The Path Taken
Vancouver, Canada | Film Feature
Adventure, Documentary
At 84 years old, Bob Fletcher is cycling across Canada, breaking the record for oldest person to do so. The Path Taken is an adventure story about resilience, aging, loss, health, and the people who define this country. Support this film to help us capture a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
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C$8,761
Goal: C$11,500 for production
At 84 years old, Bob Fletcher is cycling across Canada, breaking the record for oldest person to do so. The Path Taken is an adventure story about resilience, aging, loss, health, and the people who define this country. Support this film to help us capture a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
At 84 years old, Robert “Bob” Fletcher, a retired math teacher from Edmonton, sets out on an extraordinary journey: to travel from British Columbia’s Pacific Ocean to Newfoundland’s Atlantic, and everything in between, by bicycle. In doing so, Bob will be the oldest person every to complete this journey.
The Path Taken unfolds across the vast, rugged roads of Canada, capturing the country as it reveals itself one mile and one conversation at a time. As Bob treks up mountain passes, glides through prairie highways, small towns, and major cities, the film offers breathtaking vistas alongside deeply intimate encounters with the Canadians who live along the route. From kitchen tables to roadside rest stops, each stop becomes a portrait of place, and of the people who define it.
Bob is an adventurer at heart: soft-spoken, curious, and determined.
Bob is from Edmonton, Alberta. He was an educator in Canada until retiring over 20 years ago. He describes his time as a teacher as some of the best of his life. Bob has the voice of a storyteller, and it informs his soft-spoken nature. Himself and his wife Beth raised a family, with kids and grandkids here in Canada. After retirement, Bob and Beth travelled the world as they'd always wished to. In 1968 they began bike-packing around Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Bob has experienced some epic highs and epic lows in his 84 years. Beth’s passing, followed by the loss of his son almost broke him. Navigating this grief, Bob had a choice. To live as Beth wanted him to, or to sit on the sofa. Bob learned he had to keep moving, and that grief forced him to the road. Pushed on by the love of his family, and his thirst for adventure, cycling has been his therapy ever since.
Bob set himself goals that many deemed impossible. In 2022 at the age of 80, he cycled 13,500 kilometers over 155 days from Fairbanks, Alaska to Panama City. Through borders, blistering heat and freezing cold, up mountains, and through deserts. Bob completed his journey, and gained the Guinness World Record for the first 80-year-old to do so. Bob went on to write and publish 3 books about his travels which have gone on to receive praise from fans around the world. Bob now feels ready for his most rewarding, but challenging adventure yet. Canada coast to coast at 84.
With every kilometer, he challenges assumptions about aging, endurance, and limitation, ultimately becoming the oldest person to ever complete this coast-to-coast ride. More than a record attempt, his journey becomes a reminder of the indomitable human spirit to endure, and to move forward.
Bob will be covering a total cumulative distance of 8,661km. This would be a difficult ride for anyone, let alone an 84-year-old.
Bob will be followed for certain legs of the trip by other riders, some across Western Canada, the Prairies, Eastern Canada and the Maritimes. It is in these riders we will meet some of our supporting characters. What drives them to put their lives on hold to join Bob? And how does Bob inspire them? In addition, Bob being the outgoing guy he is, he's sure to meet fun and interesting folks all across Canada, and to speak to the myriad of faces we meet in each town we stay in, from Hell’s Gate to Thunder Bay.
Many online have become followers or contacted Bob to coordinate joining him. Many Canadians, growing up with the legendary figure of Terry Fox, see Bob's pilgrimage as a once in a lifetime opportunity to come together for something special. Two riders will be following Bob for the much of the journey.
At once a Canadian character-driven road movie and character study of the man behind the wheel, The Path Taken is an exploration of a man who refuses to let age or grief define him, set behind a the contrasts of Canada in the modern day.
Tracking shots with a car mount showing Bob up close peddling uphill, with the beautiful Rockies behind him as man disappears into wilderness. Drone shots of wetlands unfolding in front of us as one lonely highway cuts through it. Shots from behind the support vehicle at sunset as Bob races to reach the next town before last light. All these extreme, massive shots contrasted by the mediums and closeups of the people we meet and those that follow along on this journey.
We want to show folks that everywhere from Red Deer, Alberta, Lytton, BC and Sydney, Nova Scotia, all have beautiful landscapes and people who will show hospitality and warmth to Bob and the crew. This symbiotic relationship pushes Bob to keep going, while he motivates the others the keep pushing along. The Path Taken will capture how we uplift each other in this dynamic, all members of the crew pushing Bob to lead, and the visual style will reflect that harmony.
Through Bob’s eyes, and at bicycle’s speed, the expansive and daunting Canadian landscape is given warmth by those who inhabit it.
To make this film happen we need your help. While we have been successful in securing partnerships from great Canadian brands like Mountain Equipment Company, XACT Nutrition, Edmonton eBike and Roots Canada, we are looking to crowdfund the remaining portion of the funding required to make this film happen. Please consider donating if you want to be a part of this project.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Accomodations
Costs C$4,500
This will offset the cost of housing our film crew. While we have some towns covered, your donation will help get us across the finish line
Gear
Costs C$3,000
This will help us rent or purchase some of the gear we can't cover in-house to help us make the film look as stunning as it deserves.
Fuel/Travel
Costs C$4,000
This is the cost of travel for the crew, and Bob. This covers gas for our support vehicles, and the price of other transport like ferries.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director/Producer
Noah Rosellini is a Vancouver-based Filmmaker and Producer who specializes in stories about cultures in Canada, and trailblazers. From working with big brands on larger scale content, to focusing in on shorts and passion projects, Noah has guided dozens of films from idea to finished product. Films he has produced and managed have gone on to screen in Fantasia Festival, Venezia Film Festival, LA Screamfest, Whistler Film Festival, Portland Film Festival, and Vancouver International Film Festival.
