“Segway Travelers” to Roll Into Edmonds, Wash. Tomorrow, Completing Cross-Country Odyssey

EDMONDS, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two Belgian adventurers mounted on Segway ‘human transporters’ are set to arrive in Edmonds tomorrow at noon, finishing the last 25 miles of an unusual journey that began last summer in Norfolk, Va., according to local company Edmonds Segway Tours.

“Our family couldn’t be more excited about hosting PJ and Rémy”

Pierre-Jean (PJ) de Stexhe and Rémy de Stexhe, brothers from a group known as the “Segway Travelers,” are making their descent today from the Cascade Range town of Monroe, Wash. The charismatic duo, who bring with them a wealth of stories and anecdotes about crossing America by Segway, will be available for media interviews Thursday through Edmonds Segway Tours.

The de Stexhe brothers will conclude their 1,800-mile trip at 547 Dayton St., and will lodge at the home of Gregg Jantz Jr., owner of Edmonds Segway Tours. Gregg is the son of local psychologist, author and radio personality Dr. Gregg Jantz.

“Our family couldn’t be more excited about hosting PJ and Rémy,” said Dr. Jantz. “We can’t wait to hear their stories about the experience of riding across our country on Segways!”

At the Segway’s top speed of less than 13 miles per hour, the de Stexhe brothers covered 40-45 miles on each leg of their trip. Although the Segway was originally created with urban transportation in mind, the Segway Travelers have put it through its paces on grueling long-distance trips. Previous trips have taken them through the Rocky Mountains and France’s Pyrenees Mountains.

Riding Segway’s newer i2 model, the de Stexhe brothers rode to Edmonds from Omaha, Neb., completing the second leg of their transcontinental tour. In summer 2011, PJ and two other members of the Segway Travelers group rode from Norfolk to Omaha before returning to Belgium.

Much of the route covered by the de Stexhe brothers this summer parallels the travels of the early 19^th-century explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Along the way, the brothers camped, stayed at churches and “couch-surfed” in the living rooms of local residents, some of them total strangers.

Edmonds Segway Tours offers riding lessons and guided excursions in the picturesque oceanside city. The company also promotes increased use of Segway personal transporters and projects such as the de Stexhe brothers’ trip.