Last week was exhausting. I ended up driving to work more days (have I mentioned that I have a car sitting out front for the next month while my parents are away?). The 38 mile days were getting to me and the boys were both up frequently through the nights as they were both still feeling the effects of their colds. The incident with the van driver really threw me off, too. One of my readers sent me a message with some info based on the email address on the van, along with all the great online support from other bike riders, which gave me the confidence to report the guy to the police. They took my report seriously and sent an officer to my house to document the "assault." I wish I had had more information about the guy or the van but I reported what I could. Thanks, awesome community! 

Since my boys couldn't go on the Gibson Ranch Kidical Mass Overnight last weekend, I had told them that I'd take them when they could. Another of our friends couldn't make it with his son, either, so they joined us. They'd never been bike camping before. 

Our friends took the HaulaDay, which is a fantastic cargo bike for newbies because it fits everyone with its OSATA adjustments, light weight, and easy maneuverability (however, my friend did manage to drop with kids on the back on his first attempt but they were on the grass so it didn't count. Everyone drops a kid now and again). 

I took two of the kids' bikes along with much of the other gear because the Bullitt is way too easy to overpack. Now that I have the Cycle Truck Caddyrack, my cargo capacity has doubled! It's so easy to tow bikes. 

Big Brother was forced to ride on his own because I ran out of room for him on the bike and because I thought he could. The route is mostly bike trail, except for the first four miles and last 2 miles. 

Once we were on the bike trail, our friend's son got on his bike, too. This was his longest ride and he did really well! There are quite a few intersections along the Northern Bike Trail (which is probably why it's not too popular with the roadies). Both boys on solo bikes did a great job on listening to my directions and making good judgements while they were riding. 

It took us about 4 hours to get to Gibson Ranch. We were told to set up in the grass around the cabins. It was nice and grassy but a little close to the cabins and their occupants for my liking. 

The boys had a fantastic time riding around the site and the playground. After dinner we ran around in the dark until the boys passed out. I was exhausted about 4 hours before they finally were. 

In the morning, we packed up fairly quickly, as quickly as one can with children present (we finally left around 9:45am). One of those children decided he was hungry every 30 seconds and we ran out of food. 

None of the boys wanted to ride on their own and since I hadn't really planned on carrying Big Brother, I had to do some quick (relative to me) thinking to arrange everything between the two cargo bikes--three bikes, three boys, everyone's camping gear, and all the toys. 

It was a long, hot 17 miles back home but we managed to get there at about a 7mph pace--just about half our arrival time! It is great to know there is such a convenient bike overnight, especially for having the kiddos ride much of it on their own. The last .5 to Gibson Ranch is on a busy stretch of road without much shoulder. There are many "Share The Road" signs but it is still unnerving, especially for less-experienced riders. Our friend's kid was back to sitting on the HaulaDay deck by that time on our arrival while Big Brother, who has more road riding experience, rode on the street with us in traffic. On the way home, he was too tired to navigate and maneuver that same stretch of road back to the trail so I was glad he had chosen to hitch a ride. 

Another successful camping trip! During this busy time, I'm so glad to have been able to escape for a few days and get in some rejuvenating adventure. 

I'm looking forward to our next bike trip! 

Sorry for the big gap between posts. I've been working up in Natomas teaching Project Ride Smart to a fun group of 5th graders. It's made life a little extra crazy these days but is so worth it. I love that job. During this three week contract, I also somehow managed to book up my weekends--last weekend I volunteered to assist at an LCI seminar. This weekend was our first official Sac Kidical Mass campout at Gibson Ranch Park. 

Last year, we threw together a longer trip up to Negro Bar in Folsom but because of the distance and hills, the trip was less accessible for new bike campers and families. This trip was a flat 13 miles that mostly followed bike path until the last few miles of rural roads. We had 20 people for our adventure, many of whom had never been bike camping, yet. 

We managed to get to Gibson Ranch in about 3 hours, just above the 4 mph average we accounted for. It was a lovely, quiet route that was mostly free of traffic and road bikers. Perfect for our heavily-ladened riders and the solo kiddos who kept trucking along. 

We had a beautiful shady spot and could spread out all over the lawn. The central tables were immediately covered in food and the adults rested and refueled while the children ran around. 

One of my favorite parts of bike camping with a group is checking out all the different and awesome set-ups people have. 

As the sun went down, the neighboring wedding party cranked up the music and the large Boy Scout group turned on a movie, something about going to space camp. It was noisy but I fell right to sleep. We were rained on a bit throughout the night. Good thing we had such a sturdy group of campers! Even though we were relatively close to home, no one called for back up in the middle of the night. I consider that a success! 

