I was told to write up a little something in anticipation of your arrival, following Roadtrip with Reason's version of the "Canadian Original" segment on CTV National News.

(I just need to take a moment to freak out over the fact that this story was aired on CTV National News. Ahhh! I have been faithfully watching CTV at 11:00 p.m. since childhood. This blows my mind! Excitement overload!)

Thank you, so much, for being a curious cat and coming to learn more about my incredible cross-Canada journey that took place between July - November 2011. It's possible that you are visiting my blog for the very first time, so I thought it would be useful to share the roadtrip timeline/milestones with you!

September 2010
- The roadtrip idea is shared with family/friends

October 2010
- Basic planning officially begins

January 2011
 - Roadtrip with Reason = my new year's resolution

March 2011
 - Idea is accepted into Pepsi Refresh Project contest, voting begins


May 2011
- Named an official 5K Grant Recipient from Pepsi Refresh Project

June 2011
- Connected with Garry Sowerby & Lisa Calvi on Twitter over Ralph the Pelican & ended up recieving sponsorship from Chevrolet Canada with a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. Social media = the best
- Roadtrip planning goes into overdrive

July 2011
- Finished my contract with the Arts Council of Muskoka, moved out of apartment
- Picked up the 2011 Chevy Cruze, named him Archie
- Celebrated at the Roadtrip with Reason launch party
- Officially hit the road on July 19th

August 2011
- 1st official volunteer day in St. John's, Newfoundland on August 1st with For the Love of Learning

August to November 2011 
- Drove 20,000 KM with Archie
- Volunteered with 13 non-profit organizations
- Fell in love with Canada, coast to coast
- Blogged, tweeted, updated, & filmed every step of the way
- Met the heads & hearts behind each non-profit, inspired every day
- Most amazing experience of my life

November 2011
- Brand new MacBook Pro laptop with all of my roadtrip photo's & videos was stolen from car in Burnaby, BC
- Speaking presentation at Take a Hike the following morning, filmed by CTV news (terrible timing, eh?)
- Said goodbye to Archie in Vancouver, BC
- Took the Via Rail train on November 6th
- Arrived home to Oakville, ON on November 10th

Phewf! The cross-Canada journey went by in a flash and it was truly an incredible experience. I had the opportunity to join 13 different non-profit organizations  and offer my 'helping hands', while also getting to know the staff/volunteers and the reason why they were so passionate about their cause(s). It was an honour to spend time with each of them, and it's my joy to be able to share their messages with you. Some of the volunteer reflections come in video form and since the theft of my laptop/footage , in written form. 
  
Be sure to go through my blog history to view some of the reflections, pictures, videos and general updates from my Roadtrip with Reason -- lots and lots of great memories to share. You can also look forward to the final reflections before the new year, and a final video.

I have been back home in Ontario for a month now, adjusting to life off of the road and putting the finishing touches on the Roadtrip with Reason reflections. I am now focusing on finding my next professional adventure (i.e. a job!) in the non-profit sector and am so excited to continue on my life quest of creating positive change.

Please take the time to visit the websites of the non-profit organizations  that joined me on my journey. Their hardwork, dedication and passion for their causes is what should be featured and celebrated - they were the reason for this roadtrip, afterall. 

I encourage you to "do your part & show some heart" as a volunteer with one of these amazing organizations, or find a cause that you are passionate about and just give back. They need our time, energy, passion and support to keep doing what they are doing, and what they are doing is so worthy.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

With love & warmth,
Becky Conlon

P.S. Have questions or comments? Want to learn more about this journey? Send me an e-mail at becky at roadtrip with reason dot ca, or connect with me on Facebook or Twitter ....

Becky's note: Click HERE to see the clip. Absolutely wild. Thanks for the love!

Check out a beautiful newspaper article about the Roadtrip with Reason!

It was posted on November 16, 2011 in The Province (Vancouver, BC).

Much love and thanks to Lisa Calvi & also to Garry Sowerby for their ongoing support.

Read it HERE

Hey Friends,

Check out the radio interview I did on CBC's Metro Morning. I have never been on the radio before so I am just SO happy that I didn't forget how to speak while Jane was interviewing me. Hah! Give'r a listen!!

What do ya think?! 

Happy trails & travels,
Becky xo

Hi Friends!

Change of plans....it's Tune-LESS Tuesday this week. I have been quite the busy bee and haven't had a chance to really sit down and pick my Top 5 tunes from Nova Scotia yet. I pinky promise that I will return next week with a great batch!

So it's Day 15 of PEPSI Refresh. Yep, it's still happening! I think you are all getting pretty tired of the daily vote, eh? 
I get it. I really do!

Just HEAR ME OUT:

1) Your daily vote matters SO much. It takes two seconds to get your vote in and then you are done for the day. Please, please, please keep it up and don't quit! We're currently stuck in 12th place and we need to get movin'! Every time you miss your vote, my chances decrease! I watched a group in another category go from 15th to 8th last week - it IS still possible!

2) Your daily vote could change the outcome of the entire project. As I have stated many times before, I am committed to making the Roadtrip with Reason happen no matter how tough it might be but a $5,000 grant would make it a lot easier. It would allow me reach out to more non-profits, build a larger audience, increase the quality of the project, engage more Canadians in the idea of giving back, and grant more of the non-profits wishes ... among other things! The roadtrip has so much potential to grow and have a positive impact on various organizations and communities. I really believe that.

3) I appreciate your votes more than you know. Whether you are one of my dedicated friends who believe in my dreams, or just a kind stranger.... your support means so much to me!

Please VOTE!
Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! VOTE!

