Many people dream of going on a great travel adventure. Most of us keep dreaming; others make it happen.
Gregg Bleakney's dream was to travel the Americas from top to bottom. He got the idea after he finished a 1,600 kilometer bike ride. Gregg's friend, Brooks Allen, was also a cyclist. The two friends talked and decided their goal: they would travel from Alaska(阿拉斯加)to Argentina(阿根廷)—by bike.
To pay for the journey, Gregg and Brooks worked and saved money for years. In 2005, after four years of planning, they set off. Once they were on the road, they often camped outdoors or stayed in cheap places. In many places along their way, local people opened their homes to the two friends and gave them food. During their trip, Gregg and Brooks cycled through deserts, rainforests, and mountains. They visited modern cities and researched ancient ruins(遗迹)such as Tikal in Guatemala(危地马拉). In many places, they met other cyclists from all over the world.
In May 2007—two years, 12 countries, and over 30, 500 km later—Gregg finally reached Ushuaia, Argentina, at the top of South America. (Near Guatemala, Brooks had to return to the US and Gregg continued without him.)
Gregg and Brooks kept a record of their adventures in an online blog. The trip taught both men a lot about traveling. Here is some of Gregg's advice：
★Travel light. The fewer things you have, the less you'll worry about.
★Be flexible. Don't plan everything. Then you'll be more relaxed and happy, even when there are challenges along the way.
★Be polite. As one traveler told Gregg, "Always remember that nobody wants to fight, cheat, or rob a nice guy."