There were more sprinkles on the way home but I didn't hear any complaints, not even from the adults! We bypassed the playground and lunch stop to get home quicker (although we lost a couple to Thrift Town at the end of the journey). Our riders peeled away toward their own homes as we rolled off the bike trail. 

We had a great group of riders and a very successful trip. A huge thank you goes out to Keith, Melissa, and Jarrod for all their planning and preparations! I can't wait for the next Sac Kidical Mass Campout! 

Keith and his son joined Little Brother and myself on our reconnaissance ride out to Gibson Ranch. Keith is an essential member of our little "Sac Kidical Mass Board," a team of wonderful folks who help plan and run our monthly Kidical Mass rides. Another board member, Melissa, had found Gibson Ranch and talked to them about the possibility of using it as our Kidical Camping trip in September. Emboldened by our recent trip to Eugene for their 4th annual campout, I was really excited to get ours established, too. Last year, we took a group of about 20 people up to Negro Bar in Folsom, a 30 mile trek that was not for the faint of heart! This year, we wanted a trip that was more approachable for our larger Kidical Mass group. Before we could make this event official, we had to scope out the route and ensure its safety for family riding. (So of course, Keith and I used our children as guinea pigs)

This is Keith's second homemade bakfiets since his first was stolen last year. 

Little Brother started the day pretty restless--still wound up from our weekend adventure. It didn't take long for me to offer him over to Keith's bike so the boys could play together. It was a perfect playdate on wheels! 

The ride was even better than I had imagined. There was one section of the trail that was closed due to levee construction but the detour was short and easy (at least it was on the way back). After the Northern Bike Trail, there was a section along the rural back roads, most of which had a wide shoulder or designated bike lane. The last 1/4 mile or so lacked a shoulder and had busier traffic but it was over quickly and then we were there! Unfortunately there was a giant sign proclaiming the lack of water and bathrooms but we've since established that they'll be available when we reserve our dates. 

We have a great trip planned now for Sacramento Kidical Mass's Campout! Send me a message if you are interested in joining or have any questions. Hopefully, this will be the first of many more to come! 

What better way to spend the Fouth Of July than going on a weekend bike trip? I had planned on heading up one of my favorite routes to Lake Solano with an overnight at the West Sacramento KOA to make for a shorter day on Saturday. It was going to be warm this weekend but not terrible and although the Lake Solano campground had been booked for weeks, they have a hike/bike site that is first-come-first-served. I figured that in the worst-case scenario, I'd just try to ask another camper if they would share their site. 

Since I was riding without the kiddos, I decided to swap up my cargo routine and try out my dad's Burley Travoy. He's been getting tons of use out of it by going shopping and delivering large packages, kids' bikes, or dehydrators to me across town. I'd never tested it out before and was incredibly impressed. Although I had overpacked, the trailer still rolled really smoothly. It was especially nice to be able to pop the trailer off the bike and cart the gear into the cabin or roll it around the farmer's market without worrying about leaving it in the way or in danger of being stolen. 

As I reached the Guy West Bridge on the American River Parkway, I noticed big black plumes of smoke filling the sky. Sadly, the ARP is regularly plagued by brush fires--sometimes due to arson or illegal camping/cooking along the levee. They were able to fully contain this fire after closing off the bike trail for a few hours. The excessive heat and drought has made the area extremely susceptible to brush- and wildfires. Of course, the fireworks display at Cal Expo was still allowed to go on. Can't let a fire put a damper on freedom, right? 

The night at the KOA was surprisingly pleasant, despite the full campground (kampground)? I was so glad to have been nice and cozy in a cabin (kabin?) instead of in a tent super close to all the partying that was going down. 

In the morning, I received a text from my dad mentioning a fire out near Winters. There wasn't much information about it, yet, except that it was near Lake Solano and they had already evacuated some of the rural homes and resorts up the highway from the campground. Sure enough, you could see the smoke-filled sky stretching over the hills. After a nice long recharge stop at the Davis farmer's market, I continued up to Winters to see if camping would still be an option. 

The Winters community center had been set up as an evacuation site for the Red Cross and highway 128 was closed off about four miles from Lake Solano. It was hot and dry and windy, a terrible combination for fighting fires. Getting that close made my eyes and lungs burn so it was time to turn back. A refueling stop at Steady Eddy's was just what was needed before retracing back to Davis. Even with the headwind and lack of shade, it was a really enjoyable ride. The Amtrak train showed up right on time and made for an easy trip over the causeway and home to Sacramento. Things didn't quite go as planned this weekend but it was still a wonderful adventure. 

