October 26, 2022 - One way to Central America... by bike #David

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ISABELLE PION

Sherbrooke - October 26, 2022

The Tribune

CHRONICLE / As far back as David Beauchesne can remember, the bicycle has always had a place in his life. As a child, he used to go to school on two wheels. In recent years, it has also become his means of transportation to go teach. Over the next few weeks, the discovery of Central America will be done at the rhythm of his pedal strokes.

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His journey will start in San José, Costa Rica . These are his only booked nights: then, the Sherbrooke resident will sleep wherever the road takes him. He plans to go to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and return from Mexico. His goal? “3,000 km, I guess. I have time, it’s not too much for me…”

“I’ve already done Nicaragua by bike. I was always pressed for time. It was during the Christmas holidays in 2018. I did 12 or 14 days…” The calendar pages won’t rush him this time: the teacher on sabbatical has bought a one-way ticket.

"Overall, I don't know exactly where I'm going to go. I want to let my feelings guide me ." He expects difficult conditions: slopes, roads without shoulders... "I'm going to improvise. I'm going to go from point A to point B... but by going through all the letters of the alphabet."

He knows Nicaragua from having organized humanitarian trips there with his students from Collège Mont-Notre-Dame. "I built relationships with these families who hosted us," he says. It is very possible, moreover, that he will spend Christmas there with the friends he made there. He has also already visited Guatemala , having stayed there with his groups.

David Beauchesne will take advantage of this trip, which begins on November 1, to create content for his company Fast123. "I create applications that are grafted onto Google tools."

This photography maniac has also taken pictures of Sherbrooke from all angles since the start of the pandemic.

Cycling is a way of getting around for David Beauchesne , but also a way of traveling.

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Live…now

The project has been brewing for some time now. The adventures of Jonathan B. Roy (who cycled around the world) had made him dream. And there was no question of waiting until retirement to take a trip like this. He mentions in passing that he lost his mother at 56 – two years after retiring – and his sister at 40. Life is short and he knows it.

"I want to enjoy it, but I want to be able to survive like the people in those countries, with few resources (...) I know a little bit what I'm getting into... I can't wait to find a little bit of that simplicity again."

"I have always traveled quickly. Now I have time..." says the one who wants to "feed" himself and learn more.

He sets off with his bike and two 40-litre panniers, but without a tent or a burner. He expects to sleep at the homes of people he meets on his way.

In 2017, he crisscrossed Cuba by bike, where he had observed the challenges of food supply. This was before the pandemic, before the situation deteriorated further for Cubans. “They say it’s even worse, I don’t dare to imagine. I’m very sensitive to that and I try to raise awareness among students about it,” he says, recalling his projects with Moisson Estrie.

He notes that tourism has plummeted since the pandemic in the countries he will visit, leaving people even more destitute.

An occasional substitute since he's been on sabbatical, David Beauchesne rides his bike to work, even if it means pedaling to Waterville or Johnville.

"They say we have to do something about climate change, but it starts with ourselves," he says, specifying that he is part of the Vélo urbain Sherbrooke (VUS) group, which advocates for the development of active transportation and a better cycling network. His trips also allow him to train for his journey, which will last at least two to three months.

"It's certain that I had to do a bike trip. I'm heading towards happiness..." says the father of two young adults, who will share his adventures on his website and social networks.

To follow him: Click here .

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Write to me at isabelle.pion@latribune.qc.ca

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