Meet Serge Bordeleau and his family. They undertook a wonderful two-wheeled family adventure.
Last year, we did a 3000km trip as a family, by bike, with our 3 boys who were then 11, 9, and 5 years old. We left Mézel (north of Marseille, very close to Digne-les-bains), and traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark. Officially, the children wanted to go to Legoland by bike! We thus crossed France, Luxembourg, a bit of Belgium, the entire east of the Netherlands, the north of Germany diagonally, and finally a few Danish islands. In five and a half months, through the bad weather of March and up to the heatwaves of July, we rode, rode, rode, making countless discoveries and memorable encounters along the way. We learned to push our limits, while accumulating precious family moments.
When we left, temperatures were hovering around zero degrees and rain was frequent. By August, we had to manage our schedule to avoid excessive heat. We had to pack both swimsuits and winter hats, all the camping gear and what was necessary to survive the cold, the kitchen and hardware for repairs, a few books for entertainment, and of course notebooks for drawing and doing school on the road. Everyone transported a bit of material, according to their capacity. Our panniers were large enough to contain what was needed to live independently, and we had left enough free space for the souvenirs collected along the way: books, sticks, swords, rocks, corks, snails, etc.
We keep everlasting memories of this trip, which has bonded us as a family. We are already looking forward to the next time! Here are a few highlights of our trip:
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The children regularly participated in cooking. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, before we understood that grocery stores were closed on Sundays, they cooked us a "peanut-castle": fried eggs, topped with emergency tomato sauce, with a few shallots gleaned along the way and survival peanuts as garnish.
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Rain or shine, our gear was dry (which was not always the case for our fingers and toes!). It rained almost every day between March and May. A cold rain that chills the bones just thinking about it.
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Not all landscapes are bucolic! We passed our first 1000km right in the middle of some random field, near Alsace.
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Friends from Canada came to share a part of the road and offer us their moral support, to cover the last 500km that separated us from Denmark.
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The children carried all sorts of things in their handlebar bags, a Signature BB and a Burrito, named "Boule-dogue" and "Boule-Bill." The first mainly contained snacks, crayons, and a few clothes, while the second was essentially filled with important rocks and sticks. A snail was relocated there for over 100km.
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The most beautiful viewpoints were undoubtedly in the hills and mountains, but the effort to get there was considerable. Let's remember that the sharing of burdens was not equitable in our group haha! When the elevation gain was too significant, we often had to push the bikes. In Alsace, we crossed the finish line of a cycling event, under the applause of the astonished crowd to see us so loaded on such a climb.
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Setting up camp gave us great joy every evening. We were at home, a little everywhere. As the campsites were not open at the start of our journey, we learned the meaning of the forgotten concept of "bivouac," whose interpretation varies, but which theoretically allows travelers to set up temporarily, wherever they please, provided they leave promptly the next morning. The feeling of freedom is immense when we found secluded spots where we felt isolated and safe.
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The other nights were spent in small and large campsites, at impromptu hosts met the same day, in "warmshowers," and in rare but well-deserved exceptions, at a hotel.
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We made it to Legoland, by bike! Along the way, people were impressed by our project; Denmark seemed so far away. While we were happy to cycle 15 km the first few days, we eventually reached averages of 30 to 40 km, with a record of 65 km. For seasoned cyclists, that may seem minimal, but with children, it's a real challenge! We chose to go at their pace.
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We loved the free shelters in Denmark. No need to set up and take down the tent; we slept in places as magnificent as they were peaceful.
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Some regions have better cycling infrastructure than others. It is certainly worth planning before departure, without being afraid to stray off the beaten path, where the best adventures and the most memorable unplanned discoveries are found!
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Such a trip does not happen by magic. You have to plan ahead, save money, and most importantly, block out a moment on the calendar. Not all deadlines were met before departure, but we had to leave! Upon return, the Earth had not stopped turning. The files at work are still there, but the children, for their part, continue to grow!
