About Me, My Trip

A Little Bit About Me
I have been interested in conservation and environmental stewardship all my life, well, not all my life, but lets just say that growing up, my mom refused to buy anything Japanese, especially a color TV, due to ‘our family’s’ stance on whaling. You get the picture. I received a BS from Cornell University in Natural Resources, but then worked at various jobs that had nothing to do with my nagging environmental concern that obligated me to stop and sign with every street corner Greenpeace intern canvassing their idealism. I rationalized my activism of convenience, convincing my self that realism empowers idealism, money begets power, and that Pechuli oil does NOT grease the wheels of change. So after living and working in Europe for 10 years, I moved back to Boston to get an MBA and MS in Information Systems from Boston University. Then I spent the next three years in a mobile software start up, but came to realize that more important things were going on around me, and if I wanted to affect any change, I would have to make some major changes myself. I actually lost my aversion to Pechuli….(not!) I began to ask myself what impact I, as an individual, could actually make? As luck would have it, various stars aligned, friends were consulted, and adventures hatched. This trip is the result. For more a more detailed background, please see the post on How This all Got Started or click READ MORE.

A Little Bit About My Trip
In a nutshell, I am going to travel West coast to East Coast in a zero emissions, solar and human powered vehicle capable of carrying myself, necessary gear and communications equipment and at least 250 pounds of cargo at any given leg. Lorax Motor Works, of Hood River, OR, is responsible for my vehicle, called The Hauler, and have been a tremendous support. (click on the My Equipment page for more information)

Since The Hauler is designed to do just what its name implies, I asked myself what kind of useful cargo could I carry on my trip ( other than the essentials) that would demonstrate how effective the Hauler is, and at the same time, have some impact on all the people I would meet along the way. After much thought and discussion, I decided that my cargo should consist of books, focused on themes of alternative energy, which I could hand out to curious onlookers along the way. The focus of my project has evolved from a mere logistical one ( getting my Hauler back to the East Coast ) into an educational one (daily opportunities to talk about energy, conservation and sustainability)

I am arranging to stop once every day in towns or cities along my route and donate copies of the books to local libraries and schools, and whenever possible, with prior planning, host multi-media presentations and readings of the books to groups of students at these locations.  My progress will be documented daily via video and blog spots on this website, as well as sponsor websites and links to all the major social networks.  I am trying to employ a PR agency to encourage local media and news outlets to cover the donation/reading events as buzz grows around the project, if you know of anyone, or would like to help in that manner, please get in touch.

I you are a teacher or a parent and you would like me to try to visit your school or group, please contact me at wgrote@me.com or (617) 875 8421 and I would be happy to alter my route to accommodate as long as it is feasible. I hope to be able to use some of the school stops as pick up points for book cargo as well.