My thoughts go out to the firefighters out in dangerous conditions trying to contain the flames and to the people who have been displaced and are at risk of losing their homes. It's another reminder that we are living in a severe drought where even the tiniest spark can tear through thousands of acres in a flash. 

While last week was a blast, I had some time to sort out my summer ideas and I realized that I'd be able to more fully immerse ourselves in the Whine & Chocolate Epic Bike Tour, it would be better if we had some extra time to prepare. I have a lot on my plate right now and instead of trying to fit the trip into my life, I'm going to slow things down and make sure I can make this trip as epic as possible. It's a big bummer to not have six weeks of bike adventure to look forward in a few months to but I know that it's the right decision. This summer, we'll be staying closer to home with a few adventures thrown in, of course, and next year, we'll be ready to go! Maybe I can even get Big Brother pedaling on his own to help! 

In the meantime, I have some fun bicycle education jobs coming up and my station at my favorite bike shop, 
Practical Cycle. We also have Sac Kidical Mass tomorrow starting at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen, 9am. We'll be checking out their facilities then moseying on down to the Midtown Farmer's Market and McKinley Playground--something for everyone. In May, the Sacramento Kidical Massers will get to have a ride each weekend for May Is Bike Month (by the way, make sure to join Tiny Helmet's team and log your miles!). The goal is to try to incorporate new neighborhoods, families, and activities--starting with Land Park ride from Belle Cooledge to Fairytale Town on May 3rd. The great folks at Fairytale town, especially their grounds manager, David, have been really excited about our visit since they are incredibly bike-friendly and want to know what we think of their new bike racks at the front entrance. If only all businesses could be as forward-thinking as these guys. 

So now, for the first time in at least five years, I'll have a casual summer at home. I'm sure we'll be able to figure out something exciting to do. Any suggestions? 

While we don't have a polar vortex outside, it's still been chilly at night--usually about 30-35 degrees. Since this is much colder than we've ever gone camping in with the kids, it's been hard to get my nerve up and give camping a go. It's especially frustrating because the afternoons have been so beautiful and warm about 65 degrees. Big Brother was actually the one who thought backyard camping would be fun--"I know where we can camp AND had a bathroom!" This actually sounded like a great idea because if we realized our gear wasn't up to the weather, I'd rather be 50 feet from the backdoor and not 50 miles. So yesterday at dusk, we set up the big tent (our 4 person one as opposed to our 2 person Hubba Hubba).  

We are borrowing a Thermarest from my mom, who actually doesn't remember that it's hers at this point, and I have an older 3/4 length one from over 10 years ago that was a gift. A few years ago, I picked up one on my own at an REI sale but it got a burn hole on one of it's first trips out when Jose took it to BeerFest. I tried patching it once but used the wrong material that turned out to be porous. On our trip to REI yesterday, I picked up some specific Thermarest patches but it hadn't dried in time for us to head outside (*update on the patching--the kit has, so far, been useless. The patch curls up around the edges and the glue gets everywhere. I'm on my third attempt and it's involving duct tape). Instead, I brought out our  two newer Cat's Meow sleeping bags to use as a mat for me and I slept in my older (12 years) Cat's Meow. The boys both had their wonderful Deuter Little Star and Starlight bags, Big Brother on the longer mat and Little Brother on the shorter. 

The boys were thrilled to be outside in their sleeping bags and for a few minutes, this is what it looked like inside the tent: 

But then they quickly calmed down to this: 

And within about five minutes, they were silent. I was so proud! I, however, lay awake until about midnight. I was surprisingly comfortable because I had my cheapo airline u-shaped pillow that I picked up on my way to somewhere and have hated carting around ever since. This might actually work out well as a camping pillow. I was hyperaware of every movement and noise the boys made. I worried about them being too cold or uncomfortable or having to wake up to pee as the temperature dropped. When I checked my phone around 11:30pm, it said it was still 50 degrees but about to get to 36 within the next few hours. 

I tossed and turned, Little Brother fussed in his sleep a few times, Big Brother was silent. At some point, Little Brother sat up and said "Mama, I'm cold" so I scooped him up into my bag and took over his 3/4 Thermarest. The sleeping pad made a HUGE difference in my warmth. The sleeping bags just didn't cut it as insulation. Since we had the extra bags, I used them as additional warmth because Little Brother was flailing around in my bag and it was difficult to keep us both covered. An extra bonus was when Little Brother's diaper leaked and he ended up soaked. I took his pajama bottoms off and kept the diaper because I didn't have an extra in the tent. Big Brother, on the other hand, stayed snug in his bag, he never woke up except once to pee, and he never complained.


