We just got back from our 2 weeks biking in France. The trip ended up being great. All the potential difficulties we had planned for ended up easy breasy. For example, we thought the flight might be difficult, but James did great. It helps that nursing is like a drug for him. Puts him right to sleep. Now that we are home it's time to wean him, but I'm sad to lose that easy button.We thought the babies would have jet lag, which would be good because then they'd sleep all day in the Chariot, but bad because they'd be up all night. We actually didn't see too much jet lag- they napped during the day, and at night. Of course the sleep is always just so-so when you're camping and add a renewed desire to nurse 15 times a night and you don't necessarily wake up feeling like a million bucks- but I never do when camping anyways. We thought getting intially from the airport into Paris on a series of shuttles and trains with our big bikes and chariots would be hard, but we got a cheap offer from a big van taxi to just drive us right where we needed to go when we landed so that was awesome.The way back to the airport was a little tricky but no big hold ups. We thought the babies might not last very long in the Chariot, or get diaper sores, or be too hot- but everything just went really well. 16 month old James and 8 month old Grant ended up riding in the same Chariot almost the whole time and they entertained each other. Grant is at that perfect age where he is fine with things being taken from him, he is just so happy to be noticed by a peer, so he was awesome. He seriously could have sat in the chariot 8 hours a day straight. He loved it. James needed a break every 2 or 3 hours, but then often so did we. It just affected where we had to take that break- made us have to ride by some spots we'd have liked to stop to preserve him sleeping, and we had more than a few rest stops along a dirty ditch- but when James decided he needs to get out, he really lets you know it. You could usually get him to last a little bit longer by riding next to the Chariot calling out, what does a doggy say (response- ar ar), what does a kitty cat say (yeaow), what does a tiger say (rar), what does a horse say (bud a num bud a num -while moving his body like he's riding a horse), what does a bunny say (buck tooth face)... then call out "James can I get a whoop whoop!" and he whoop whoops back.
Bill pulled both of the babies almost the entire time, which worked out great since we were worried he would be antsy to go farther and faster the whole time, like Bill likes to do. Weighing him down a bit took that edge off- especially since we had lots of hills. Randy pulled the other Chariot most of the time, but Steph and I rotated out turns to give legs a break. It was really beautiful. We went on average probably 50 miles a day- I think 65 was our farthest, 35 our shortest. We took a train from Paris down towards the Loire Valley and rode through vineyards and Castles, then jumped on a train again to a bit farther south ( we over estimated the ease of getting train ticket when and to where we wanted so we actually had to reverse and reorganize our trip.) There we rode steep hills to see Medieval castles and towns. It was fantastic, and very tiring. We finally finished at Bordeax where we took a train back up for a couple days in Paris- from there Randy and I jetted up to visit his friend Pascal and the Brodegards enjoyed themselves at the apartment of a very nice man from church who let us stay at his place or should I say palace- which definately beat camping in the mud and rain at Bois de Boulogne camp ground. The only thing we'd change if we could would be the exchange rate. Bill and Stephanie kept a running blog of the trip if you want to check it out.
And randy will be putting a movie together shortly.
