A little more than three years ago, on a typical Tuesday afternoon, my friend and colleague Matt Kelly stopped in my office for our usual round of candy, gossip and youtubing 90 second scenes from R. Kelly’s critical masterpiece, Trapped in the Closet.
Only this time was different. Silent, he sat there in the chair with his eyes glazed over, staring at my bookshelf. After a moment, he shoved a piece of licorice in his mouth and announced, rather abruptly,
“I think I’m going to do something crazy.”
Click hereto watch Matt’s interview on WTTW.
Click here to read Matt’s blog.
Click here to see Matt’s amazing and extensive photographs from his trip.
Click here to see Matt’s amazing kite flown aerial photography from prior to his trip, that I thought he really should have taken on his trip but he said the kite took up too much room and I thought that was a poor excuse but now I see his bike loaded up like that gear and wonder, Damn, where was he going to fit the kite?
Oh well. Next time.
Welcome home Matt!
Wow! Best tribute ever! It is an honor, privilege and pleasure to be your friend Aunt Peaches.
That is SUPER COOL!
This is wonderful What a great story and AMAZING to ride from Alaska to Argentina– and for the gumption just to answer the call of “GO”.
Dang that is hard core! makes me want to get out my old Schwinn.
oh wow.
this is something i’ve had pushing at the back of my mind for months. and this is now the third time in two days i’ve heard about someone doing it (well, one was a backpacker… but still, that’s odd, right?).
i’m getting a little freaked out.
but such an
amazing story. i can’t wait to check out the blog and interview and photos.
superlative endeavor, mr. matt.
enviously,
-shawnacy
I always assumed that being forced to watch Trapped in the Closet is what drove Matt to make the trip. Seriously, nice post, Aunt Peaches — there can never be too many reminders of what greatness a person can achieve if he or she is determined, patient, kind, and curious about the world. Oh, and it’s nice to know the world is not as twisted as R. Kelly would make it.
Thanks for introducing me to Matt…wonderful person and adventures….sometimes we get a bit misanthropic and it is good to see the world is composed mostly of people like us.
What an inspiration!! Thank you for sharing and reminding me that there is more beyond the craziness thrown in our faces day in and day out by the news.
Now I want to travel so badly! Not with a bike, because I’m not much of a bicycle person. But backpacking or walking would suit me just fine. And there’s public transportation. I’ve always found it humbling to experience people’s generosity, especially in in environments where resources are not as readily available.
Loved reading this on a cold and dreary Friday morning.
My friend Tyler did a solo bike ride from Vancouver to Colombia a year and a half ago and blew my mind. I was living in Mexico at the time and he came to visit me in my little town. It was absolutely amazing, and I imagine that he and Matt were cut from the same cloth. He no sooner got home and started planning a solo canoe trip to the arctic – a first for him, and made it home with brand new astonishing tales to tell. We are truly blessed to have such amazing friends like these two who remind us of what really is possible, and what really matters. I am going to send this post to Tyler so that he can read up on Matt’s adventures and maybe get some tips when planning his next one… and there will surely always be a next!