July 11, 2025
Stuff.
The usual chores.
So, there's always the usual stuff that needs to be tended to before a trip. And, every journal I bore my audience with pictures of said stuff piled on the floor, and images of bikes and bike boxes in various stages of boxing....Ho hum. In my mind, I imagine hearing the distant long drone of some bratty adolescent from the back of a packed auditorium yelling, "Borrrrrrrrring!" So, if seeing clutter, and reading about the usual chores bores you, then I suggest you stop reading now, and fast forward to whenever tomorrow's post gets posted. I wouldn't blame you. But, I'll warn you now. Tomorrow's post might be just more of the same. "Borrrrrring!" There's that darn kid again!
Enough of that. How about some bike pics to keep your attention?
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One important and necessary chore is to make sure the bikes are ready to go. Does the bike go? Do the gears shift smoothly? Does the bike stop? On this tour, the stopping is just as important, if not more important, than the going part as we'll soon be careening down from 2000 meter mountains. So, a quick check on both bikes was necessary to see how much life is left on our disc brake pads. Check! Now, let's get those bikes into boxes.
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Many people who are interested in bicycle touring might be put off by packing and bringing their own bicycle, but the job is surprisingly straightforward. Take off the pedals, take off the rims, lower the seat, take off the handlebars and spend some time playing Tetris fitting it all into a box. My suggestion is to always ask for the largest bike box at your LBS (Local Bike Shop). The worry is making sure that things like derailleurs and derailleur hangers, as well as disk rotors are protected as much as possible. Then, you just cross your fingers and hope that the baggage handlers don't emulate Jim Carey at the beginning of Pet Detective, if you understand the reference. If not, click on the blue word. I promise, if you have the humour of a twelve year old boy like I do, you'll get a chuckle.
Walking and Talking: Fine tuning
It's Saturday. The first day of freedom for Susanna, and a day that began with an early morning walk. We were out the door around six and were greeted by a stunning morning. There's nothing quite like Vancouver on a sunny summer day with a cool ocean breeze blowing, and the mountains on the horizon. The perfect time to go for a walk and fine-tune this whole operation.
It's on these walks that we begin to mentally go through the to-do list. Usually these items get chunked into categories. Travel documents: passports, boarding passes, paying for the bikes etc. Electronics: phones, laptop, SIM cards for Europe, European adapters, cords for charging phones, GPS, bike lights etc. Clothing: bike clothes, civies, wet gear, cold gear, shoes for cycling, shoes for hiking etc. Kitchen: Containers for food that we purchase for picnics, Swiss army knives, utensils etc. First Aid: Sunscreen, medications, glasses, sunglasses, bandages etc. And, on and on until you think you have everything to get this tour off of the ground.
Never underestimate the power of the simple walk. There's something deep in our human past about walking side by side with someone that helps us process information, solve problems, tell stories and spark innovation. There's something to it, I believe.
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