Of course, Little Brother was the first to wake up around 7am with a loud "IT'S MORNING NOW!" Big Brother stayed cuddled up inside is bag but awoke with a smile. We didn't stay in the tent long, it was nice to run back to the house for a warm breakfast and the heater. This was the perfect way to figure out what we still need to be happy campers. I was surprised at how comfortable we all seemed, however I don't think we can try to share two pads for the three of us longterm. The pillow is coming with me camping forever now. I'm also rethinking my original plan of using the smaller tent and stuffing us inside instead of carrying the extra weight for more room. The morning was pretty foggy and the bags that had been touching the tent walls were soaked. I realized that if we want to bring our gear inside during our tent AND be comfortable, the Hubba Hubba isn't going to work. Also, I don't plan on bringing three sleeping bags just for myself but I'll be using one of the newer bags because the older one has been pretty compressed and probably isn't as warm anymore. It will be good to have warmer nights during our Whine & Chocolate epic bike adventure. 

I just asked Big Brother what he thought about camping and he did say that he was "sad that no one was cuddling" him and that he had been cold but when I asked if he wanted to camp out again tonight he lit up and said "YES!" Pretty soon, we're going to be pros! Next step will be how to fit all this stuff on the Mundo and keep it upright! Even though I didn't get much sleep last night, I'm surprised that I'm not actually tired (I think I'm usually more tired and sore when I sleep inside). We'll see how it lasts throughout the day it's probably good that we're having a quiet day anyway. 

My big goal this year is to go on our Whine & Chocolate epic bike adventure in summer--Eugene to Vancouver with a side trip to Victoria. We'll be moving slowly with low-mileage days and plenty of rest days and detours. However, it will be quite a trying journey both as a solo parent for many weeks (although we won't be alone for much, if any of the time) and constant every day riding with kiddos in unfamiliar territory.

To help minimize the shock of the trip, we are continuing to practice with overnights as often as we can. I want to make sure our gear is useable and functional, that we're not over- or under-packed, and that we know our limits. I'm only planning 30-40 mile days but with a loaded bike and kids, it could sometimes feel like a double century.

One way I plan to practice touring is by having our bike "kit" packed at all times and ready to roll at a moments notice. We have most of the gear we'll need but are still looking into a few things such as a sleeping pad solution for the boys, cookwear, and wool clothing for me. I have come up with a list of things to gather. Let me know what you think and if there's anything I'm missing or you think is superfluous.

Whine & Chocolate epic bike adventure gear list (edited additions in italics):



Clothing:

Me--tights, pants, skirt, short sleeve, long sleeve, 2 socks, jacket, gloves, gaiter, hat, rain gear, off-the-bike shoes

Boys--thermals, shorts, long & short sleeves, jacket, gloves, gaiter, hat, rain gear, sunglasses, off-the-bike shoes



Kitchen:

Bowl, mug, spork each, knife, wooden spoon, ladle, cutting board, 2 pots, skillet, stove, gas, windblock, lighters, towels, spices, oil, baggies, foil, food stuffs, scrubbie, Hydroflask & Klean Kanteen bottles, cloth produce bags



Toiletries:

Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, Dr Bronners soap, sun block, Chapstick, hair ties, pStyle-like device, bug spray, baby wipes, towel



Electronics:

Phone, charger, lights, light charger, batteries, headlamp



Tools:

Multitool, pump, tubes, duct tape, zip ties, oil, wrench, patch kit, chain tool, lock, tie downs/bungees



First aid:

Band aids, ice pack, tweezers, scissors, gauze, bandages, aspirin, kid pills, thermometer, nail clippers, Rescue Remedy, antihistamine, Traumeel



Sleeping:

Sleeping bags, pads, tent, pillow for me



Toys:

Books, dinosaurs, Star Wars toys/cars/something little that they can play with for hours, notebook, color pencils/pens



Food:

TBD although lots of chocolate is a given!

I have a plan! Next summer is going to be the first summer in 5 years that we didn't have anything scheduled so I've now made something up--the Tour De Whine And Chocolate. I promise that it will involved lots and lots of whining and chocolate. 

Bike touring is my passion. I haven't had much experience with it, yet, but I dream of pedaling off one day and seeing where I end up a long time later. So far, I've been able to squeeze in an overnight every so often and the longest trip I've taken was when Big Brother was just 10-months-old, 600 miles around Oregon. I decided that this summer was going to involve dragging my children along on an epic bike journey. While trying to figure out where we were going to go, I started thinking about places I've been wanting to visit and people I've been wanting to see. Since I've been doing a few little trips here and there with the kiddos, I've realized that it really helps to have lots of people to help manage them after a long day of riding. After talking (twittering) with some folks, I think we have a general route set up that involves lots of stops at places we want to hang out and meeting other folks who will hopefully join us for sections along the way. 

