Surefooted Joey here.

Last month Jeffrey the Ox flunked dance class. He must repeat a grade. (Nancy passed and was promoted.)

At least the klutz has good cycling balance.

OUR ROUTE

Jeffrey chewed his cud 😂 for a while, considering whether to pedal us home through Canada or the USA.

Canada has dangerous drivers. Weapons in the wrong hands. Xenophobes. Political tensions. Wolf and bear warnings for cyclists near Lake Superior.

Scary.

Aside from wolves and bears, the USA presents more of these risks—plus threats of election year violence.

Scarier.

But an American heartland route better suits our mission.

That’s how we’ll roll.

OUR METHOD

We listen to our new friends, acknowledging that our rural past and urban present don’t mean that we understand their world.

We tell them about our country’s messy immigration laws. About people who dare journeys much scarier than ours—braving mountains and jungles and deserts and seas that are safer than staying home.

We ask about their lives, gently question falsehoods, tell the truth. We acknowledge differences without judging or patronizing. We’re relaxed yet on guard.

Agile me, clumsy Jeffrey—together we walk—and cycle—this tightrope.

WHY IS THIS THE CAPSTONE RIDE?

We hoped since 2011 that the Ride would go viral—spread the truth about asylum—encourage our fellow Americans to support sensible immigration laws—and raise enough money for Human Rights First to fix what’s broken.

In 13 years and over 15,000 miles (24,000 km), viral hasn’t happened.

We’ve changed some minds and opened some hearts, but the world still is broken. Even so, we’ve raised (because you have donated) over $480,000 thus far, empowering Human Rights First to save lives.

Our goal is unchanged.

It’s time to find another way to reach it.

• Jeffrey’s late mother, Helen—actor, director, mentor—said that one should leave the audience wanting more.

Quit when people will ask why. Don’t wait until they ask what took you so long.

Unknown

• The Rides have gotten old. (So has Jeffrey.)

• Tracking fourteen Rides tries our fans’ patience. Hundreds of blog posts, thousands of miles.

• Jeffrey has become ever more annoying. Wherever he goes in the Continental USA, he declares “I biked here!” (Cue the eye rolls.🙄)

• There’s a case to be made for staying off American highways, more dangerous than in the rest of the developed world, and getting worse.

Loved ones’ worries won’t stop us, but as the farmer said, it all goes into the hopper.

• For the 9 months that we’ve biked the country, Jeffrey has missed his wonderful Nancy.

• Our friends and family, you among them, have put up with enough.

Now we beg your indulgence—one last time.

Follow us from Minneapolis to NYC. See more of America. Along with us, feel the pulse, take the temperature, of our neighbors.

Post comments, send us messages (rideforhumanrights “at” gmail), especially after we hit the road on April 24. It cheers us to know that you have our backs.

And please join us, on this last official Ride, as we do our bit to support Human Rights First.

A life-saving donation in any amount will get you a souvenir postcard, signed by Jeffrey and by me—after we get home.

We’ll owe ya for now. We’ll pay ya back later.

Stay tuned as we gear up for the Capstone Ride.