One of the good and typically sudden issues about bikepacking is that you just almost all the time meet folks you by no means would have in any other case met. Even in case you’re on a solo expedition in a distant space, likelihood is, sooner or later, you’ll run into one other person. And these likelihood encounters may be life altering.
John Freeman and his 6-year-old Border Collie/Heeler combine pup Mira are bikepacking superheros. They’ve already bikepacked epic distances, and now they’re on a mission to bikeback all the way in which all over the world. And as Freeman instructed CTV News out of his hometown of Canmore, Alberta, everybody who sees them smiles. “They’re looking and they’re smiling…imagine riding all over the world and everyone’s smiling at you and thinking ‘how cool that is,’ so I mean, that’s the biggest gift that I got from riding with [Mira]it’s terrific.”
Freeman began bikepacking, or as he calls it, dogpacking, with Mira when she was simply 3-months-old. He instructed CTV News, “That’s the youngest you can fly internationally because of the vaccinations and we flew to Spain and we spent five months riding around the country.”
Because Mira is a working canine, she likes to walk and run alongside the bike when she’s not using in her particular basket on the again. She can cowl as much as 25-miles on her personal, and the remainder of the time she performs navigator from the again.
And in case you’re anxious about Mira’s well being, relaxation assured, she is extremely properly cared for and completely likes to journey. CTV News reported that Krista Hawlling, a veterinarian who makes a speciality of orthopedic surgical procedure, spent a month with Freeman, studying all about dogpacking. She mentioned, “He’s doing such a fabulous job and also showing how you can safely get out there with your dog.” Hawlling additionally mentioned that they had talked quite a bit about diet and vitality necessities for a canine like Mira, who’s so energetic.
Author, filmmaker, YouTuber, and lifelong adventurer Ryan Duzer has spent many miles with Freeman and Mira. They met in 2020 about midway down the Baja Divide route. “I was riding solo,” Duzer instructed Bicycling“and John rode up to me at my campsite in San Ignacio and said, ‘Hi Ryan!’ He recognized me from my videos. I always love meeting interesting people and John is definitely in that category.”
But Duzer mentioned that it was Mira who actually captured his coronary heart. She cheerfully greeted him whereas sitting in her basket. “We then rode together for the next week, having the time of our lives. And since then, we’ve pedaled most of the Great Divide together, the Arizona section of the Western Wildlands route, and a couple different routes in Mexico. I’m usually smiling from ear to ear when we ride together, John and I talk about everything under the sun, while Mira keeps us entertained with her goofy antics. She loves fetching sticks.”
Duzer mentioned that watching Freeman and Mira journey collectively is like “witnessing a beautifully choreographed dance. They’re so in tune with each other.”
Freeman and Mira have fairly the next on social media, together with YouTubethe place Freeman posts updates about all of their adventures. So observe alongside, and in case you’re fortunate, possibly you’ll cross paths with them out on the paths and roads.
Writer
Micah Ling is a contract author who lives within the mountains of Colorado. She splits her free time between mountain biking and path operating.
