A BICYCLE BUILT FOR FIVE: Kentucky family leaves home behind to live simply on the road

The Harrison family of Kentucky rolled through Destin on their five-person tandem bicycle Friday, spreading their message about living simple, living green and living your dreams.

Bill and Amarins Harrison, and their children, Cheyenne, 6, Jasmine, 4, and Robin, 3, left Renfro Valley, Ky., on Aug. 1, after two months of training. On a completely self-contained bicycle, they stop in state parks and by the side of roads to sleep in their tent every night. Cheyenne said she gets her home schooling lessons on rest breaks. And the family eats whatever they are given.

“We left home with $300 to our name,” Bill said. “We’re depending on the generosity of the American public.”

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For more photos from the family's stop in Destin, click here.

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Bill said the great thing about America is the people. And while most are shocked and stunned by the family’s plan, he said middle-class people, which he referred to as the heart of America, typically support their mission.

“Our mission is to turn upside down the puritan work ethic and bring joy and laughter to people’s lives,” Bill said enthusiastically.

The Harrison’s epic journey has already taken them through seven states, and after traveling across the Florida coast, they will travel through six more states before reaching San Diego, where they plan to spend the winter.

Next summer, they will head toward Fairbanks, Alaska. They hope to complete their 7,000 mile journey by the summer of 2010 and plan to spend the next year exploring Alaska.

But first, the family will see the beautiful beaches of Destin.

“Can people sink in the sand dunes?” Cheyenne asked before telling the Log her favorite thing about the trip has been going swimming.

“Three, two, one, let’s go!”  Bill said as he led his family off for the next leg of their journey.

For more information on the Harrisons or to offer them a spot on your lawn for their tent, visit pedouin.org.