I met Leigh in a slightly different way than normal when adding to this project. We both happened to be on a group ride with The Woods Cyclery in the New Forest. I do these relatively often and tend to chat to new people quite frequently, it’s a welcome change of pace from my usual solo riding pursuits. Leigh got chatting to my fiancé while out on the ride and I didn’t really get to know him until the end of the ride when, after the ride, we were sampling the drinks of a new tap house that had opened up in town.
At the time of meeting, Leigh had been pursuing alternative living in a van individually for about 4 weeks but this lifestyle choice was not entirely new to him, as he had previously shared a similar experience with his former partner, where both of them embraced full-time van life before going their separate ways.
As a result of this he purchased his current van that is slowly becoming his own (although there is a lot of details left over from the previous owner that I quite enjoy).
His current setup is a modest one but full of little aspects of his personality that shows all the signs that it will grow and adapt as time goes on.
Aside from a good deal of real estate taken up by his bike (a sure sign of what his priority is), Leigh also loves photography and showed me some of his older film cameras that go everywhere with him. It is clear to see that he is passionate about the outdoors not only by the books he keeps close to hand in the van but also because he works for an organisation called Trash Free Trails whose mission it is to, in their own words: “(re)connect people with nature through the simple yet meaningful act of removing single-use pollution from wild places”.
The idea is to educate people and help provide them with the cognitive tools to help bring about purposeful adventure, rally some like-minded individuals and get out here to help clear up and sustain the outdoor spaces that we all love.
They have some big names on board with this initiative such as Red Bull, Trek, Orbea and The North Face.
Check out what Leigh and Trash Free Trails are about here: https://www.trashfreetrails.org/dio-toolkit
It is fascinating to observe the similarities between Leigh's personality and his career choices. He is establishing connections, seeking meaningful adventures, educating others, sharing experiences, and, most importantly, promoting healing.
Follow Leigh's work here: https://www.leigh-rose.com
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