You're Never Too Old For A Global Adventure

The big 3-0 looms like a cloud over many of us in our mid- to late 20s. At 30, we close out the carefree chapter of our lives and embark on a new chapter, full of responsibilities. When you’re 30, you’re supposed to be settled down. You’re supposed to have a spouse, a mortgage, a career, and maybe a kid on the way.

Not necessarily, insist Mark Dembitz  and Clarisse von Wunschheim, friends who have lived and worked in China for the last few years. Mark, who works in carbon finance, and Clarisse, a lawyer, are both bidding their 20s goodbye—but they don’t think they’re too old or  “mature” for adventure.

Beginning in May, Mark and Clarisse will be driving from Beijing to Istanbul on motorbikes primarily using the “Silk Road”—a network of extremely old trading routes that cut across Asia and parts of Europe and Northern Africa. They hope to arrive at their final destination just in time to celebrate their 30^th birthdays with family, friends, and trip sponsors who will be waiting there for them.

It was an idea born over many glasses of beer and wine and the joint conclusion that “it just did not seem satisfactory to hop on a plane and close the final chapter of our 20s with a 10-hour economy class flight,” they said.

The journey will span nearly 10,000 miles, take about three months, and cut through at least six countries.

On the way, they hope to meet lots of locals, experience their cultures, and live as sustainably as possible. Not only will they monitor their carbon emissions and buy enough carbon credits to completely neutralize the trip, they are also planning visits to schools and universities to raise awareness about climate change.

Right now Mark and Clarisse are training physically and learning motorbike mechanics. They will hit the road on May 4.

You can track their journey by visiting gglobal.org and checking out blog posts, pictures, maps, and more.

- Courtney Pomeroy
Photo courtesy of gglobal.org