1000km and Counting

Posted on May 9, 2013 by babyonabike

So we completed our first thousand kilometres a couple of days ago. Pre-Amaya this wouldn’t have been as noteworthy, but 1000km with a teething toddler in tow is a definite milestone. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far! Thanks for reading our blog, for your encouragement and a massive thanks to those who have made a donation to Clinica Verde. We have raised close to $1000 (almost $1 per kilometre). This is money that has already made a difference to the lives of mothers and children in the Boaco region of Nicaragua.

If you would like to donate please click the button below:

$5 Helps provide clean water at the clinic
$10 Buys medication for a child in need
$25 Supports 2 wellness visits for a child
$100 Provides prenatal care for 1 mother’s full pregnancy
$250 Supports a nurse for a month

Since our last post we have crossed into France and enjoyed about 350km of designated bicycle path. We are following a route called La Vélodyssée which follows the coast of France from the Spanish border for 1300km to Roskoff in Brittany. It is an amazing piece of bicycle infrastructure – a refreshing change after Spain. The other refreshing change is how ubiquitous campgrounds are in France. We no longer have to pre-think where we are going to stay each night – there is always a friendly campground to be found.

So while the weather has not been that great, the scenery has been stunning, and the bike paths smooth and flat.

Below is a small photo blog of what has been happening (including our first interview with Amaya):

Just finished lunch at a winner of a spot!

Leaving our campground across a cute wooden bridge.

We have been really enjoying the long sandy beaches! The weather has been a bit suspect though.

We have been enjoying the long sandy beaches! The weather has been a bit suspect though.

Amaya loves chickens!

Typical lunch stop

The Dunes of Pilat were quite impressive!

Turned a corner down a side street and came across a circus! Luck!

Checking out the cool ports around the Bassin d’ Archachon

We were given this bottle of wine by the owner of the campground who was impressed with our “courage”

Haka in a Cider House

Posted on April 28, 2013 by babyonabike

A few days ago we stopped in a small town called Umieta after spending much longer than excepted on the road. Our intended destination was San Sebastian but the bicycle path we were following changed from a pleasant dirt track to one more suitable for mountain biking. Amaya had endured 20km of pot holes filled with muddy water and we were exhausted after a couple of days of difficult mountain passes. So in spite of being only 10km short of San Sebastian we hastily found a hotel. The hotel owner was excited to hear Shoshanna was from New Zealand and called out to the neighbour who also happened to be a Kiwi. Yos has lived in Umieta for the last 9 years with his wife, Maria, and lovely daughter, Intza.

Yos invited us to have lunch on Sunday in a Cider House. We had no idea what an awesome experience this would be. It is an amazing place, people eating big hunks of bloody meat, seated at long timber benches and yelling to make themselves heard. The best part of it all is that cider is drunk directly from the 14000 litre barrels. One simply holds ones glass under the tap and, presto, freshly pressed apple cider.

It was a feast of protein! Chorizo, fish omelete, massive steaks and sheep cheese and walnuts to finish.

Amaya took an instant liking to Intza and they waltzed around the cider house like long lost friends.

Walking between massive barrels of cider

An apple pendulum!

To add to the experience a semi professional rugby team from Barcelona was celebrating their win over San Sebastian. There were a number of kiwis in the team who treated us to a display of the Haka. A magical clash of cultures!

We left full of cider, protein and joy. Not making it to San Sebastian after that nasty day of riding will be something we always remember with fondness.

When it all goes right!

Posted on April 22, 2013 by babyonabike

It is a true statement that bicycle touring can produce some of the most amazing and memorable days, and at the same time inflict some of the most painful and miserable days imaginable.

Fortunately this post is about the former – in five months of riding I am sure we will have opportunity to report on the latter.

In Shoshanna’s last post she pleaded for the head winds to stop – and so they did – which was the beginning of our good fortune. The day started with a flat tire – which is a bad omen for any ride – but once riding we enjoyed some nice shoulders, pleasant temperatures and a gentle breeze. Amaya was singing all her favourite tunes as we rolled into a town called Esplus – which to me sounded more likely to be the name of a petrol station. We did our usual thing and started cooking Amaya’s lunch in the town square while villagers stared at us. Amaya and I played in the park at the adjacent school. We then drank a sneaky coffee while waiting for the lunch to cook. The bartender took a particular liking to Amaya and gifted her some particularly unhealthy potato crisps, which to the dismay of her Papá, she loved!

