He is from the Netherlands, but began his bicycle odyssey in Malaysia and he's been pedaling away since early this year. Sebastiaan Steller, 28, from Zuidhorn in northern Holland, quit his job as a graphic artist and set out on what he described as a true bicycle adventure.He's not pedaling for a cause, he's not raising money for a cure for anything. He's doing it for the pure enjoyment of the trip and to satisfy a dream that he has fostered for a few years. So he cashed in his assets, had a custom made bicycle crafted especially for his rather tall stature, using "strong steel a Dutch bike," he said with a smile, and he set out on the first leg of the adventure. "I started in Kuala Lumpur, I was attempting to cycle through Asia over to Europe, but I was stopped by Chinese police when I tried to get to Tibet," he said. "I just wasn't going to be allowed to do that. I was sent back, so then I headed east to Qin Dao, took the ferry to South Korea and on to Japan. I cycled to Tokyo, then boarded a plane to Vancouver," Steller said. By the time he had reached Estevan on Wednesday afternoon last week, the bike adventurer had logged 14,000 kilometres.The Canadian leg of the journey began June 9 and Steller said his ultimate objective is to reach New York later this summer. He was planning on entering into the United States at the nearby Canada/U.S. border at North Portal/Portal on Thursday. "New York is my destination in North America. I'm planning on taking a plane from there over to Iceland and circle that country, then take the ferry to the United Kingdom and cycle back to Holland." He thinks a cycle tour of Iceland will be interesting since he'll be able to get a first-hand look at the aftermath of the volcano eruption and volcanic ash that spewed forth, putting international travel and commerce on hold for a number of days this past spring. "The main thing is, I want to see the world. I've done cycling tours in Europe and seen many places in between," he said. This trek however, is something well beyond any of those. The Dutch are famous for their love affair with bicycles and Steller is no exception. Riding a bicycle is second nature and the rugged model he's riding is unadorned with any extra gears or contraptions. It's a straight ahead model that weighs in at just under 50 pounds, but has the strength to endure any kind of road or trail conditions. "I'm only on my second set of tires right now," he said, adding that he hadn't suffered any major breakdowns with the bike. He's been taking good care of it with regular maintenance and cleaning. He carries a small bag of essential bike repair tools. "I love taking the bicycle because you get to the see the places in between major centres. You get into smaller communities and get a feel for the people and the country and the area. I love being outside. You get to smell what is around you, see the details you wouldn't ordinarily catch in a plane, car or bus." Steller said that by the time he reaches Europe again, he'll have put about 20,000 kilometres on the bike, so therefore he had gone past the halfway point of his journey. In Canada, the young biker has managed to dodge most of the bad weather, including the unusual volume of rain for the Western Canadian Prairies this year. He's also steered clear of any major illnesses or injuries. "I had one unfortunate incident with food in China. I ate some yak meat that was undercooked, or not cooked properly. That made me sick for a day, but that's the only incident. I'm taking pretty good care of myself. I eat a lot of fruit and things like nuts and fibre, I keep hydrated with lots of water. I wear comfortable clothing. I'm not one of those guys in the Spandex racing gear," he said with a laugh. Accommodation expenses are cut to the minimum because Steller has a one-person tent aboard the bicycle and on most evenings he's been able to use someone's private backyard a friend he's made in the town or city he's visiting while touring through the area. This is what happened in Estevan, for instance. He budgets his food allowance carefully.He keeps a log of his journey and says he checks in regularly, usually once a week, with his parents back in Holland as well as with friends.Cycling through Canada is not a huge challenge from a physical standpoint, he said. The distance is formidable, but the highways are well paved and the drivers are aware and accommodating for the most part. In China it was a bit trickier. "There are some wild drivers in China. You have to get into the flow of traffic and your eyes have to be everywhere. It's not quick traffic, a bunch of old cars and bikes and things, so you do have time to react, but it's a challenge." Steller said he's really enjoyed his Canadian part of the journey. "The Rockies were amazing. The highway gradients weren't too steep at all, pretty gradual really considering the heights. I know they're a lot easier than some mountain roads I've been on and, they're paved." Steller said he was very fortunate to come across four grizzly bears while pedalling in the Rockies. "One day I saw a mother and two cubs and then one more by some train tracks. Of course I gave them all a good distance, I wasn't about to challenge anything like that, but it was pretty exciting to see them."Steller also enjoyed his journey into and around Drumheller in Alberta and was impressed with the Outlook area of Saskatchewan and Lake Diefenbaker and the surrounding countryside there before arriving in the Energy City a few days later. On a good day with a bit of a tail wind, the biker said he'll cover between 140 to 150 kilometres without working too hard, just enjoying the scenery. "But you really have to push when you get a big head wind. I might make half that distance on one of those days." Steller said he's met some friendly bicycle riders along the way who have ridden with him for certain parts of his journey. "I cycled with a couple from Toronto for about a week in the Rockies. They ended up heading east again on a different route; maybe I'll meet them again somewhere down the road, although I don't think they've made it this far yet," he said. Steller said he feels the cycling bug will still be with him, even after he completes this trip. He expects he'll go back to Holland, get a job, work for a couple of years to replenish the coffers and maybe head out again. In between he'll do small tours. "Canadian people have been very good to me very friendly. I'm having fun," Steller said in conclusion. Asked how many media interviews he's conducted along the way, seeing as how he's not biking for any particular cause and therefore not seeking public attention, Steller noted with a quiet smile that "actually, you're the first one." In other words he was not looking for exposure, but rather just enjoying Mother Nature, Canada and Canadians as part of a cycling tour through a good part of the globe before heading for home again.He's a genuine traveller, not a tourist. He knows how to handle that special game.