The plan: Jose will help us get up to the Eugene-ish area of Oregon. He only has a few days off so he'll probably just ride a little ways and take the train home. We'll head North, just as we did on our trip with Big Brother, stopping in Portland for a few days. Then, we'll be on our way to Seattle to hang out a couple of days and pick up some other mama-bikers (papas are welcome, too!) and heading North again. I'd like to reach Vancouver, just to say we biked to Canada (and also to explore the area and meet some other folks along the way). I have family in Victoria, BC that I'd love to stay with and get a chance to thoroughly indulge in their biking infrastructure. We'll take the ferry back to Seattle and catch Amtrak home. It sounds like we can fit *most* of the Mundo in an Amtrak bike box. We have about two months to do it all. 

My idea is that we'll keep the number of miles fairly low--30-50 per day so that I can still be a functional parent after we've finished riding. On the trip I did with Big Brother to Chico, we learned that it's not a good idea to push ourselves. No one has fun when we're all exhausted. I'd like the boys to have a good time, too, so playgrounds, campsites, and other great off-the-bike activities will be incorporated each day. Having other people to hang out with after riding will be a big help, as well. Our trips staying with warmshowers hosts have been fantastic experiences. 

I'm really excited about planning and training. Since I'll be lugging around two children as well as our gear, I really want to plan efficiently. We have most of the things we'll need already but I'd like to upgrade our sleeping bags for something smaller and lighter. I need to learn how to prepare wholesome meals on the bike so we don't lose steam. The hills will be the hardest, of course, so I need to start working on my strength and stamina. 

If you have any suggestions on route options or gear, please let me know. I'm glad we have quite some time to get ready! I feel that if we can accomplish an epic adventure like this, we'll be able to do anything! 

Today was the first day of a new routine in our lives. Two weeks ago, our daycare provider told me that she was closing on the 28th. My heart sunk as I started researching new daycares and preschools, I realized that we couldn't afford my job at Practical Cycle anymore. Turns out, we had been paying about 1/4 of what standard places charge and there was no way for us to balance out a regular job with the cost of child care. So, as of yesterday, I'm back to being a stay-at-home mom for the first time in a year. 

On top of this big transition in our lives, Big Brother's new school make for a crazy juggling schedule, Jose's new evening classes mean I'm in charge of all night-time duties four days a week, and my folks left town for the next month and a half so we've got easy access to a car (and a cat) for that time. It all makes for a whirlwind of emotions and activities. However, great change brings about new opportunities and right now, I feel like there are many out there for me. There will be more time for me to plan bike trips, more time for writing, and most importantly, more time to spend with my family. 

While I am really going to miss my Practical Cycle family, I am looking forward to being able to still be a part of the shop in different ways. I've learned so much about bikes and bike shops from these guys, I am so grateful for the experience they've given me this past year. 

I also have some contracted days with the Safe Routes To School program in one of the local school districts and Sacramento Kidical Mass is gearing up to be a regularly scheduled ride each 4th Saturday of the month. 

Finally, bike overnights are coming back into our lives! We're starting up by squeezing one into August so we don't miss another month. This next one is going to be a doozy! Wish us luck! The boys and I head out tomorrow...

I was disappointed to end July without having accomplished a bike overnight. I had been planning on doing one each month for the year but knew that July was going to be tricky. This is my busiest month with the exchange student program. I had been hoping I could still squeeze in a very short ride but never got to it. The exchange students are wonderful and although it's a crazy time with little downtime, I love it all the same. While I wanted to reach my goal, I'm not about to sacrifice the small amount of sanity I'm retaining. August will put me right back on track. 

Instead of dwelling on the lost month, I decided to recap what we've done so far this year.

• January: Big Brother and I rode to Chico (day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4)! 
• February: Sacramento to Ione (day 1 and day 2)! 
• March: Our group camping trip to Negro Bar! 
• April: Riding to the local KOA with my mama! 
• May:  Anniversary trip to the Ryde Hotel (day 1 and day 2) and backyard camping! 
• June: Boys and I rode to Beal's Point! 

Even though I am dying for another overnight, it's been a blast running around with all these awesome kiddos. Big Brother and I just spent 4 days in Southern California with them, going to Hollywood, Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Santa Barbara. It was almost an entire week without a single bike ride! 

I'm sure we'll make up for it in August. Where shall we go next?