This is the story of a family that had the crazy idea to spend three years cycling around the world. No need to rehash the how and why of this zany project, it’s all right here. Our nomad dream became a reality in early May and while two months later the adventure has just begun, we can tell you one thing for certain: we made the right decision. No regrets.
We’ve already been on the road for two months. Two months of roaming across Western Canada, from Vancouver Island to Banff National Park via the Sunshine Coast, the Okanagan Valley and Glacier, Yoho, Jasper and Waterton National Parks. We’ve covered over 2000 kilometers of mostly mountainous terrain, climbing hills and crossing so many mountain passes that we’ve lost count. We’ve experienced landscapes of indescribable beauty along the way, from the rugged and wild coast of Vancouver Island to the sun-drenched climbing routes at Skaha Lake, the glaciers and alpine valleys of Lake Louise and the Waterton lakes. Wild lands steeped in history and teeming with life.
Then there are the people. Total strangers who reach out to us and invite us to spend the night, other cyclists with whom we share our experiences and lessons learned around the fire well into the night, drivers we meet who cheer us on or stop to chat, and all our generous hosts who open their doors to us for one or more nights. There’s a common thread of kindness, openness and the pleasure of stimulating conversation.
Not every day has been easy, but we’re surprised that we’ve adapted so quickly to the nomadic life. Sure, the first few hills were very difficult and sometimes discouraging – I guess our bodies weren’t quite prepared. But neither the hills or the almost-daily rain we had at the start of the trip discouraged us. Even our bikes, as weighted down as they were, seemed to get used to it. Our nomad routine slowly set in. Our equipment became more efficient, lighter and better adapted to the rhythm of our lifestyle. We still feel like mammoths on wheels, but we’ve traded speed for perseverance and the sheer joy of the open road.
The positive impact the trip has already had on our relationship as a family exceeds all expectations. It’s different now, more tightly knit. Emma especially has adapted incredibly quickly to our new way of life. From day one, she set out to meet every child we encountered. That they didn’t speak her language (French) didn’t matter – the language of children is universal. She quickly settled in to her new and mobile life. Her days on the road are an escape to her own world full of stories of cyclists and friends who meet and play together in her imaginary dream house. She wasn’t thrilled with the hills at first, but now she’s accepted their inevitability. Each morning, she asks to see the day’s route on the map, absorbs the information and gets on with the day, hills and all. She is already visibly fitter, and the days spent pedalling with Dad are gradually preparing her for the next step: a few months from now she’ll proudly ride solo.
She misses her friends, of course, but she has learned to play with the new friends she meets each day, regardless of their age. Her obvious well-being reassures us that we made the right decision and allows us in turn to relish our trip. Negative points ? Very few. Things like rainy days, particularly nasty hills, or making decisions we don’t always agree on take a toll on morale and put a strain on our relationship at the time. Things fall quickly back into place, however, and the relative solitude of pedalling for hours on end helps dissipate stressful situations often caused or heightened by our constant togetherness. Moments of doubt? None at all. Not yet, anyway, but there likely will be and that’s as normal as it is healthy.
Two months. We barely notice the time passing and we’ve already left Canada, which we won’t see again for a good long while. We’ve reached our first goal, crossing the Rocky Mountains. Our zig-zagging descent has begun and we’re riding towards the warmth and good weather that has followed us already for the last few weeks. Each day is filled with discovery, wonder and changing scenery. And it’s just the beginning.
Confucius said: “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” Our second life began just over two months ago. It looks like it’s going to be a pretty good ride.
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