August 15: 2025 Pit Crew
Riding 10,000 miles circumnavigating Australia this summer I was blessed to experience a taste of the country’s breathtaking scenery, fascinating wildlife, friendly people, and unique attractions. Given the size and scope of this continent, I traveled through vastly different landscapes with ever changing weather conditions and fuel options. Regardless of where I was on the road, it was comforting to know that I had a pit crew monitoring my progress daily and standing by ready to help.
Grant Myers has been a faithful friend and riding companion since 2020, joining my team on my 2021 trip to all 48 contiguous united states and continuing as I journeyed to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some of his biggest saves were helping me put back together my phone mount when it fell apart in Poland and getting me a local mechanic in Switzerland when my bike experienced mechanical difficulties and I was stranded on the side of the highway. This summer he coached me through what to do with the myriad grouping of unmarked extra wires detached from my battery when I picked it up from the shipper, making it possible for me to hit the road in a timely manner when I finally got access to my bike. Over the years he has helped me create a rather extensive travel tool bag for Adventure Baby and kindly helped me label the components for ease of use.
Kathy Nesper has been there from the beginning, providing friendship and sage advice since 1996. She was the first member of my pit crew, starting with my maiden solo voyage in 2020 and ongoing as I’ve traveled through five continents by bike. She has coached me on how to avoid heat stroke in Africa, find gas in the middle of the night, and make difficult decisions about next steps. Her specialty is technical support, and she is the first person I call when running into a problem producing my daily blog.
Allen Nay joined the pit crew back in 2023, encouraging me and praying for me as I planned my trip to Iceland, dealt with the discovery of my four brain tumors, and had to make the call regarding whether to load my bike on the ship to Reykjavik or not before knowing if the neurosurgeon would clear me to travel. In addition to helping me think through my trips ahead of time, he made himself available at all hours of the day or night for prayer and encouragement while I was on the road. Unfortunately, Allen passed away unexpectedly in January, leaving a big hole in my heart. I have thought of him often on this trip and hope he has been enjoying watching this summer’s antics from above.
Tony Fathers joined the team this year, offering helpful advice, information, and support throughout the trip planning process and after I hit the ground. When I visited him and his wife Jan at their home near Adelaide towards the beginning of my journey, he graciously offered to join Grant and Kathy in tracking me on my Garmin Mini as I continued my trip, giving me an extra layer of security as I traveled in remote areas with limited resources. With the 17-hour time difference between the rest of my team and my starting point in Melbourne, he was able to provide tips in real time and was especially instrumental in finding me doctors to treat my infected arm and mechanics to service and repair the bike.
I’m very thankful to this group of talented friends who so generously gave their time to assist me in making the most of this summer’s adventure. During the thirty-seven riding days completing my lap, it was comforting to know they were there. I may have been traveling on my own, but I was not alone.
