Ever look at your dog and think, let's just chuck it all and travel? I know I daydream about long days on trails with only the question of where to pitch the tent on my mind. It doesn't help that my screensaver is a photo of my husband Charlie and our dog Lulu at a lake in the Bitterroot Mountains last summer. So I write about David Sylvester with more than a twinge of jealousy.

Last week, the 26-year-old Seattle vaccine scientist hung up his lab coat to pursue outdoor adventure with his dog full-time. In a few weeks, David and Chiva, a shepherd-husky mix, will begin a quest to bike the continental United States and climb to the highest point in each state.

Chiva (named for the crowded buses that navigate the mountains of Colombia) will ride in a bike trailer on the cycling legs and four-paw the mountains. David will be keeping a blog, so you can follow along on his journey and offer your support and encouragement.

His purpose for the trip is to combine a passion for the outdoors and adventure with a desire to do some good by promoting responsible canine companionship, health and fitness, sustainable living, and environmental awareness. With such lofty goals and such an adorable sidekick, we put our envy aside and say bon voyage!

Look for David at the Seattle International Bicycle Expo (March 9-10) before he splits town.

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