The Road is Long...

Three days have passed now since the Velo Family returned from our Christmas Holiday on the Pacific Coast. While I'm glad to be home in my comfortable bed and familiar places, it is always sad to see the end to a holiday, especially one with so many memorable moments. Our whirlwind tour of San Francisco left us wanted more but grateful for what we did experience, and the unseasonably warm weather in Venice Beach and Los Angeles gave us some much needed fun times in the sun. It was the trip home, however, that inspired our journey to begin with. Since moving to the West Coast in 2007, it has been a dream of my husband and I to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and see all the natural beauty we'd only seen in movies. So with about four days until our rental car needed to be returned, we set off North from Venice Beach for the slow, jaw-dropping trip home.

This trip I also rediscovered my fear
of tunnels through mountains!

A washroom break in Morro Bay gave us this
lovely and unexpected view

Our first day of travel would take us to Santa Cruz, CA, with stops along the way whoever the mood caught us. It truly was more beautiful than I could ever have expected. Having just spent three days along the Coast, I was well aware of the majesty of the waves, but nothing could have prepared me for spectacle of the massive waves meeting the cliffs along the coast. Words and photos could never truly depict the reality, and I was instantly thankful for our determination to do this trip, despite the obstacles we faced on our trip down from Vancouver. With many stops along the way, what should have been a seven hour trip quickly became nearly double that, meaning we didn't have the time or the daylight left to take a walk through Big Sur and see the giant redwoods. It's always good to have excuses to come back though!

We also met this guy in Morro Bay, just hanging out having a nap with his buddies

It's hard to complain when this is
the backdrop to your road trip!

The next few days saw much of the same, with many more stops along the coast, including a return to Cannon Beach, OR and some self-indulgent stops in Astoria, OR to visit the Goonies House, and Snoqualmie Falls in Washington to see the iconic scene featured in the opening of the 90's TV series, Twin Peaks, and a stop for some cherry pie and a "darn good cup of coffee". When we finally reached our front door, the whole family was exhausted and thankful to be out of the rental car and in the warmth of our home. After settling back in, I had time to reflect on our travels, and what new perspectives the journey gave me.

Muir Woods just outside of San Francisco is surprisingly busy on Sundays, so we were forced to discover Muir Beach instead...what a shame ;) 

The kids in awe seeing the beach from "The Goonies". I've yet to see Cannon Beach not covered in fog. One day...

Even though it's not sunny like California, the Pacific Northwest is home to many beautiful landscapes as well, like the majestic Snoqualmie Falls.

With views like this, it was
worth travelling by car

Not so much a revelation, but one thing I appreciate from our trip is that most of what I was able to see and experience on the coast we could not have done without a car. There is little access to many of the places we stopped unless they were more well populated places like Santa Cruz or Cannon Beach, where bus lines and travel groups are organized to allow people to travel there. I do know people who have cycled along the Pacific Coast Highway, but haven driven past many brave people on two-wheels, it is not an activity for the faint of heart, rubbing shoulders with fast moving cars and breathing in exhaust along the way. So had we not buckled down and rented a car, our trip would have been missing all the spontaneous stops along the beautiful coastline.

The view from one of our many spontaneous stops along the way

Winding our way along the
California Coast

The view on a windy morning in Santa Cruz.
There are certainly worse places to have a stopover during a road trip!

They were always much happier when not
trapped in the back seat of a car

What I also learned is that I don't miss long car trips at all. My entire childhood was spent like most other people my age. Road trips with the family to visit relatives long distances away, for family camping trips, and even the long haul from Southern Ontario to Florida for a stay in Disney World. Even as adults, Chris and I would make similar trips throughout Ontario and Quebec to see friends and family. Now, after almost four years without a car, I have forgotten the monotony of long car trips, and the stress of driving itself. Be it our car trouble on the highway heading into Los Angeles, or the never-ending winding roads along the coast, it was not long before I was dreaming of the relaxing experience of travelling by train or plane. And then there was our children, not accustomed to being stuck in small spaces for hours on end. Without making you relive our trials and tribulations of siblings fighting or car-sickness, I can tell you I am not eager to get back into a car for an extended period with my kids any time soon.

After our eleven day road trip, I feel
like we have so much to be thankful
for and to look forward to!

Our family road trip over Christmas was epic to say the least, and a very long time coming. We have some wonderful memories that will stay with us always, as well as a continued desire to explore all that the Pacific Coast has to offer. My husband and I can now officially mark some 'to-do's' of our travel list, and add a few more for future travels. We have also re-affirmed our choice to live car-free, fully understanding all the stress and cost involved with car-ownership. We certainly don't regret our decision to take this slow, car-centred trip, as we were able to have experiences we wouldn't have had otherwise, but we also know we won't be rushing off to the dealership anytime soon to get a car of our own. In the end, it was exactly the trip we wanted and needed to take, satiating our need for travel for the time being, and leaving us excited for family adventures to come!

