I’ve been loving the 'Wheels & Whales' life these past few years; uniting my love of pedal-powered movement with my lifelong passion for marine wildlife. What started with a surprisingly successful bikepacking-turned-whale watching trip to the northern archipelago of Shetland - in which I saw orca, humpback and minke whales and an array of other wildlife that inhabits those gnarly but beautiful isles - has since turned into something of a way of life for me. Exploring my now-home of Sussex on two wheels over the past year whilst deepening my awareness of, and appreciation for, life at sea, in the sky and on land has been a blast. Now, I want to take it a notch further… 🚵‍♂️🐋

British Columbia, Canada, has always held a special place in my heart. First it was the mountain biking, then the broader sense of adventure and connection to wilderness. I was also fortunate enough to see orca on a previous trip to Vancouver Island and since then have dreamt of returning. Now, there is a calling for me to do just that. For personal reasons, I’ll be heading out to the west coast of BC this summer, so I thought I’d try to add some depth and sense of purpose to the trip. Partly to in some way offset the impact of a transatlantic flight, and partly to push W&W to the next level.

To do this, I am currently cycling the distance of the flight from London to Vancouver, some 7500km or 4700 miles, over 6 months on the roads and trails around Sussex. And most importantly, I’ll be fundraising for Sussex Dolphin Project in the process!

SDP are a marine conservation non-profit that’s doing amazing work to protect the marine mammals we have off of the south coast of the UK. I’ve been increasingly involved with the project since moving to Sussex, connecting with local citizen scientist landwatchers (who regularly volunteer their time to collect valuable sightings and environmental data which informs conservation efforts) in addition to the wider team of biologists, educators and activists. The Project is actively engaged with local communities, raising awareness of the spectacular wildlife we have so close to home and their work is contributing to wider rewilding and nature restoration across the south coast of the UK.

When you work to protect species like whales and dolphins, you’re not only protecting them but the wider ecosystem and complex web of life (including our own) that depends on healthy seas. We really do have so much to gain by (re)connecting with the nature on our doorsteps and supporting the work of those tirelessly striving to ensure it’s here to stay, despite the multitude of challenges it faces.

We are now looking to raise funds to continue this work - and this is my way of chipping in. So if you could spare a few 🦑 for the 🐬, that would be greatly appreciated! Or if you fancy a ride, let me know - I’ve got a fair amount of saddle time coming up! 💙💚

So, to summarise…

What? 🐬 Cycling the distance from London to Vancouver - 7500km or 4700 miles, approx. 200 miles per week - before embarking on a bikepacking and whale watching trip to Vancouver Island. Once there, I also hope to learn how we can apply conservation successes and learnings from some of the most well-studied cetaceans in the Pacific Northwest to those in Sussex, which are some of the least-studied in the world!

Where? 🐬 Along the roads and trails of Sussex (and other parts of the UK)

When? 🐬 From now until mid-July (donations open until mid-August)

Why? 🐬 As a means of raising funds and awareness for the Sussex Dolphin Project - this money will be used to further our understanding of the amazing populations of dolphins, porpoises and seals (and even the occasional whale!) that we see off the coast of Sussex, and engage local communities in protecting the important marine habitat on their doorstep / To learn about and share wider marine conservation and ocean health movements and best practices / To promote purposeful movement in, and for, nature / To explore a deepened connection to local nature, and local adventure

Follow along my progress on my Instagram, Strava and flight map !

For more info about SDP, check out their website - https://sussexdolphinproject.org/

For more background about what Wheels & Whales means to me, check out my blog and video edit from a previous bikepacking trip to the Shetland Isles - https://www.huntbikewheels.com/blogs/news/wheels-and-whales https://www.pinkbike.com/video/581998/