This couple stopped flying because of the climate crisis and found a more useful way to travel

(CNN) — Will and Claire Steden They tied the knot in 2017, but their “honeymoon” was longer than most.

“We called it a honeymoon on a whim,” Will told CNN.

Due to other commitments, the Steddens did not have a honeymoon until three years after their wedding.

Dreaming of the trip, they plan to backpack to fly to New Zealand. But once it came time to book, the Steddens found themselves grounded. They had to make their choices in places they could reach without flying.

The ball and chain on the ground wasn’t the Covid-19 pandemic, but their commitment to fly-free in response to the climate crisis.

“I first learned about the idea of ​​choosing not to fly from climate scientist Peter Kalmus, who was very vocal about not flying,” Will said.

For Claire, who used to live in the Midwest, moving to California brought the reality of the problem to her front door.

“I could literally see the flames all around and the ash raining down on my car. The town next to us ran out of water,” she said. “That was a very big part – living it up and realizing what the future would be if you didn’t start doing something.”

Their promise to stop flying didn’t dampen their determination to seek adventure, and they decided to spend their honeymoon biking along the Pacific Northwest coast. The pair crossed Northern California, the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, then Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park in Washington.

“It’s been a life-changing trip if I’ve ever done it. And it never would have happened if we hadn’t decided to stop flying,” Claire said.

Claire Biking Through Wilcox, Arizona.

@solarpunktravel

Learning not to fly

“When our lease started, I was getting off my bike,” Claire laughed.

The couple says it’s a more rewarding way to travel by clipping their wings. Instead of “getting frustrated at the airport”, they now enjoy seeing the landscape change as they pass by.

It’s also giving them more flexibility down the road. If there’s a place you want to stay longer, there are no flight adjustments or fees to worry about. For the Steddens, it was their ticket to having fun as a local wherever they went.

Claire added: “It makes you really appreciate where you are.

What started out as a one-year flight-free plan has now reached three for Will and two for Claire.

“One of the reasons we keep doing this is just to show how fun it can be and it’s not difficult. You can have a good life,” Claire said. It’s the same sentiment as her favorite quote, “Sustainability isn’t about hardship and loss; it’s about beauty and creativity.”

But the couple on good terms won’t give up flying forever. They plan to follow up with a report that every 8 years one flight is sustainable. So the Stedens are planning a flight to Europe in 2027. Once there, though, they’ll tour by bike and train, of course — a great way to celebrate their 10th anniversary of eight years of flightless travel.