Chris and I share a geek moment from our childhood at the Goonies house

Oh no! The Fremont Troll in Seattle has our kids! Poor guy ;)

A Christmas Eve Winter Adventure

Merry Christmas to all those who celebrated yesterday. We at the Velo Family had a great, low key family day, which was much in order after the day we had Christmas Eve! Having spent the first 27 years of my life in a more snowy area of Canada, I tend to get a bit nostalgic for the snow this time of year. So, as a way to do something a bit different AND get to be in a Winter Wonderland, we hopped in a Zipcar and headed North to Whistler for a day in the snow. It was the perfect way to spend Christmas Eve, driving through the Coastal Mountains, with a stop in Brackendale to view the Bald Eagles currently nesting in the area. Here's a photo diary of our day, and what may just become a new family tradition!

Heading North on the Sea-to-Sky Highway at the crack of dawn,
snow capped mountains ahead

The sun just starting touch the mountain tops to the West

Quick walk in Brackendale. We saw two eagles...
the rest must have been sleeping

Snow covered branches lined the highway North of Squamish

Blue skies ahead, it was going to be a great day

Arrived safe and sound to this gorgeous backdrop

The kids got a nice sleigh ride care of Daddy

Gorgeous morning sun behind snow-covered trees

Snow angel time for the kids...they've been waiting so long for this!

The sun was encircled by several rainbows

Skating outdoors in the Olympic Plaza in Whistler Village

Exhausted, the kids had a nice nap on the ride home,
all ready for Santa's arrival the nest day

A girl, a bike and a dream...

Meet Brenna, one of the most beautiful
people I know.

I first met Brenna Coupland nearly four years ago, when I was seven months pregnant with Etienne and Coralie was still my adorable little toddler. We lived in the same building at 41st and Victoria, and she had posted about babysitting services in our common laundry room. When I met her that November I never would have guessed how big a part of our lives she would become. Brenna was part of my motivation to start riding a bike again after years without. She became our "go to girl" when we needed a responsible, trustworthy person to watch our children from as early as Etienne being just a few weeks old, and through her amazing travels she has grown to be an inspirational figure in our lives.

As I said, we first got to know Brenna as a babysitter, but she soon became my yoga instructor, my push to get back on two wheels, and my nutritional advisor, whose tips I still keep in mind. But Brenna was meant for bigger things. In 2010, Brenna started volunteering with the Shanti Uganda Society, a group helps support the women in Uganda, and empower them through midwifery, entrepreneurship and a variety of other areas. Brenna's goal from then on was to go to Uganda and be a part of this amazing group on the ground. Should that not be a big enough challenge, being one who loves travelling on two wheels, her bicycle would have to be an integral part of the journey.

The first part of her journey would be start in the summer of 2010, when Brenna travelled from Vancouver to her childhood home in Winnipeg, MB to raise money for the women of Uganda. Travelling mainly along the Highway 1 route east, she learned to rely on the kindness of strangers along the way, meeting some interesting, generous and unique people along the way. When I asked her what her favourite part of that journey was, Brenna told me about a farm she stayed at in Chase, BC. There she met a variety of people who were all very positive and willing to all pitch in to make the farm work and provide for each other, and experiencing that created an appreciation for the good in people. In her words, "Although I was only there for one night, it was like I was there for a week." All in all, her trip halfway across Canada raised about $2000 for Shanti Uganda, pretty impressive for a 22 year old woman on two wheels! But this would not be the end of Brenna's philanthropic adventures...she was going to Africa, and the journey would be epic.

Brenna after the trek to Winnipeg. In her words,
"changed, and so inspired."

Work began as early as her return to Vancouver in the Fall of 2010. Brenna's next ride was going to start on June 20, 2011, and would begin by completing the trek across Canada, meaning she would ride from Winnipeg, MB to St. John's, NFLD. From there, she would travel down to New York City, and then take the long flight to Cape Town, South Africa. While travelling through North America is no small feat, and a great adventure, reaching Cape Town in October 2011 would make her dream a reality as she travelled North to Morocco. 

My family and I followed her journey all along the way through her blog, mooncycleafrica.ca, and her Facebook updates, Coralie being so excited to see what new place Brenna had reached. During her travels, she experienced so many new places, cultures and foods, all would inspire her greatly. She also gained some very important insight into travelling alone as a young woman. She learned not to be fearful because she wasn't with a man, that she was completely capable on her own, and grew the confidence to ask people for help when she needed it, which many were all too willing to give. 