Now, bringing a directorial vision to The Path Taken, Noah will be working closely with Bob to create a lush, exciting and reflective feature documentary film.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
At 84 years old, Robert “Bob” Fletcher, a retired math teacher from Edmonton, sets out on an extraordinary journey: to travel from British Columbia’s Pacific Ocean to Newfoundland’s Atlantic, and everything in between, by bicycle. In doing so, Bob will be the oldest person every to complete this journey.
The Path Taken unfolds across the vast, rugged roads of Canada, capturing the country as it reveals itself one mile and one conversation at a time. As Bob treks up mountain passes, glides through prairie highways, small towns, and major cities, the film offers breathtaking vistas alongside deeply intimate encounters with the Canadians who live along the route. From kitchen tables to roadside rest stops, each stop becomes a portrait of place, and of the people who define it.
Bob is an adventurer at heart: soft-spoken, curious, and determined.
Bob is from Edmonton, Alberta. He was an educator in Canada until retiring over 20 years ago. He describes his time as a teacher as some of the best of his life. Bob has the voice of a storyteller, and it informs his soft-spoken nature. Himself and his wife Beth raised a family, with kids and grandkids here in Canada. After retirement, Bob and Beth travelled the world as they'd always wished to. In 1968 they began bike-packing around Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Bob has experienced some epic highs and epic lows in his 84 years. Beth’s passing, followed by the loss of his son almost broke him. Navigating this grief, Bob had a choice. To live as Beth wanted him to, or to sit on the sofa. Bob learned he had to keep moving, and that grief forced him to the road. Pushed on by the love of his family, and his thirst for adventure, cycling has been his therapy ever since.
Bob set himself goals that many deemed impossible. In 2022 at the age of 80, he cycled 13,500 kilometers over 155 days from Fairbanks, Alaska to Panama City. Through borders, blistering heat and freezing cold, up mountains, and through deserts. Bob completed his journey, and gained the Guinness World Record for the first 80-year-old to do so. Bob went on to write and publish 3 books about his travels which have gone on to receive praise from fans around the world. Bob now feels ready for his most rewarding, but challenging adventure yet. Canada coast to coast at 84.
With every kilometer, he challenges assumptions about aging, endurance, and limitation, ultimately becoming the oldest person to ever complete this coast-to-coast ride. More than a record attempt, his journey becomes a reminder of the indomitable human spirit to endure, and to move forward.
Bob will be covering a total cumulative distance of 8,661km. This would be a difficult ride for anyone, let alone an 84-year-old.
Bob will be followed for certain legs of the trip by other riders, some across Western Canada, the Prairies, Eastern Canada and the Maritimes. It is in these riders we will meet some of our supporting characters. What drives them to put their lives on hold to join Bob? And how does Bob inspire them? In addition, Bob being the outgoing guy he is, he's sure to meet fun and interesting folks all across Canada, and to speak to the myriad of faces we meet in each town we stay in, from Hell’s Gate to Thunder Bay.
Many online have become followers or contacted Bob to coordinate joining him. Many Canadians, growing up with the legendary figure of Terry Fox, see Bob's pilgrimage as a once in a lifetime opportunity to come together for something special. Two riders will be following Bob for the much of the journey.
At once a Canadian character-driven road movie and character study of the man behind the wheel, The Path Taken is an exploration of a man who refuses to let age or grief define him, set behind a the contrasts of Canada in the modern day.
Tracking shots with a car mount showing Bob up close peddling uphill, with the beautiful Rockies behind him as man disappears into wilderness. Drone shots of wetlands unfolding in front of us as one lonely highway cuts through it. Shots from behind the support vehicle at sunset as Bob races to reach the next town before last light. All these extreme, massive shots contrasted by the mediums and closeups of the people we meet and those that follow along on this journey.
We want to show folks that everywhere from Red Deer, Alberta, Lytton, BC and Sydney, Nova Scotia, all have beautiful landscapes and people who will show hospitality and warmth to Bob and the crew. This symbiotic relationship pushes Bob to keep going, while he motivates the others the keep pushing along. The Path Taken will capture how we uplift each other in this dynamic, all members of the crew pushing Bob to lead, and the visual style will reflect that harmony.
Through Bob’s eyes, and at bicycle’s speed, the expansive and daunting Canadian landscape is given warmth by those who inhabit it.
To make this film happen we need your help. While we have been successful in securing partnerships from great Canadian brands like Mountain Equipment Company, XACT Nutrition, Edmonton eBike and Roots Canada, we are looking to crowdfund the remaining portion of the funding required to make this film happen. Please consider donating if you want to be a part of this project.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Accomodations
Costs C$4,500
This will offset the cost of housing our film crew. While we have some towns covered, your donation will help get us across the finish line
Gear
Costs C$3,000
This will help us rent or purchase some of the gear we can't cover in-house to help us make the film look as stunning as it deserves.
Fuel/Travel
Costs C$4,000
This is the cost of travel for the crew, and Bob. This covers gas for our support vehicles, and the price of other transport like ferries.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director/Producer
Noah Rosellini is a Vancouver-based Filmmaker and Producer who specializes in stories about cultures in Canada, and trailblazers. From working with big brands on larger scale content, to focusing in on shorts and passion projects, Noah has guided dozens of films from idea to finished product. Films he has produced and managed have gone on to screen in Fantasia Festival, Venezia Film Festival, LA Screamfest, Whistler Film Festival, Portland Film Festival, and Vancouver International Film Festival.
Now, bringing a directorial vision to The Path Taken, Noah will be working closely with Bob to create a lush, exciting and reflective feature documentary film.