A six-month bicycle trek across parts of South America, Central America and the United States might be an impossible feat for some.
But environmental biology and botany senior Misty Flahie isn’t your average student.
“We’ve been training for over two years now,” she said. “I ride my bike everywhere and I don’t own a car, so I ride, on average, 20 to 25 miles (a day) five days a week.”
And beginning Jan. 5, Flahie and her friend Joanna Tschudy will begin a trip from Lima, Peru to Bozeman, Montana after Flahie graduates in December. Tschudy previously attended MSU and now lives in Elk Rapids.
The entire trip will be done on bicycle, except for countries such as Colombia, Honduras and parts of Mexico, which Flahie and Tschudy will fly over to avoid political strife in the area.
The two are collecting sponsors and donations, of which the proceeds will be donated to the Lansing Council Against Domestic Assault and the Women’s Resource Center of Traverse City.
“We’d like to raise as much as we can,” Flahie said “We don’t have any set limits, we’re asking people what they’d like to help out with.”
Flahie said she contacted U.S. embassies in countries they will travel through, and will need only their passports and travelers’ visas to complete the trip.
While traveling, the two will camp along the way, and carry a stove, water filter, tents and other essential gear.
And Flahie said their parents are excited about the trip as well.
“They’re supportive,” she said. “Of course parents worry, and that’s expected, but they most certainly support us and want us to do it.”
Robert Flahie, Misty’s father, said while he is a little worried, he thinks the trip will be a worthwhile experience.
“I think it’s probably a good idea,” he said. “I would prefer if it was all in the United States, but I haven’t done any research, so I don’t know anything about Peru.
“I think it’s a wonderful experience and something she can remember the rest of her life.”
Susan Shoultz, executive director of the Council Against Domestic Assault , said she thinks the trip will be a success.
“(Misty’s) ready to do an adventure in her life before she moves on,” she said. “We’re just pleased to be able to be the recipients of that.”
Shoultz said she thinks the years of training for Flahie and Tschudy will be an added bonus.
“It sounds like quite an adventure for me,” she said. “Of course I was concerned about their safety, but they seemed very prepared to do this.”
