A bike packed full of food, some mountains, and a boy equals one happy girl! Torres del Paines, 2015.
This last year will be remembered by Kevin and I as a year of high highs – from cycling through Patagonia with friends to pushing our bikes up and down rough roads in the Andes – but also, one of incredibly low lows – like when ending our trip early became a reality and I cried for nights on end. 2015 was the year of South America, and all of the wonderful adventures it held, but also, 2015 was the year we began to adjust our thinking from what’s most fun in the moment, to how to accomplish long term goals. It’s been a divided year; a year in which we spent the first six months living in a tent, and the latter half living in an apartment. A year where we had complete freedom for part, and jobs, appointements, and commitments for the rest. A year where we lived in nature, and then a year where we were stuck indoors. This last year has also been the year we lived near family, the year Kevin and I solidified our relationship both on and off the bike, and the year we began to figure out where we want to be in the future. It’s been a year of transitions, and it hasn’t always been pretty, but looking back, it’s also been a hell of a lot of fun.
We began 2015 in Turkey, before quickly making our way down to Ushuaia where we began the South American part of our trip. We spent six months cycling from Ushuaia to Peru, before taking a last minute flight back home where we surprised our families, and started a (temporary) life for ourselves in Astoria, OR. So here it is, our year of adventures from cycling the Andes to canoeing in our own backyard.
Though it was populated and people saw us camping, no one bothered us at all. Once again, I felt safer camping here in the open than I would in the USA.
Cycling into Torres del Paines, Patagonia.
Headed into Bolivia, it’s just around this corner!
A cyclists nightmare; tunnels.
Eating lunch outside the store, a common picnic spot for us now.
Home sweet home for the night.
Kevin and I outside of San Martin.
Swimming in a sea of sheep.
Reading in a tunnel when the wind got too strong. Patagonia, 2015.
This use to be a front rack. Mike and Emily had a fair bit of bike troubles, though thankfully there was always a creative solution to be found.
Cycling through a stream, great way to cool down!
Kevin crossing a half frozen stream barefoot as its snowing. Miserable!
Best friends for life!
Rain, rain, and a bit more rain, Argentina 2015.
Me and the two french couples.
The mountains certainly made us feel small.
Hiking in Torres Del Paines.
Kevin in his “I’m going to rob a bank” outfit, which also doubles as great skin protection from the wind and sun. He caught this fish in a small stream at 4,300m making it by far his most unique catch!
Making dinner with friends is definitely more fun.
Talk about a beautiful valley, Ushuaia, Patagonia.
Kevin’s boot wanted to stay in Argentina so it jumped ship! Patagonia, 2015
We really enjoyed the few shepherds we met along the way.
Kevin celebrated his 27th birds this week!
Beautiful sunset in solitude.
No hands!
You can see Kevin to the left, a tiny blob cycling in a vast landscape.
Kevin’s first frat! A little piece of glass was the culprit.
Eating breakfast on the playground.
Definitely one of our best camping spots! Especially since the fishing was great. Patagonia, 2015.
Need a tent anyone?
Crossing a rickety bridge to find a field to camp in, Chile, 2015
There was wonderful camping almost every night on the Carretera Austral, Patagonia 2015.
Riding through a small altiplano village.
A bike packed full of food, some mountains, and a boy equals one happy girl! Torres del Paines, 2015.
One of Kevin’s many fish, Patagonia 2015.
Only one dollar for this delicious street meal of potatoes, rice, and meat!
Happy to have exchanged my bike for a backpack for the weekend!
Kevin carrying his bike up a bunch of roots. These roots, which were absolutely all over the trail, is what made the going so slow.
Cycling through the mud.
Hanging out along the highway, Chile 2015.
Cycling through the sheep.
Two Oregonian cyclists!
My four dollar Chilean cowboy hat has been a savior out here! The sun reflected off the salt and burned any exposed skin.
Finally a cycling photo of both of us!
Headed into the peaks, 2015.
We got snowed on during one of our climbs which made the world even more beautiful!
Kevin, Mike, and Emily, three friends since high school who all happen to be in Patagonia!
Tough riding! It took us nearly all day to cover 40km.
These little bags (the piece of cloth is always this color) is what all of the women wear here.
Sleeping in a field of quinoa.
Beautiful mountains equals one happy girl!
Kevin far ahead.
The end of the paved road, it was a nice break from the washboard!
One of the towns in Cappaocia. Now they are filled with resorts and resaurants, some of which are in caves.
Kevin being cute, Argentina 2015.
Setting off at sunrise to enjoy the whole day.
Fly fishing in Patagonia, Kevin has already dreamed of this, 2015.
Of all the old car parts, broken bungees, and single shoes Kevin has found by the side of the road, this hat was definitely his greatest one! Patagonia, 2015.
Enjoying the mountains with friends, Patagonia 2015.
Us, our bikes, and our home! Salt flats, May 2015.
Cycling the Pan American, Chile 2015.
This is the typical photo that every touring cyclist seems to have from this region, and for good reason, as this tree really shows how windy this region is.
These little guys are super curious which makes them hilarious to interact with because whenever you talk to them they look at you as if they are listening.
Catching a trout.
Caught my first trout on a fly!
We finished Patagonia with Tim and Jordi, two friends from Idaho who we keep leap frogging every few weeks.
Typical Andean ladies: the hat, the cloth bag, the long braids, and the colorful pleated skirts. In everywhere except the largest cities, this is how the women always dress.
The lakes in Patagonia were simply stunning, 2015.
Beautiful camping!
Contemplating the ride.
Team work! Patagonia 2015.
Mike and Emily showing off their hippie side!
On the summit! Thanks John for the photo!
Coming into the summit! Once you are on this ridge, you know you will make it up.
Cycling through the sheep… again.
Kevin in his chefs hat.
The uneven roads were mostly in good condition, though there were sections (one 70km+ one in particular) which was washboard like which was extremely frustrating and difficult.
There was a whole lot of salt due to the mineral deposits throughout this region.
And the camping is simply fantastic!! It’s the only time you are alone, truly alone, with only the bright shinning stars to keep you company. At night it cools down so it’s nice and cold, which makes for the perfect night.
Facemasks ready for the wind and dust!
Hiking into the park, Patnagonia 2015.
Pushing through the rain and fog, hence the blurry photo.
The headwinds down here weren’t a joke even if this photo is, Patagonia 2015.
Kevin’s last Patagonian catch, 2015.
One of the bluest lakes I’ve ever seen, Patagonia 2015.
We got dust thrown on us during the first 100km as cars (tourist jeeps) past. Thankfully after that we were all alone!
Yoga in the mountains with friends, Argentina Patagonia.
Nothing like a nicely paved road through the mountains! Chile 2015.
I apparently stopped for one too many photos cause my bike hitched a ride with someone else…
Another lake along the route.
2016 will also be a year of adjustment for us; we will be moving again (and are both very excited about this), and with that, we will both be changing jobs as well (plus, I will be going back to school). We are both excited by what this near year will bring, and anxious to start planning our next adventure (spoiler alert, we are in the beginning phases of planning our next three month bike trip). But until then, we are both commited to making more microadventures happen in our attempt to explore our beautiful state. Here is to what 2015 gave us, and to the new year to come.
The Wandering Nomads 