Paying-It-Forward

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive”

I’m sure that you have all heard of the pay-it-forward movement, the idea that you do something kind for someone in the hopes that they in turn will do something kind for someone else. And for those of you who have been with me for a while, you already know about our debt to the world (which we will happily pay back for the rest of our lives) because of the amazing hospitality we have received through homestays, and the kind acts which seem to happen to us on a daily basis no matter where we happen to be. It’s these experiences, both big and small, which have made this lifestyle into the successful endeavor it has become, and so, to cap it off, here are a few pay-it-forward experiences that we have recently received, most of which came from other cyclists like us.

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Replacing Gear

“You always have time for the things you put first.”

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Kevin and I invested in good gear to begin this trip: Surly bikes, ortlieb panniers, the famous Brooks b17 saddle, and of course, Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. We both have therm-a-rest sleeping pads, and down sleeping bags which are rated for -15C. Even so, after seventeen months, some of our gear needs to be replaced, especially before we begin the next year of our tour through some of the roughest roads as we follow the Andes through South America.

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Home Away From Home: The Beauty of Homestays

“Don’t tell me has educated you are. Tell me how much you have traveled.”

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Why do we cycle? We do it for the peaceful nights at 4,000m surrounded by the stars and the snowy peaks. We do it to explore and discover rather than to simply sit and wonder, and we do it for the lovely people we meet along the way. One of the main reasons Kevin and I chose to travel as we do, and one of the thing that has kept us going through each and every country, is the astounding kindness of strangers and the wonderful homestays we have been lucky enough to partake in. Though it may seem pretty crazy if you haven’t experienced it yourself, total strangers really will invite you into their homes for a cup of tea (or even a night), and despite what the media may constantly tell you, our world is indeed a truly wonderful place.

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A Photographic Tour Through the Life of A Cycling Nomad

“I suppose that was what attracted me to the bicycle right from the start. It is not so much a way of getting somewhere as it is a setting for randomness; it makes every journey an unorganized tour.”

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We wake up with the sunrise, refreshed and ready to begin the day.

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Surviving Winter On the Bike

“Not all those who bicycle are lost.”

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Last week was miserable, mostly because the snowy winter weather got the best of us here in Turkey. That being said, winter cycling doesn’t always have to be difficult, especially if you have the right gear. Though we felt ridiculous carrying around our huge down jackets, our -15C sleeping bags, and our long underwear and hats during the summer, now that we are relying on them to keep us alive and happy on a daily basis they are worth their weight in gold.

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When Everything Goes Wrong

“It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent.”

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Today was one of those days where everything seemed to go wrong, and though it’s probably more fun to see cute pictures of us smiling, or learn about the history of wherever we happen to be, it’s important to realize that sometimes days out here suck for us as well.

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Cappadocia: Underground Towns, Cave Filled Mountains, and Some Pretty Crazy Rocks

“You know all those things you have always wanted to do? You should go do them.”

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Cappadocia is one of the most famous sites in Turkey, and rightfully so. Though during our first few hours we were overwhelmed by the sheer number of touists, resorts, and unfriendly people (it’s a lot like Disney land for adults we decided) but the natural beauty of the surrounding rocks and the thousands of interesting caves waiting to be explored soon won us over.

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Meet the Bourgeons: One Van, Three Kids, and Twelve Months on the Road

“The journey itself is my home.”

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Last week while we were camping in cappadocia we ran into a French family (with children aged 4, 7, and 9) traveling through Europe in their campervan for the year. They invited us for dinner in their cozy abode one night, and while we ate delicious fish, rice, and ratatouille, I interview them about why they have chosen to take a year off, and how it works.

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The Rolling Roads of Turkey: Hills, Caves, and Modernization

“I suppose that was what attracted me to the bicycle right from the start. It is not so much a way of getting somewhere as it is a setting for randomness; it makes every journey an unorganized tour.”

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The last week has been a mess of small rolling hills which meant that we were constantly climbing yet going almost nowhere. Though we completed three passes, it felt like a whole lot more because even the downhills were full of small frustrating ups. That being said, at least we were on a smallish relatively quiet road, and at least we got over 500km out of the way!

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This One’s For the Ladies: Hygiene, Periods, and Sex on the Road

“Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says “oh crap, she’s up!”

Fair warning boys, this one really is for the ladies since it’s about hygiene and living specific to us gals. A few weeks ago a fellow female cyclist who I met at the beginning of my journey on the Pacific West Coast emailed me with a few personal questions since, as she rightly pointed out, there really isn’t much information about a few specific subjects since no one wants to write about them. So if you aren’t interested in how we pee or what we do about our period when we are on the road, I would suggest you skip this one and come back tomorrow instead.

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