After cycling more than 20,000km, for 18 months, and through 24 different countries, seasoned cycle-tourer, Claire Mason, decided to take on a new challenge with her friend, and talented artist, Ania Butler. The pair wanted to create a travel journal that would encourage people to embark on their own adventures and tell their own story. Both Claire and Ania are determined to produce an eco-friendly journal with a small carbon footprint; thereby adhering to the same principles that guide travelling anywhere under your own steam.
Claire Mason, co-creator of the journal said: “With my partner, I cycled through the deserts of Oman, the mountains of Nepal, and the jungles of Burma, and I wanted to capture the details of the journey before they faded from memory. I wanted to document the eccentric and wonderful people I met, the delicious food I devoured, the strange places I slept, and how I felt whilst pedalling day after day..”
Following Team GB’s latest cycling medal haul in Rio, and the Tour de Britain, which is showcasing the best of the country by bicycle throughout September, cycling is back in the spotlight. Cycle tourism is a flourishing industry. Discovery channel UK recently aired a documentary following endurance adventurer Sean Conway as he cycled, ran, and swam, his way around mainland Britain. As well, the UK held its first annual cycle touring festival in May 2015. This burst of cycling enthusiasm makes it the opportune time to publish a unique, illustrated, travel journal – created by a cyclist solely for other like-minded tourers. With so many people choosing to travel by bicycle and at a time when the digital era has sped everything up, this journal encourages the opposite; a chance to reflect on life at a slower pace.
What makes this journal so different?
Using my own touring experiences we have created a journal that is organised in a way that makes it easier to capture the important details of life on the road, and so beautifully designed it will inspire you to explore and engage with the world around you.
The journal is A5 size with 128 pages and we have ensured it will be produced in the most eco-friendly and ethical ways as possible. It is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper using biodegradable inks and renewable energy and is printed by a London Worker Co-operative. Unusual for items produced today, the journal was conceived, designed and printed in East London; therefore, minimizing the carbon footprint.
Ania, originally from Poland, has been living in East London for the past 5 years working as an architectural assistant. A talented artist, Ania was the chief designer of the ‘Grand Map of London’ a contemporary map made in a historical style which took more than three years to produce. It was hailed by The Guardian as ‘One of the 10 best hand-drawn maps’. Ania is also an active cyclist and was inspired by Claire’s adventure.
You can purchase the journal for £20 from the Kickstarter campaign, which goes live on Tuesday 25th October 2016.
