with the values of cultural interconnection. Essentially, I love people, life and absorbing a plethora of experiences from various perspectives. I received degrees in Video Production and Anthropology from Pacific University. I have had the fortunate opportunity to travel and produce documentaries in over 20 countries working for SpinFilm, Semester at Sea, and a number of other organizations. My films have spanned the spectrum of content from the worldwide cluster bomb debate, to illuminating the violence in the Congo, to uncovering the destruction and exploitation of the Amazon and its peoples for the sake of oil exploration. I plan on continuing my work in non-profit documentary production giving a voice to those who need to be heard. My upcoming documentary of our cycling trip across the southern United States to raise money for WaterAid International is currently in post production. For this project I am in need of donors. The documentary (“Water Tension” –Working Title) will be a journey on two wheels across the U.S. interviewing individuals along the way about their lives and the positive connections they feel that spur compassion towards helping those without water and other resources. At heart, I am a storyteller who will advocate for the most potent and professional forum in any medium to bring awareness to issues and people that connect us all. “Peace be the Journey.” |
The Places
Towns & Cities along our route – “The Southern Tier”
The towns and cities listed are in order of travel, West coast to East. September was spent crossing California, Arizona, & New Mexico. October in Texas. And in November we cycled through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
CALIFORNIA
San Diego, Lakeside, Alpine, Pine Valley, Buckman Springs, Live Oak Springs, Boulevard, Jacumba, Ocotillo, Plaster City, Seeley, El Centro, Brawley, Glamis, Palo Verde, Ripley
ARIZONA
Ehrenberg, Quartzsite, Brenda, Hope, Harcuvar, Salome, Wenden, Aguila, Wickenburg, Morristown, Wittmann, Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Apache Junction, Florence Junction, Superior, Miami, Claypool, Globe, Peridot, Bylas, Geronimo, Fort Thomas, Pima, Thatcher, Safford, Solomon, Three Way
NEW MEXICO
Mule Creek, Buckhorn, Cliff, Riverside, Mangas, Silver City, Pinos Altos, Lake Roberts, Mimbres, Kingston, Hillsboro, Arrey, Derry, Garfield, Salem, Hatch, Radium Springs, Las Cruces, Mesilla, San Miguel, La Mesa, Chamberino
TEXAS
El Paso, Fabens, Tornillo, Acala, McNary, Esperanza, Sierra Blanca, Van Horn, Kent, Fort Davis, Alpine, Marathon, Sanderson, Dryden, Langtry, Comstock, Del Rio, Brackettville, Montell, Camp Wood, Leakey, Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, Comfort, Waring, Sisterdale, Blanco, Wimberley, Mountain City, Buda, Austin, Bastrop, Winchester, LaGrange, Rutersville, Oldenburg, Warrenton, Round Top, Burton, Longpoint, Gay Hill, Independence, William Penn, Washington, Navasota, Anderson, Richards, New Waverly, Pumpkin, Evergreen, Coldspring, Shepherd, Dolen, Romayor, Thicket, Honey Island, Kountze, Silsbee, Buna, Kirbyville, Bleakwood, Bon Wier
LOUISIANA
Merryville, DeRidder, Mittie, Oberlin, Mamou, Ville Platte, Grand Prairie, Washington, Dupont, Plaucheville, Moreauville, Hamburg, Simmesport, Morganza, St. Francisville, (Baton Rouge), (New Orleans??), Jackson, Norwood, Woodland, Chipola, Easleyville, Tangipahoa, Bolivar, Richardson, Franklinton, Springhill, Plainview, Bogalusa
MISSISSIPPI
Poplarville, Larue, Vancleave, Wade
ALABAMA
Dees, Grand Bay, Bayou La Batre, Coden, Alabama Port, Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach
FLORIDA
Gulf Beach, Pleasant Grove, Pensacola, Pace, Milton, Holt, Milligan, Crestview, Mossy Head, DeFuniak Springs, Argyle, Ponce De Leon, Westville, Caryville, Bonifay, Chipley, Cottondale, Marianna, Grand Ridge, Sneads, Chattahoochee, Gretna, Quincy, Midway, Tallahassee, Woodville, Wacissa, Waukeenah, Monticello, Greenville, Madison, Lee, Wellborn, High Springs, Gainesville, Hawthorne, Melrose, Putnam Hill, Grandin, Florahome, Carraway, Palatka, East Palatka, Hastings, Racy Point, Riverdale, Molasses Junction, St. Augustine
