UW-Madison student to bike across country for local park

Brian Backhaus spent his childhood fishing in the Silver Lake Park in his hometown of Manitowoc, Wis. He saw first hand the havoc excess lake plants and goose feces wreaked on the lake and the surrounding 14 acres of park.

So when the 24-year-old UW–Madison student decided to bike across country, he remembered the childhood park that first inspired his love of nature.

"It’s been a goal of mine for a couple years to bike across the country. Finally this January, I was like, ‘yeah this is the summer to do it,’" Backhaus says. "It originally started out just biking across the country, but I thought that was kind of selfish. So I decided to support an organization and raise money through a bike pledge for the Silver Lake Park."

On Saturday, June 14, Backhaus left his hometown of Manitowoc and headed for Massachusetts. From there, the biker will catch a train to Oregon and then bike back to Manitowoc. Backhaus expects to complete the more than 3,000-mile journey in two months by traveling, on average, 60 to 70 miles a day.

Backhaus will make the cross-country journey alone, camping along the way with supplies he will be carrying on this bike.

"I’ve thrown stuff on my bike before and done some two-day trips but nothing this large," Backhaus says. "I’m excited. I just really want to get out and bike."

So far, Backhaus has raised $2,000, but will accept pledges throughout the trip. To make a pledge, contact Backhaus at (920) 629-4522 or brian.backhaus@hotmail.com.