I had asked a seemingly silly question about such a long and eventful journey. What was her favourite part? Of course as soon as I asked it, I realized it was a very loaded question, but Brenna being such a thoughtful person, took a moment, and told me about various parts of the whole journey that made each country special, but Botswana held a dear place in her memories of her trip. Here is an excerpt from her blog from Christmas 2011:

"Yesterday – Christmas – I didn’t feel much like riding. My body was tired, aching for a rest, and moving any quicker than 12 km/hour seemed impossible. In addition, the wind was coming from the North East again – yep, where my nose points! By mid day, the temperature was a scorching 40 degrees Celsius , and maybe even hotter with the humidity! But it was Christmas, and I had to get to Maun!

Roadside goats in Botswana

So, instead of feeling frustrated, which would have been easy to do, I decided to just enjoy the peacefulness of a leisurely ride. I started to appreciate and wonder about the different elements of life in Botswana: Waif looking goats and cattle lazily grazing beside the road, donkeys skittishly bolting into the bush when they notice me, and – and this is unique to Botswana; I did not find this in any other country so far – entire skeletons of horses and cows laying perfectly intact in the field, possibly in the exact same position as when they had passed.

It’s strange, but there is something very beautiful and perfect about these elements of Botswana. I feel a total acceptance and embracing of the circle of life here. There is so much vitality: green grass and animals running free. There are few fences but no one seems to be running away. Death seems to be accepted as much as life, and the animals are able to return to the earth exactly as nature intended. Every butterfly, beetle, animal and grain of sand has it’s purpose here, and yesterday, I eventually allowed myself to become lost in the bigger picture, which was a really beautiful thing.

‘Uh oh,’ I thought, as I snapped out of my dreamy state. ‘I think I’m starting to fall in love with Botswana!’"

By this time in her journey, Brenna is a mere 23 years of age. These written words sound like those of someone well beyond the years, who has lived a much longer life. But reading this gives a glimpse into what a beautifully unique, thoughtful and passionate woman Brenna is.

Brenna's bike, Topanga, resting in Egypt

After months in Africa, being inspired by her surroundings, and a brief stop back home with her family in Winnipeg, Brenna has returned to Vancouver, and we have the honour to put her up with a place to stay before heading off to her next journey. This time a bit more local. Brenna now plans to travel to Quadra Island to take an in depth bike maintenance course. Her plan is to take these skills and volunteer in a community bike shop, whether here or back home in Winnipeg, where she will help those less fortunate than her. But I know she's not finished travelling. Wherever she goes from here, those she encounters on the way will be blessed to meet such an amazing young woman still at the start of her life's journey. My life is forever changed for having invited Brenna into my little family. I know that through all the crap out there, there are many special people, willing to sacrifice so much to help others. It helps reminds me to try and find the positive when things get tough, and to truly cherish what I have...a small group of very special friends, wonderful family all across this country, two beautiful children, and a wonderfully supportive husband who has given me so much over these past 15 years. But this post isn't about me, so I will leave you with some final words from Brenna after she finished her journey:

"I will be a person who is loved by my best girlfriends, my brother and sister, my cousins, nieces and nephews, my kids and grandchildren and the people in the community where I am working. When I am 80, I would like them to toast to my commitment, my heart and courage, and to my faith and positivity."

I am not a cyclist

I have many titles nowadays. Mother, wife, friend, vegetarian, artist, pedestrian, motorist (gasp), and every once and a while...cyclist. Truth be told, though, I really dislike being labelled or boxed into one category or type of person. To everyone I meet, I'm something different, but there is one label I will happily wear, no matter how often it's forgotten for the sake of another label. I am a human being. We all are, unless by some miracle other species' have now obtained the ability to read and comprehend the written word and are reading this. Unfortunately, this is a fact that seems to be forgotten all to often, especially when it comes to getting from point A to B in whatever means you use to get there.

One of the few photos of me driving...look, I'm actually smiling!

If you follow this blog, it's pretty clear that I travel by bicycle pretty much every day. But let me be clear, I AM NOT A CYCLIST. I am just a woman who loves to ride my bike around the city I live in, and love it even more when I get to do it with the people closest to me. I like to travel to different cities and discover them while on two wheels as well. Last summer I travelled to Quebec to visit my family back East, and the family and I rented some bikes and cycled along the Canal and St. Laurence in Montreal, and in a week, we will travel by train with our bikes to Portland, Oregon. Riding bikes is something I love to do, but it does not define me.

