We have read about cycling families. We have talked about cycling families. But finally, finally, we got to actually meet a wonderful family – meaning awesome parents who really know how to teach their kids to live – on wheels. These forty year old parents and their ten year old boy, and fourteen year old girl, set out two months ago on their first ever cycle tour. They are now headed through Bolivia, before beginning their descend down to Patagonia. We saw them camped at the side of the road and ended up spending the night right next door which was a great way to spend an evening!
Eating breakfast, getting ready for the day.
Camping next to the cycling family in someone’s field.
These tandems are great for the kids as they get to sit in the front!
These self-acclaimed slightly workaholic parents felt that now was their last chance to really spend quality time all together as a family before their children grow all the way up, so they decided to take a year off of school and work in order to complete this eight or nine month cycle tour. They usually cycle for three hours in the morning, and then another two after lunch in the afternoon, before the children each do an hour of school work a night in the tent. They usually complete about fifty kilomters a day though obviously this varies for them as it does for us. Thomas, the ten year old boy, was hilarious and friendly, while their fourteen year old girl was quiet, intelligent, and mature. They were both in great spirits about the trip – about everything from pedaling, to homeschooling, to pooping outside – and I was incredibly impressed by how the four of them got along even though they are constantly in such tight quarters. Meeting families such as these give Kevin and I inspiration for the way we hope to someday raise kids, and we were honored to spend the evening in their presence.
Our last few days in Bolivia were spent along a busy, no shoulder, not so fun highway around lake Titicaca.
Lake Titicaca.
We had to take a very short ride across the lake on a very rickety boat.
This guy was bailing his boat out… Never a good sign!
We watched a beautiful sunset over the lake on our last night in what’s turned out to be one of our favorite countries! Next up – Peru – and all of the high passes, crazy switchbacks, and beautiful scenery it’s bound to hold.
This photo does the sunset no justice, it was a million times better, brighter,and more colorful in person!
Sleeping on the walkway of a “mirador” or viewpoint.
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