.svg)
Four friends set off on their bikes to witness the total solar eclipse in North America. They document their short bikepacking adventure with photos and an inspiring short film. A beautiful story about the freedom of spontaneity. More than that: an ode to friendship.
The last time there was a total solar eclipse in North America, it occurred very close to my home in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At the time, I was on a business trip in Texas and was extremely disappointed that I would miss it. Back home, I vowed to myself that it wouldn't happen again.
Documenting life, especially travel, has become a very important part of my life. It's almost an obsession—or, if you will, I consider my interest in it a gift I gave myself back then.
As a teenager, I noticed that my father kept a diary. I found it incredibly fascinating back then. So it was my father who encouraged me to do the same. He told me how fantastic it was to look back at the diary after all these years and reflect on the times. What had changed, how had I changed myself? Which friends were still by my side, and which ones were gradually swallowed up by the ups and downs of our lives. Since that day, I have kept a diary of every one of my travels and adventures – documenting many of them with my camera.
Figuring out how to properly document bike tours is a very special challenge. Two fundamental problems arise: The equipment is heavy, and there's limited space on the bike. In retrospect, I'd say it took a long time to find the best solution. And even when you think you've got it figured out, things happen, like a broken camera strap—like on this trip. Fortunately, there are still good people on this planet, and so the host at our hostel gave me one of his old leather straps as a replacement.
For this trip, I packed a camera, a microphone, and a drone. That's it. I always treat trips like this like a fun puzzle. And then like Tetris for adults, which increases the anticipation immensely.
Our journey to the total eclipse is easy to explain: four friends, four bikes, a circular route with the main destination of the stage being Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where the total solar eclipse is best viewed. The reason we absolutely want to cycle there is because we're not the only ones who want to experience the eclipse. All the streets, especially in the cities, will be full of cars. We're guaranteed a more stress-free and easier way to reach our destination via dirt roads and small streets. Plus, we're cycling, which should suffice as an explanation. Enough said, go watch the film; I hope you enjoy it!
Looking back, I'm infinitely grateful that I brought all my camera gear with me on this trip. For me—no, for us as friends—it was an incredible and unique experience, of which we now have not only my journal entries but also a film. I can only urge you to always bring a camera, or at least a GoPro, on a trip like this. You'll thank me when you get to relive your time out there.
Text Cameron Muilenburg, Photos Kody Dahl