A little info about Aaron & Laura
So you’re probably asking yourself, “What kind of people decide to travel for two years by bicycle?” Well, I guess the answer is: people like us! So here’s a little background on Laura and me. Whether or not it can explain our admittedly crazy adventure, I’m not sure.
Aaron
Aaron Beese was born and raised in rural Oklahoma—Newcastle (population 5,000) to be precise. A nice little town where everybody knows everybody else at the IGA on Sunday afternoon after church. So far so good. He was the only child of Rodney and Sandra Beese, both native Okies. In fact, among his immediate family, his Oklahoma pedigree was perfect: one grandpa a rancher, other grandpa an oilfield worker, one uncle a farmer, other uncle a Southern Baptist pastor. A truer Okie was never seen.
Yet, although there are many things Okies are known for (friendliness, hospitality, tornado-awareness, fleeing dust bowls), an affinity for travel is not exactly one of them. So what happened to Aaron? His upbringing seems so…normal. Oh, except for that part about his dad quitting his job and spending seven years building his own house. An underground, dome-shaped, solar powered one. Hmm…that kind of busts the “normal family” idea.
Rodney got into cycling when Aaron was only eight years old and brought his son along. By ten, Aaron’s wardrobe consisted entirely of sweat pants and bike event T-shirts (such as the Hotter’n Hell Hundred and the Redbud Classic). They went to bike rides almost every Saturday during the summers, and rode to church together on Sundays. It was all over from there–when the love of bicycling gets in your blood this young, there is no antidote.
At sixteen, Aaron rode across Oklahoma with his dad–his first taste of touring. Afterwards, there were rumors of a Mexico-to-Canada trip, but unfortunately a back injury sidelined his dad for a while. At eighteen, Aaron’s eyes turned to college and pined for far-flung and prestigious schools, but the University of Oklahoma’s offer to pay for the whole can of worms was too good to pass up. Aaron chose to remain a Sooner, as he had been all through his childhood.
He choose Mechanical Engineering as a major, and for a while it appeared as though he was on the “normal” career track: excellent grades, great internships during the summers, and job offers upon graduation. But Aaron wasn’t ready for all that yet; instead, he turned down all job offers and committed to spend his first year after college doing volunteer engineering work for a bridge-building organization in Nepal. But this was not adventure enough! In the four months between college graduation and the start of his work in Nepal, Aaron decided to ride his bicycle from Virginia to Alaska. This journey single-handedly convinced him that bicycle travel is the most authentic, affordable, and enjoyable way to experience a place.
Three years passed between the conclusion of that trip and the start of his journey with Laura to visit all fifty states on their tandem. In that time he spent a year in Nepal, taught math at a community college, completed an Ironman triathlon, began a PhD fellowship, met Laura, kayaked the full length of the St. John (Maine/New Brunswick) and San Juan (Colorado/New Mexico/Utah) rivers, quit the PhD fellowship, worked in construction, married Laura, interned at his church in Norman, and planned the Fifty by Bike adventure. Phew! A capricious, diverse, and fulfilling three years!
Laura
Laura’s heritage is also deeply rooted in Oklahoma–in fact, her family’s homestead farm in Deer Creek dates back to 1895. (Coincidentally, it is only a few miles from the home of Aaron’s grandparents in Deer Creek.) Yet the forces of modern life would see Laura’s family move when she was ten to the thriving metropolis of Nevada (pronouced “Ne-vay-duh”), Missouri, population 10,000.
Thanks to her parents and Girl Scouts, Laura developed a love for the outdoors at a young age. Summers found her at girl scout camps, canoe trips, and campouts. However, she also participated in more “civilized” activities, including ballet, classical music, and French Horn.
From the time she was young, Laura knew that she wanted to travel, and while Aaron’s ticket out of his small town was his bicycle, her’s was music. In high school, she spent some time in Europe and at other various fine arts endeavors during the summers. During her senior year, she was surprised by the options that were opening before her. While on a trip to Texas, she stopped in Oklahoma to visit some family, and decided to take a look around the University of Oklahoma in Norman. What she discovered there determined the course of the next six years. She was impressed with the music education faculty, the unrivaled beauty of the OU campus, and the warmth and generosity of everyone she came across.
Toward the end of her Music Education degree, Laura met Aaron at church. Later that semester, as Aaron was about to leave for a summer of traveling, he sent Laura a letter expressing his desire to get to know her better. After the summer ended and Laura began student teaching, Aaron returned looking like this, yet out of curiosity and interest in his fascinating and “unique” perspective on life, Laura decided to get to know him. Never have two more opposite people been attracted more strongly! But Laura knew early on in the relationship that she could trust the way Aaron made decisions and would gladly follow him wherever his next adventure would take them.
I am so excited for you to about to take off on an adventure of a lifetime.
So…seeing I don’t see much info, is this the place where you put up embarrassing roommate stories so people can get a “little background” info on you? Would that be okay?
Well, I suppose that we don’t control what you write in the comments, so embarrass away (as long as it’s about Laura!)
I think Laura’s involvement in the Pride of Oklahoma marching band also helped fuel her desire for adventure…particularly the Tournament of Roses parade in Jan. 03 when she marched for six miles next to a legendarily adventurous trombone player with the initials JS. You can’t spend that much time with a man of such Lewis-and-Clarkian dynamicism and not come away unchanged. So that’s what I think…
Good luck. The furthest Lauren or I have ever gone on a bike is 100 miles….youre going to at least out do us by 100 times. If you need any tips for joint and muscle aches and pains along the way, just let me know.
Your Bon Voyage party was delightful! Your parents’ hospitality was just exceptional. What a treat to both get to see the underground house AND participate in the send-off party. I can hardly wait for the first report from the road. Us old folks are going to be living vicarious adventures through you guys!
Laura,
Spoke with your mom today and she gave me a card to follow the 2 of you. Good luck, enjoy and the rest of us will keep tabs on you with the website. Don’t forget to floss! : ) I will tell Dr. Long about your adventure as soon as he returns from vacation.
Wow..It’s a really good info about my good friends..
I wish you a safe trip!!
Congratulations on your one year anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Beese!!! I miss you both!!
I am so glad for you guys that coulr be a memoeries for your children and your family. I think you guys thoght of an excellent thing for your two years together!
good luck guys. have a alsome time.
Hey Aaron and Laura, so glad to have met you yesterday at my humble house in Kinnelon, NJ. I’m sorry to had to pedal away in the dark of morning to get to w*rk, but I hope you had a good breakfast and enjoyed the stay, I wish I could join you, really. I just checked out your website and can confirm that you aren’t two psycho axe murderers (whew!) and checked out your planned route. I see that you are headed up the coast of Maine, I may be able to hook you up to a friend of mine who lives about 60ish miles from Acadia which would be a perfect 1 day ride from Acadia… But you’ll have to call me or email me as you get closer so I can contact her… The town is Stockton Springs, ME and she is right off Rt 1. Anyway, hope you have a safe journey, it seems from looking at your route, you are still in the dawn of the trip… so have fun, stay safe, and keep on pedalling… If you are around again, let me know when you’re back…
Jay
I am Sooo happy for the two of you! I was in Mrs Tytanic music class last, year Mrs. Beese. Enjoy, and bring back some pics for the whole school to see! See you in ‘09!!!
Hey! Hope you guys are ahving a lot of fun! I was in your music class the last half of the year least year. I am having a lot of fun at Whittier Middle School and can’t wait to see you when I come back to visit. See you soon!!!
Hey! Interesting insight into Laura. I have often thought about this myself. I think immediate music is somewhat related. On Tuesday I have the day off, so will look more into it.