Now instead of a tune, I am going to leave you with this clip of my Cogeco TV interview. Eeek! Makes me nervous.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo

It's Day 10 of Pepsi Refresh and what a day it has been! We are currently holding our own in 12th place which is great - but I am really hoping we can hit the Top 10 by the end of the weekend. Want to help me hit that goal? It's easy! Just head over to Pepsi Refresh and vote vote vote every day until April 30th. Don't forget to spread the word!

This afternoon I had an interview with TV Cogeco here in Muskoka about the Roadtrip with Reason. I was surprisingly nervous - but I think it turned out just fine! I will (probably) post the footage here next week once it's online ... in the meantime (if you live in Muskoka), you can watch it tonight at 5:30 and 10:00 p.m.

I also recently interviewed with Ian Holroyd from North Oakville Today for a newspaper article. It was posted online today! I didn't even know it was out until I looked at my "mentions" on twitter and noticed that Volunteer Canada had caught on. Not a bad way to find out...not at all! You can read the article HERE, if you so choose...

That is all from me (for now). I must get going....I have to go and get my VOTE in!!! Haha.

Thank you for your continued support, love, encouragement and high fives.

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo

Hey Team,

SO another fine fellow wrote a lovely article about the Roadtrip with Reason for the Sheridan Sun Online! It is a great article with pictures and all. Give it a read HERE! There was also something else written in the newspaper titled "Give more than money this holiday season" which ties in quite well with our little project -- be sure to check it out.

For all my lazy readers (hehe), I have copied out the article below.......ENJOY!

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Trekking across Canada for a Reason
By Nathan Howes

A former Sheridan student wants to leave her mark on Canada next summer when she hits the road for a cross-country trip to promote various charities.

“Roadtrip with Reason” will be a three-month journey to lend a helping hand to non-profit organizations nationwide.
A post-graduate of the corporation communications program, 23-year-old Becky Conlon works for the Arts Council of Muskoka in Bracebridge and came up with the idea after contemplating her future recently, as her contract ends in July.

“I’ve always wanted to take a road trip across Canada. I love road trips and that’s been sort of my dream, but I didn’t really want to just take a trip,” said Conlon in a phone interview. “I started thinking about not-for-profit organizations, how I’m passionate about them and how I think there needs to be a little bit more exposure to them.”

Trip starts out east
Conlon will begin the trip on Aug. 1 in Newfoundland and Labrador. She expects to arrive in Nunavut in early November when she finishes.

“It’s going to be difficult because it’s the very beginning of the planning stages. It depends on how many days I need to spend in each province to be able to spend enough time with not-for-profit organizations to get to where I need to go,” said Conlon.

It’s a little early to know what organizations she will be working for, but Conlon adds that she is interested in working with groups that specialize in everything from arts and culture to the environment.

“I’m really focusing on small, action-oriented organizations that are really doing something with themselves and really making an effort,” said Conlon. “The ones that are struggling the most and the ones that don’t have as much funding.”

Conlon hopes to have a car by next summer so that she can make the trek but failing that, she does have an alternative so the trip can happen.

“Hopefully by August I will and if not, I will find a way to do it,” said Conlon. “You never know, I could end up taking a bus trip across Canada.”

If she does find a car in time, Conlon will need plenty of rest and take lots of breaks to ensure her safety on the long-distance trip, according to Valerie Powell, communications and media coordinator for the Canada Safety Council.

"I’m really focusing on small, action-oriented organizations that are really doing something with themselves and really making an effort."

“A lot of people try and push themselves to drive as far as they can and then they get drowsy. Being tired and drowsy behind the wheel is an impairment,” said Powell.

“If you’re feeling sleepy, take a break. Also, make sure to get your vehicle checked right before you leave.”

When it comes to how much driving someone should handle per day, there is no standard as each person is different and it depends on the amount of rest she gets before the drive, says Powell.

“Some people can drive longer than others. Maybe one day, somebody can drive 12 hours and the next day they can only drive eight, depending on how they feel.”

In addition to having adequate rest for the drive,Conlon will also have to worry about cost, as things such as food, gas and accommodations can get expensive for a three-month road trip.

Conlon says she has a plan to cut costs on accommodations.

Couch surfing
“I love to camp and I love the outdoors, so for the most part I will be doing this in the summer and I’m going to be looking at just camping and couch surfing,” said Conlon.

“My biggest cost is going to be gas I think and that I will figure out along the way.”
Conlon hopes some of the people she meets will also come along for a part of the journey and share in her experience.

She is using her website to advertise her trip and invite as many people as possible to get involved.

“If people want to come on the road trip with me for a couple days or week at a time, I’d love to have them. I really want to reach as many people as possible,” said Conlon.

“When we get closer to the actual trip time, hopefully we will have some funds and new people on the road with me and be
able to experience it with me.”

Having been involved with various non-profit organizations throughout her life, Conlon knows how difficult it can be for groups to find support to keep them afloat.

Conlon cares
“It’s hard to do all this tough work without that feeling of, ‘okay, at least somebody cares.’ I’m hoping that I can just at least say thank you to the people who are running the organizations,” said Conlon.

“This might be a fun trip and I’ll see what happens. It could turn into something wonderful and if not, then I will have myself a great trip and a great volunteer experience.”

If you’re interested in joining Conlon on her trip, you can sign up online at: www.roadtripwithreason.ca. She also has a Facebook page  (Roadtrip with Reason) and a Twitter account (@roadtripwreason) set up where people can follow her progress.

Hey Friends,

I just wanted to share that Roadtrip with Reason was featured in the Sheridan Sun last week! It feels pretty nice to receive some support from my ol' educational stompin' grounds.

I have typed up the article for you to read (Is that dorky?! My scanner was broken!)..... enjoy!!!

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo