Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-Mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration

Science, nature, and adventure come together in Sara Dykman’s riveting account of her solo bike trip along the 10,000 mile-long migratory path of the monarch butterfly. Outdoor educator and field researcher Sara Dykman decided to do something no one had ever done before – pedal along with monarch butterflies over the entire length of their 10,201-mile migratory journey. She did it alone, on a hand-built bicycle, through three countries.

In Bicycling with Butterflies, Dykman recounts her incredible journey and the adventurous ups and downs of her ride – follow her along through a Midwestern thunderstorm, a field of zombie corn, and multiple trips across the border. Along the way, we meet a cast of characters that includes devoted citizen scientists, skeptical bar patrons, farmers, and fellow bicyclists. Dykman weaves a tale full of humility and grace, all while sharing the science that underlies the urgency of saving the monarchs and why we all should care. Bicycling with Butterflies deftly combines memoir, travel, and popular science. It is a must-read debut if you are looking for an uplifting story filled with optimism, energy, and hope.