Walton native biking for trees

Walton native son RobRoy McGregor left Orlando on Monday headed for Miami. However, the trip didn’t involve the usual two to three hours on the road.

McGregor is biking his way south.

He is a man on a mission, promoting his Bike4Trees organization.

“I presented him with a book and a frog (not real) that I bought at Baytowne. He was very down to earth. I could see him fitting right in with the folks on 30A,” said McGregor.

He also promoted Bike4Trees at the Central Highlands Scottish Festival, where this year, the McGregor clan was honored. While there, he biked all over Scotland as an ambassador of Trees for Scotland and promoting the rain forests. During his travels, he carried the green frog with him, photographing the frog’s journey.

McGregor said he began this project after it came to him one day that trees are like children — easy to cut down but they take a long time to grow.

“But when you plant trees, you see immediate results,” he said. “You create value in green infrastructure.”   

McGregor and his black world sport Schwinn bike, which he purchased at a thrift store, rode a Greyhound Bus from his present home in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to Orlando. On Monday, he started out down Highway 520 to A1A and headed south. He brought along a pup tent for shelter, but hopes he meets people along the way who will take him into their homes at night.

“I will take my time, visit with people, plant some trees along the way, and be in Miami by the 30th to participate in a tree planting ceremony,” he said.