So who is Sherri Jo?
Beginnings…
Born in Indianapolis in the east of the United States, Sherri grew up initially in Indianapolis with her family before moving to rural Indiana and attending a small country school. As the eldest of three children Sherri Jo went on to college, and eventually ended up working for her family business. But all the way through college and in her early working life there was a yearning for adventure that would not go away.
Scratching the itch for Adventure...
Sherri Jo wanted to travel the world and had to work out a way to do that. A strong believer in fate, one day she came across an opportunity to join a group of people heading out from Australia (that country across the other side of the daggone world!) to sail across to Tonga and the surrounding islands on a new custom built yacht.
This seemed like an opportunity for the adventure travel she had been yearning for – so she applied, got accepted and much to her family’s dismay at seeing her go – she packed her bags and headed down under to begin her new adventure. This fateful decision took her on a journey around the islands with a documentary film crew and the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way she fell in love with Australia, specifically South Australia and has spent much of the last 10 years living there and is now an Australian citizen! Aussie Aussie Aussie – oi oi oi!
But what about the animals?...
Sherri Jo’s previous travel adventures had also allowed her to indulge another passion she has for the preservation of wildlife – and in particular Tigers. Her interaction with animals varies from time spent swimming with whales in Tonga and spending a large amount of time volunteering during an extended visit back home in Indiana with the Exotic Feline Rescue Center, in Center Point Indiana. This love for animals, and in particular Tigers will feature strongly in Sherri Jo’s ‘Because I can’ world tour.
So why take on this mammoth challenge now?...
Well – because she can!
But seriously, the time had come for a new adventure – to turn the page of the book of life and see how she could match all of her talents in documentary film making and her passion for travel into a new adventure … a new purpose.
So why not go big? – thus the mission became to achieve the biggest challenge she could ever set for herself. An around the world solo motorbike journey while filming a documentary of the stories, the people and the highs and lows of her travels.
How hard could that be?
She had owned and ridden a Harley for many years in the States, had acted as a navigator and co pilot in light aircraft and had sailed a yacht dodging pirates through the islands of the pacific – surely this was the next logical step.
The big difference though – she is doing this solo – on her own – with no other travelling companion. So the challenges are great; purchasing a new bike (which one, what’s best), learning to ride it confidently, organizing all the required gear – what’s the best equipment to buy, packing up her belongings, planning for various visas plus transport for herself plus shipping of the bike have meant many hours spent researching, discussing and organizing - but the time is here.
Amazingly, as the challenges have arisen, the universe has arrived with the right solution at just the right time. People have turned up to help with training, modifying the bike, with welcome sponsorships and support and offering help and advice. So all that is left is to face the fear and do it anyway. To take any problems and turn them into solutions as and when they arise. To transmute uncertainty into confidence and persistence and to enjoy the ride.
CK
