14
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
PYKES: Sequel to
well-received
documentary on tap
Continued from page 3
met with exceptional reviews
and garnered far-reaching
potential with accessibility
on Amazon Prime.
This success proved fer-
tile ground for what was to
follow.
Many people have unre-
alized dreams of going on
a cross-country road trip.
For the Pyke family, which
now includes two children,
Dakota and Isabelle, the first
adventure turned out to be
preparation and inspiration
for another journey of pur-
pose. Eli and Kelly, while
dealing with the grief of los-
ing Eli9s father, decided to
plan another season of living
on the road.
<I wanted to carve out
space in my schedule and my
life to intentionally grieve,
whatever that might look
like,= Eli said. <I noticed
within myself a desire to
8push through9 and get on
with life as normal, after
my father died. Yet I knew
deep down that I needed to
press into it and find ways to
remember my dad. Revisiting
places from my youth where
I had vivid memories of just
seemed like what I needed.
And as an artist, I feel that I
process life best through my
art of film and storytelling.=
So, the Pykes decided it
was time to take on another
risk, go back on the road and
create another film. They ini-
tially purchased another used
motorhome but quickly real-
ized there might be potential
to partner with a manufac-
turer and have more stability,
potential and peace-of-mind
for the next trip.
After contacting several
different potential options,
Winnebago was excited
to collaborate. The Pykes
became official <Brand
Ambassadors= and part-
nered to create another
documentary 4 <The Far
Green Country 2: At Road9s
End= 4 focused on visiting
the National Parks and the
restorative power of getting
back to nature. This second
trip would once again pro-
vide restoration and heal-
ing, while allowing an even
greater reach in promoting
family bonding, cross-coun-
try exploration, hope and
possibility.
During this current jour-
ney, the Pykes are traveling
through 30 states and cover-
ing over 15,000 miles.
Each state has contained
its own unique educational
and recreational opportuni-
ties, culture and history. Real
people that we often take for
granted become more appre-
ciated when we find a way
to step into their world, even
for a day 4 which the film
allows. Organic farmers in
Idaho who spend long days
mindfully working the lands;
multi-generational families
dedicated to collecting and
producing pure maple syrup
in Vermont; the Amish of
Indiana who value and pro-
tect a way of life nearly
forgotten by mainstream
America, are but a few of the
people depicted in the film.
Visiting different regions,
cultural museums and histor-
ical sites brings the tapestry
of America into vivid color.
There have been never-
ending learning opportu-
nities for the Pykes along
the way 4 and also a lot of
fun. Imagine a chapter of
life that includes snorkeling
in aquamarine waters of the
Dry Tortugas National Park;
soaking in hot springs on
the banks of the Rio Grande
in Big Bend National Park;
roasting sausages over a
campfire in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park;
all the while witnessing the
glory and magnificence of
nature. Imagine what it is
like to experience first hand
a vast array of wildlife that
most only see in zoos or doc-
umentaries: alligators, mana-
tees, iguanas, turtles, grizzly
bear and bison. And then
go even farther and imag-
ine what it is like to literally
step into different worlds;
to experience relationships
within a variety of differing
belief systems, ethnic back-
grounds and heritage.
The Pykes have come
to believe deeply that <we
should all live with a humility
and gratitude to be American
citizens and experience the
peace, beauty, ruggedness,
and civility of our nation.=
At the end of this adven-
ture, Kelly has a new sum-
mer position awaiting her
in Lake City, Colorado as
< Wi l d e r n e s s M i n i s t r i e s
Manager= at Sky Ranch Ute
Trail. Responsibilities will
be focused on hiring, training
and leading a team of guides
who will be taking hundreds
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The Pyke family toured America’s National Parks for new film.
of people into the wilderness
of the Colorado high country
for weeks of transformative
adventures.
Eli will continue build-
ing a platform for <The Far
Green Country,= expand-
ing their reach and ability to
speak into people9s lives in
a hopeful and encouraging
way. He will also continue
to produce videos for clients
through Zion Pictures (which
serves well in a mobile/
nomadic lifestyle) and is
open to new projects.
The first teaser to their
new film, <At Road9s End,=
is now available for viewing
online. Addressing mortality
is a foundational component
and evidenced as one of the
interview subjects speaks to
his belief that, <How we view
death ultimately defines the
way we live here on earth&
the absolute commonality of
everyone here on earth is that
we are not going to make it
out alive, and yet we spend
most of our lives completely
ignoring it and not even
thinking about it.=
<At Road9s End= will be a
foray into grief, a conversa-
tion about the most important
things in life, and a chance
for us all to reflect on our
mortality as humans and how
to finish this life well.
When asked what advice
he has about pursuing a
dream and/or purpose, Eli
shares that, <Not everyone
gets to do what they love for
work, but I firmly believe
that everyone can learn to
love what they do for work.
See PYKES on page 15
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