Cycling along the Canal in Montreal

Why is this an important distinction to make? Because these perceived titles blur reality and create discrimination and hostility where the need not be. When I am riding my bike, and am defined as a cyclist, people driving cars or walking forget that I am just like them, a human being trying to get to my destination. Defining someone by their means of transportation dehumanizes them, which I think is a very dangerous thing to do. On two wheels I am suddenly that "crazy" cyclist taking up a lane, riding too slowly, not wearing a helmet, or anything else that causes people to get so angry at those who ride bikes. They forget that I am taking the lanes so that vehicles don't pass me too closely, risking side swiping me or worse, right out hitting me. That I'm riding slowly because I'm climbing a difficult hill with only my own legs to get me to the top, or because I just plain like to take it easy when I ride. Riding a bike doesn't change the fact that I can be hurt, and does not mean I have a secret death wish by doing something deemed risky by some these days. It only means I am a human being on a bike because I like to use it to get to where I am going.

Now, before you think I am being an overly defensive "cyclist", please understand that this distinction applies to when I am a walking, on the bus or skytrain or driving a car as well. I cannot count the number of times I have been honked at while crossing the street with my children because I was going too slow at a crosswalk, or because I insisted on driving the speed limit when behind the wheel of a car. I have even been pushed aside trying to get on a bus or skytrain with and without my children. I strongly believe that if we took a moment to really think about who it is we are being so confrontational towards, whether we ourselves are walking, riding a bike, on public transit or in a motor vehicle, perhaps many conflicts could be avoided. I am by no means perfect, and have called people "ignorant motorists" in the past, or told other "cyclists" that they are giving the rest of us a bad name for their silly behaviour. But what is important is to try and remember these people all have lives outside of their transportation choices. They have families, friends, people who care about them and would be very sad if one of these conflicts caused them physical or emotional harm.

On the skytrain w/ a bike

So if you see me during my travels, whether on foot, riding a bike or in a vehicle, please remember, I am a wife, I am a mother, I am a close friend, but most of all, remember that I am a human being...and I will try do the same for you.

My babies and I on Mother's Day in Port Moody,
travelled to by bus.

An outdoors kind of weekend Part One

This weekend was yet another jam packed couple of days, filled with all sorts of outdoor activities to keep us active and exploring. After a few gloomier days this week, it was nice to have such nice weather to great us on Saturday morning. Our initial plan was to spend the day at Wreck Beach, but seeing as it was still a little cool, we figured risking a day at the beach may not be as much fun as we hoped for. So we did something we haven't done in quite some time.


After the kids finished up their swimming lessons, we booked a Zipcar for a few hours to go hiking. We really don't take the time to do this often enough, so everyone was pretty excited. Only problem was, the nearest car to us at Commercial and Broadway was at Main and Broadway. So we hopped a ride on the B-Line, picked up out car, and headed downtown and over the Lions Gate Bridge and off to Cypress Mountain. 

Waiting for the B-Line bus in their car seats

The view as we head over the Lions Gate Bridge

We decided to do a hike that we had done in December, that took us up to Hollyburn Lodge. It's a really easy trail to take the kids on, and if you need proof, just know that my kids ran all the way up! Once we reached the top, which took considerably less time than we thought it would (again, the kids ran), we faced two questions; which trail to take next, and why wasn't Santa here serving breakfast?! Little note, if you go to Hollyburn Lodge before Christmas, you can have breakfast with Santa, but in July, Santa is not there. Imagine being three and a half and finding out that Santa doesn't actually live up the mountain.

I told you they ran

Our ride for the afternoon waiting for us after our hike

After our hike we squeezed a stop in at the viewpoint to take in the view of the city and the surrounding water. It's something we don't get to do very often being a carfree family, and every time we stop there it's a nice reminder of how pretty Vancouver is. Then it was back in the car, to bring it back to the lot and catch the B-Line home for some dinner.

The view from the Cypress Mountain Viewpoint...
Pretty spectacular

After that, what could possibly be better than joining some fellow cycling friends in a park for some Bike Bowling. For those unfamiliar, this is an extreme sport involving a small child's bike, several large garbage bins and a steep enough hill. For those feeling daring/foolish enough, they ride the small bike down the hill and into the bins stacked in a pyramid, trying to knock over as many as possible and get a strike. It's not something I have any interest in doing, but funny enough, my husband and kids love it! Don't worry, the kids were slowly rolled down the hill with Daddy who protected them from any of the bins hitting them, meaning he was a little banged up by the end of the night. The sacrifices we make for our kids.