I would take a tractor lane over a bicycle lane any day.

Amaya and I having a sneaky coffee – we are educating the Spanish about the joys of babycinos. It is always confusing for the bartender when I explain all I want is the froth.

I got chatting with the ever friendly locals while Amaya grafitied the square with her chalk. Lunch was ready, which we enjoyed on a grassy patch next to some teenagers smoking pot and trying to impress us with their gymnastic prowess (a potentially perilous combination). So while Amaya enjoyed her first passive I wandered back to the bar and chatted some more.

Amanda (who is English but has lived in Spain since she was 19) invited us back to her property to see her horses. We jumped at the opportunity. Amaya was in her element – she didn’t know what to do first – there were dogs and chickens and roosters and a fun garden and fizzy drink!! We sat and enjoyed chatting with Amanda while looking over the beautiful countryside out to the snowcapped Pyrenees.

Riding up Amanda’s driveway with her awesome Spanish villa in the background.

Amaya in her element!

Amanda’s horses were beautiful and Amaya liked sitting on them (in retrospect). It was time to go, much to Amaya’s dismay. We said sad goodbyes to Amanda and were on our way again. Encounters such as these make cycling worthwhile!

Amaya with Oro – an Andalusian thoroughbred

She was not super happy to be on the horse but she talked about it positively afterwards: “fun riding the horse!”

Ready to leave Amanda’s villa.

To top the day off we landed an amazing hotel in un pueblito (little village) called Albalate de Cinca. It was one of those moments where I checked the price a few times just to make sure it was true that we were getting 4 star accommodation for 1 star prices.

P.S. For the last three days of riding we have battled significant head winds. Days like the one described above are great, but it is so hard to keep it in our heads that this is actually something we enjoy doing. At the moment it is a grind.

P.P.S. We made the news in Nicaragua which has been quite motivating: http://www.nicaraguadispatch.com/news/2013/04/aussies-bike-europe-to-raise-funds-for-nica-health-clinic/7383

Crossing Catalonia

Posted on April 12, 2013 by babyonabike

Riding westward across Catalonia into a westerly had me making some not very complex calculations: High levels of unfitness + insane headwinds + mostly uphill = LOTS OF PAIN. Multiply this with: Beautiful valley’s + medieval villages + time together as a family = worth it???

First day of serious riding with Montserrat in the background.

We are TRYING to take it easy. Ease our bodies into the trip. Obviously the headwinds have a different idea often forcing us to travel 10km/hr less than we would normally. This makes the short easy days we plan into WAY TOO LONG ones with the final 10km feeling like it might break our bodies. Adding to the issue is we are taking FOREVER to get going in the morning. Our systems need some time to be sorted out and refined. We are frustrated even though we know its a natural process that happens in a tour and soon we will be a well oiled machine, each item with its place, each team member with our own unspoken roles. Despite all of these issues we are certainly pedalling past some pretty cool places:

Cool street in Cervera.

Amaya checking out the arrow slits.

The amazing town of Cervera. It even has its own spooky witches alley!

Meanwhile, Amaya is being a little legend. While we are battling the wind, Amaya was being the best behaved little girl EVER. She loves it. She gets up, potters around the hotel room, eats breakfast, if she’s lucky a sneaky baby chino (yes – this is part of the reason we are late getting on the road!), gets spoiled and doted on by the proprietor, then into the magic buggy for some reading, snacks, and great views. A stop at a park for a play and lunch, then a nap while we do some good afternoon riding. Her life is a beach, two primary carers, predictable, and always with new and interesting experiences.

Amaya exploring during a break from riding.

