Had you asked me a year ago, I would have never occurred to me that going on a bike trip
would be in my future. Up until last April, I didn’t even know how to fix my bike, preferring
to pay others to do that kind of thing. But last winter, I realized something was calling me.
Travel? Learning? Self-discovery?

I took a leap. Into what I wasn’t sure yet. But I ignored my logical voice telling me to stay in
Toronto and keep my job (which I have to say was pretty great), and instead listened to my
heart, which was itching to jump into the unknown and was determined to drag me along
with it. I ended up diving into an experience of a lifetime. I quit my job, told my housemates
I was leaving, and decided to hit the road where I would rely on my body, my trusty bike,
and a dose of bravery to propel me.

For the next three months, I traveled around Eastern Canada and the Northeast US visiting
farms and food projects as a way to explore how food is creating change in people’s lives,
communities, and regions. Food and farming are my life’s passion and work. It seemed
fitting, then, to revolve my travels around this important issue.

Having never traveled by bike (never mind alone on a bike), I set out in June with little
idea of what lay ahead. Looking back, I can now see I prepared as best as I could – a well
equipped bike, a loose plan, and a roster of contacts along the way paved my way for
success. Everything else worked out magically, albeit with a touch of street smarts and a lot
of gumption.

Here is a photo-essay of my trip, which ended in NYC at the end of September. If you
want to see more, my trip’s photos are all on my Flickr and I documented my experiences on my blog.

To see a slideshow of Emily's photos, click here