My husband in proper form before he takes down some bins

So that was part one of our weekend. A bit of hiking, a bit of driving, and some extreme cycling...all I can think is it's good to keep it interesting!

One family's journey...so far

Cycling to the beach is now a
norm for this former suburbanite

Well, it's been one week since I started this blog, and it's been such a treat getting to share a few stories of the life of my family on two wheels! It's also become a great place to brag about my daughter and her impressive stamina, which I will write more about tomorrow. For today, though, I thought it would be a good idea to tell you a bit about my story, so you have a better idea of where I came from and how I got to this place of riding my bike nearly every where and encouraging others to do the same. I'm not going to go all the way back, so don't worry, this won't become a life story, just snapshots of my journey into the crazy little life I have now.

Like most Vancouverites, my family and I, with the exception of our son, are not originally from this city, or even this province. We're part of that large group of people who used to call Ontario home. My husband, Chris, and I spent our teenage years in the ever growing suburb that is Kitchener, which is where we met and our story together began. Like most kids coming of age in the 80's and 90's, a highlight of my youth was obtaining my driver's license and the "freedom" that goes with it. However, being from a one car family, with a parent that commuted to a neighbouring city for work, my access to a vehicle was not as frequent as I would have liked. Instead, I actually spent a lot of time on my bike, which, at the time seemed like such a simple action. I never once thought about how I was saving the planet with less emissions, or how healthy my actions were...I just did it because it was the most convenient way to get to see my friends in a city whose public transit options still had some learning to do.

Skip to a few years later when Chris and I moved to Toronto for University. Living in the heart of such a thriving big city was so exciting and opened my eyes to how accessible life in the city is. We lived on campus for three years, mainly out of convenience. Not just because of our proximity to the school, and the perk of waking up five minutes before class that goes with that, but we were right at the heart of numerous transportation options, too, including the bus depot when it was time to travel back to see our parents. The summer before our final year of school, we decided to leave the comforts of the university and find a place of our own. Thinking back on this now, I'm realising that we have always had a desire to be close to the amenities, because we found a cute little apartment not fifteen minutes walk from the school, and still very close to all the main transit lines. That summer was also when I decided to dust off my old bike, having been neglected for three years, and ride to my summer job, about a thirty minute ride from my apartment. It was definitely the quickest way to get there, and I would admittedly get a bit sad on the rainy days when I would take the streetcar instead. Spoiler alert, this hasn't changed, I am what you would call a "fair weather cyclist", and I'm not ashamed of my distaste for being soaked to the bone.

After graduation, came time to grow up, move out of the city, buy a car and start commuting to work every day. I still can't believe the number of hours I logged driving to and from work everyday, or to visit our parents, a thirty minute drive away. Still, the notion of being in a walkable community never left for us. The city of Guelph is not a huge one, but it was important to Chris and I that we live within walking distance of the downtown area so we could do our weekly shop on foot or bike whenever possible. This is also the time that Chris started using his affordable Huffy to get to and from work, even on the icy streets in the middle of February. I have to give him credit for his tenacity, because at the time, I thought he was nuts! 

Coralie surrounded by our worldly treasure all set to
travel the 4500kms from Guelph, ON to Vancouver, BC

In 2007, when our daughter was only eleven months old, we took a huge step, and moved from our quiet little existence in Guelph to Vancouver. Although Chris was offered a job in Abbotsford, it was very important to us that we live in the city, allowing me the opportunity to work in the city and not creating the need for a second car, which was very important to us. After nearly three years of spending at least two hours a days in a car, Chris (and I) had had enough, and Chris found work in Vancouver. Within weeks of starting his new job, we quickly found that our car was not leaving the comfort of our garage more than once or twice a week, and when it did, it was purely out of our own laziness or for really long trips that we just couldn't do by transit or on foot. So, we took a chance, sold our car, got Chris a bike, and haven't looked back. We found out in no time that this city is not as daunting as it seems, and discovered how incredibly convenient getting around on our bikes can be. For our longer trips out of the city, we have a membership with a car-share, or, whenever possible, we try to travel by train, which the kids find so exciting. 

Life not owning a car has it's challenges, and we are very aware that we lucky to live in a city that affords us the ability to get around on our bikes as a family safely and easily, for the most part. It's the choice we made, and I am very proud of how far we have come. I look forward to the day we can all travel around this city and others solo on our bicycles, and watching my children gain confidence and independence as the grow up aware of their surroundings in their neighbourhood and the larger city. We are at an exciting time in our lives, and I am humbled to know that so many people have enjoyed reading about our journey so far. This is just the start of what I know will be an incredible adventure!

Riding with my kids along the Seawall...my
idea of happiness!