Thanks to using google maps on walking mode we encountered a little more adventure than we had bargained for. It instructed us to cycle down a dirt road into the wilderness. Scenic yes, but it made me feel a little insecure trusting google to get me OUT of the middle of nowhere to where we were planning on staying the night. The promised bridge that would take us back to civilisation and into our first campground turned out to be a dam wall. We had a few mini freak outs carrying Amaya in the magic buggy up a narrow stair case next to the enormous precipice so we could cross over. The bridge was made out of metal grate, LOOK DOWN Mic said, its an AMAZING drop! WAAAAAAAaaaa!

Going into the wilderness

Having just made it up the precarious staircase we prepare to cross the dam(n) wall.

Goodbye Catalonia… Hello Aragon (Please don’t be so windy!)

Artés

Posted on April 11, 2013 by babyonabike

While cycling the Danube River in 2008 we met Albert and Sandra. At the time they invited us to come and visit them in Catalonia, Spain. Four years on we took them up on their offer (which was still good). They live in Artés, a small village in the hills of Catalonia.

Luckily for us our arrival coincided with the annual fair. It is a big deal we are told in a village where not much else happens. The villages eagerly await the opportunity to check out the latest tractors and farming machinery while chugging down copious amounts of vino tinto and the odd coca de leche. There are also the obligatory tacky rides, which Amaya was very much into (and I thought she had taste!). In fact, being the little nerd that she is, she had read all about merry-go-rounds but never experienced their joys. I am not sure who enjoyed it more?

Weeeeeeeeeeeee

Definitely the spot for a group photo!

We moved through the Fair slowly, with Albert and Sandra stopping and speaking to what seemed like every second person. All wanted to see Baby Marc, Albert and Sandra’s baby boy. To the disappointment of Aunts, uncles, grandmothers, cousins once removed and friends of distant relatives, Marc slept on soundly in his baby carrier.

We were treated to some Catalonian specialties, including: Paella (not sure if it is strictly Catalonian) Pan con Tomate, Dried sausage amongst other delights, all washed down with home made wine thanks to Sandra’s father who harvests and makes over 1000 litres a year.

On our final day we were taken to two quaint villages an hours drive into the hills. The photos below barely do them justice. Gracias Albert, Sandra y Marc. Esperem veure’ls a Austràlia un dia proper. adéu.

Sandra, Marc and us with the Pyrenees in the background.

Sandra and Shosh – the entry to the town couldn’t be more fun! Swinging bridge!

Albert and Marc

Amaya liked it so much she thought she would leave her mark.

Amaya’s summary: “Fun playing with Marc”

Here we go…

Posted on April 4, 2013 by babyonabike

So it begins – 5 months of meandering through Europe on bicycles with the vague aim of making it to the Baltic Sea and then cycling back down to Berlin. We are riding because we love it, because we love Europe and also in support of Clinica Verde. Clinica Verde is a clinic that provides much needed care to mothers and their babies in a rural part of Nicaragua. Shoshanna and I were privileged to visit Clinica Verde in 2011 when it was in the construction phase. Now it is providing a service that we take for granted, but just isn’t available in many poor countries. We would really appreciate your support through donating what you can to this charity. (you can read more about Clinica Verde here)

Poster for our ride – you can click on this and donate if you like.

The all important shot in front of Gaudi’s iconic Sagrada Familia.

We are both nervous as we set out on what seems like an impossible task even without a 2 year old. To add an extra dimension Amaya has started getting her 2 year old molars. We have had a couple of interesting days with her in Barcelona, which involved a number of meltdowns.

Cycle touring is about focusing on each day, on each moment. If one gets too concerned with the big picture, about the enormity of the ride and all the potential problems, then the task becomes insurmountable.

So the Baltic here we come – but right now we are going to enjoy this little Catalonian town we are in called Manresa!

Amaya checking out another big Church - Colegiata Basílica de Santa María. She was quick to comprehend the vibe of the place and spoke in whispers the whole time.

Manresa – Amaya checking out another big Church – Colegiata Basílica de Santa María. She was quick to comprehend the vibe of the place and spoke in whispers the whole time.

She asked if she could have a drink…

Our First Foray

Posted on October 27, 2012 by babyonabike

I was nervous. Mostly about 15 month old Amaya’s eating and sleeping, neither of which she is particularly awesome at.

