It had to happen one day. It’s been hanging over our heads for too many years. Fifteen years, to be precise. Fifteen years since the day, in an old atlas where Russia was still the USSR, we plotted our dream trip that we would take someday. Maybe.
Fifteen years spent playing outdoors, year round, as a couple, with friends, then as a family. We did a lot of climbing, as well as biking, paddling, camping, skiing and hiking. Mostly in Quebec, an ideal playground, but also in the States and beyond.
Fifteen years of working in the outdoor gear business, surrounded by inspiring outdoorspeople. This was especially true at MEC, where we shared a real passion for travel and adventure.
As we continued to spend our lives outdoors, the need to go further grew. The old dream of our trip around the world slowly rose to the surface of our travellers’ souls. Until the day, not so long ago, that my girlfriend and I simply said, “We’re pushing forty, we’ve always dreamed of taking a long climbing trip, our daughter is nearly six, so the time has come for the world tour. Are you game? Let’s be crazy. Let’s go.”
The actual decision making process may have taken a little longer, but that’s pretty much how it went down. That was the hardest part; the rest is logistics.
So here we are, less than a month away from embarking on the project of a lifetime: A Nomad Dream. A three-year family cycling trip around the world, along the trail of the world’s most spectacular climbing routes.
We sold almost all our belongings – house, car, furniture. We both quit our jobs. We’re now free as the wind to jump on our bikes and into the great unknown, to spend a few years living our Nomad Dream:
To climb and to travel by bike for three years while seeing the world, our way and on our terms. To better ourselves through a unique physical, ecological and family challenge. To finally prove to ourselves that we can live the life we choose and make our dreams come true if we really want to.
Click to view slideshow.We realize that our plan sounds a little crazy, to say the least. “Crazy” happens to be the word we hear most often when we break the news to people. Our decision does sometimes seem a bit far-fetched, even to us. We’ve come to terms with it and are confident that we’ll see it through. It helps that we’re not alone, as we’re lucky enough to be able to count on the support of our friends and family. We also have MEC’s support, who we’ll never be able to thank enough for the encouragement from the moment I announced my resignation. Other sponsors have also decided to believe in us. It’s nice to know we have support for a project of this magnitude.
Some of our friends use the word “courage” to describe our decision. I would say it’s more about choices and priorities. Yes, we’re giving up stability and security, rewarding jobs and a house, but we can always get those things back after the trip. The need to live our dream is stronger than any attachment to what we’re leaving behind.
We’re setting off on a great adventure for a few years. It’ll be nice to get away from it all, but we’re going to stay connected with the world. We’ll share our experiences, daily life, encounters and discoveries on our blog and our Facebook page. Join us on our pilgrimage.
Nomad Dream
A family riding and climbing around the world
The countdown is on and the big plunge is drawing near. Departure is scheduled for May 2.
Filed under: Activities, Climbing, Cycling
