My Plans for Cycling Half of 2026
and where we might cross paths
A new year dawns! Here are my big plans for 2026, where we might cross paths, and how you can play a role—as indicated by ⚡️.
(Also: my 2025 in Review is up.)
🇪🇺 January-March 2026: Europe
I’ll be dancing in Switzerland, walking the Fishermen’s Trail in Portugal, taking self-directed teenagers to Spain, walking some of the Camino Mozarabe (Spain), and dancing in the UK.
During this time I’ll…
Publish Dirtbag Rich and start giving interviews (⚡️podcast suggestions?)
Ship the first Blake Quarterly (backstory)
🦞 April 2026: New England
Returning to the USA, I’ll mount a new touring bicycle and take a wee little ride through Connecticut and Massachusetts, adding on (as time & weather permit) Vermont, New Hampshire, the Hudson Valley, Philly, and NYC.
During this time I’ll…
Visit family & friends
Give talks about Dirtbag Rich (⚡️suggestions for bookstores / outdoor stores / student groups / living rooms / other venues?)
Crash with friends & strangers (⚡️maybe you?)
Begin posting more short-form videos… reluctantly
Give workshops at alternative schools (⚡️let’s talk)
🏜️ May-June 2026: The Southwest
I’ll box the bike, fly it to Western Colorado, and continue riding through drop-dead gorgeous Eastern & Southern Utah. The route isn’t fixed—I might add Denver or Durango—but I intend to finish in Flagstaff.
During this time I’ll…
continue doing talks/interviews/workshops + staying with strangers (⚡️open to your connections!)
add camping gear + start sleeping outside (making up for zero nights spent outside for two full years 😩)
possibly recruit a cycling companion (⚡️try me 🚲)
🌁 June-July 2026: California
Hopping an Amtrak from Flagstaff to Barstow, I’ll ride through Eastern California (I-395) to Tahoe and Reno before dropping into Sacramento and the Bay Area.
During this time I’ll…
continue doing talks & crashing with nice people (⚡️all connections welcome)
keynote the Davidson Institute’s conference in Reno (for profoundly gifted children & their parents)
🌲 August-September 2026: Pacific Northwest
Amtrak will drop me in Oregon, and from there, I’ll continue riding/🚂ing north to Washington and British Columbia.
During this time I’ll…
work my 16th(!) summer of Not Back to School Camp
visit my many friends in Eugene, Portland, Bellingham, Vancouver, and Squamish—some of whom will definitely ride with me (👀🚲⚡️)
talks, interviews, workshops, couchsurfing, yada yada (⚡️)
🐉 October-December 2026: ⚡️UNKNOWN⚡️
We’ve reached the edge of the map, folks—who knows what happens next?
Europe will beckon. So many friends, so much good dancing!
Perhaps all my yapping about Dirtbag Rich will open new doors.
Maybe I’ll just be tired, ready to cease all this wandering, and finally content to settle down with a full-time job. (Place your bets, folks, place your bets!)
May your own 2026 be filled with mystery, grandeur, good friends, and spacious possibilities.
❤️ Blake
If you will be using the Empire State Trail while traveling through NY/ the Hudson Valley, you'll inevitably pass through a small, eclectic town called New Paltz, the home of Gunks rock climbing. The local gear shop or book store may be good venues.
The Jensens have a couch for you in Alameda whenever you need it! We are (probably? Hopefully?) jumping on the self-directed learning train in the fall…can’t wait to talk to you about it.