“At the far end, where my eyes saw the mist hanging over the path, there was a lot more white and some trees – dead or alive – bordered the track. Behind the bends, more of the same. But to my left is where the serious drama took place. Deep and moody ravines of the wilderness were partly obscured from vision by the clouds that muffled sound and sight, but when the sun could penetrate I looked at a fascinating wild place in dark blues and dark greens”
The great Cowchipper handlebars, Flagstaff, AZ//Brushpen, watercolour
‘Dirt, Dust & Granny Gears’
Book and documentary movie
This is the comprehensive story of an epic bikepacking journey, on the brand spanking new ‘Western Wildlands Route’.
Fitted with a new bike – ‘Bomba’ – Geert van Keulen started his ride in Albuquerque, New Mexico, mid April 2019, and started the WWR in early May, to finish the ride late August. He extended his ride until mid September when he rolled into Calgary International Airport in Canada.
Geert made 125 sketches on the journey, and wrote in his diary on a daily basis. These drawings and notes have led to the ‘Dirt, Dust & Granny Gears’ book and a self doco-movie which Geert made with his GoPro, and he edited this lengthy project from his studio in Adelaide.
The book features 125 sketches, illustrated maps, statistics and anecdotes about people he met on the trail and animals he saw in the ‘Wild West’. It covers inspiring nature, the rivers, lakes, deserts and forests – both healthy – and where wildfires had caused havoc in the recent past. When he finished his ride at the border between Montana and Canada, Geert was the first ever rider to complete the Western Wildlands Route going Northbound.
The book has 164 pages and contains all of the sketches Geert has made on location in the USA and Canada//The movie length is 1 hour and 35 minutes
Dirt, Dust & Granny Gears
The Movie
Watch the trailer of the movie about the ride of Geert and Bomba through the United States in 2019, following the brand new ‘Western Wildlands Route’.
This documentary which starts at the Mexican border in Arizona and ends at the Canadian border at Roosville, will be released soon on Vimeo, after the launch of the movie and book at the Regal Theatre in Kensington park, South Australia.
Dates for this launch will follow soon
Dirt, Dust & Granny Gears
Sketches & Stories
The Book
This is the 164 page book, of the ride, including all sketches Geert made on location, and stories and anecdotes. The book is printed on quality Mohawk Superfine Eggshell paper, and bound in linen with a dustcover.
Available now via Blurb.com
Discover more by clicking on the images below