We’d done several cycle tours pre-kids, and we’d also done lots of day rides with Amaya. But this time we were going to park the car, and simply ride. No cot, no highchair, no freezer full of never fail meals, no normality. Just us, our bikes, and our tent. I had to simply trust it would all work out…

We rode 200km of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail (Victoria, Australia), from Beechworth to Bright and back again (http://www.murraytomountains.com.au). Spring was a fabulous time of year to do it, with the countryside lush and green, the air crisp with mountain snow freshness, and just the right amount of sunshine. Mic’s parents, Garry and Helen joined us in the adventure.

The start of the rail trail

The days were deliberately kept short and manageable. As none of us were fit for touring, we wanted to enjoy the sites and winery’s, and we also weren’t sure of Amaya’s “Magic Buggy” tolerance levels. It turns out that her tolerance levels are not only quite high but her enthusiasm for touring almost matches our own. Four days in and the major thing Amaya was frustrated with was our tardiness in getting away in the mornings. She would often be impatiently sitting in the magic buggy waiting for us to get the final panniers on the bikes.

Challenges

It wasn’t all smooth sailing. We had trouble regulating Amaya’s heat while in the trailer. As soon as the sun began streaming through the tinted plastic windows the buggie would heat up like a sauna. We rectified this somewhat through opening the back and allowing greater airflow. But seeing none of us could actually fit in the trailer it was impossible to know what conditions were like for her.

The temperature issue also contributed to a sleep issue. Amaya often found it difficult to get to sleep during the day and once asleep didn’t sleep for her usual (and essential) 1.5 hours. Riding the steady incline from Everton to Beachworth is hard enough without the constant whining of a one year old.

Sleeping at night in our tent was also an issue. We were fine in our new Marmot down sleeping bags – but we quickly realised that the two infant sleeping bags and the numerous blankets and jackets were insufficient for Amaya when the temperature dropped below zero. We woke up in Bright to the drip, drip, drip of ice melting on the inside of our tent fly – I had spent most of the night sharing my sleeping bag with my little daughter trying to keep her warm.

A Few Learnings

We always said that the experiences from this ride would be pivotal to our preparation for our more ambitious undertaking next year. We were right and here are a few of our learnings:

Better sleeping bag for Amaya – we have already ordered a new sleeping bag identical to ours (Marmot Hydrogen 850 down). We’ll tie off the bottom of the sleeping bag so that it is perfect for Amaya’s current length.
Always leave early – latest 8am!!! on the two mornings we achieved this our day was so much better – it means there is time for the unexpected which is to be expected with a one year old.
Thick socks, raincoat and boots for Amaya!!! We really just learnt not to skimp on gear for Amaya. We spend a lot of time thinking about our own gear and it shouldn’t be any different for her.
Amaya is more adaptable than us!!! We spent too much time worrying about how she would adapt. The nervousness we felt at the beginning was unwarranted. She loved it – the world was her playground – she collected conkers, talked to birds, hugged trees, set up and packed up camp, sniffed flowers, barked at dogs and stomped on ants, read, ate, slept and read in her magic buggy.

Europe here we come!!!

Ready to ride in the morning – Amaya spent the majority of her time reading.

: Amaya loved exploring the campgrounds with her trusty headlamp.

Baby on a Bike Beginnings:

Posted on October 25, 2012 by babyonabike

She’s not strictly a baby anymore, nor is she on a bike… but the alliteration had a nice ring to it. So, regardless of technicalities our Baby on a Bike blog is about bike touring with our toddler sized midget who travels in her ‘magic buggy.’

We have big dreams and high hopes.

Next year our plan is a 4-6 month tour from Madrid to Berlin, probably covering between 4000-6000km. Currently our plan is almost as vague as that. Really we need to pull out a map of Europe and etch out a route.

Having completed a number of serious tours prior to having Amaya, we are intimately aware of the many challenges of completing a tour of this magnitude. However we have no concept of how it is going to pan out with a kid!!! For this reason we have decided to record our journey on this blog. Enjoy!

Babyonabike

Exploring the world with our children

Tag Archives: Bicycle Touring