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.
Best friends for life!
Hanging out along the highway, Chile 2015.
One of the bluest lakes I’ve ever seen, Patagonia 2015.
Mike and Emily showing off their hippie side!
Rain, rain, and a bit more rain, Argentina 2015.
One of the towns in Cappaocia. Now they are filled with resorts and resaurants, some of which are in caves.
Kevin, Mike, and Emily, three friends since high school who all happen to be in Patagonia!
The headwinds down here weren’t a joke even if this photo is, Patagonia 2015.
Kevin far ahead.
Kevin’s first frat! A little piece of glass was the culprit.
Kevin in his chefs hat.
Headed into Bolivia, it’s just around this corner!
On the summit! Thanks John for the photo!
There was a whole lot of salt due to the mineral deposits throughout this region.
The end of the paved road, it was a nice break from the washboard!
Coming into the summit! Once you are on this ridge, you know you will make it up.
My four dollar Chilean cowboy hat has been a savior out here! The sun reflected off the salt and burned any exposed skin.
Riding through a small altiplano village.
Making dinner with friends is definitely more fun.
The mountains certainly made us feel small.
Only one dollar for this delicious street meal of potatoes, rice, and meat!
Nothing like a nicely paved road through the mountains! Chile 2015.
Kevin’s last Patagonian catch, 2015.
Catching a trout.
Need a tent anyone?
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.
There was wonderful camping almost every night on the Carretera Austral, Patagonia 2015.
Cycling into Torres del Paines, Patagonia.
Reading in a tunnel when the wind got too strong. Patagonia, 2015.
Enjoying the mountains with friends, Patagonia 2015.
Crossing a rickety bridge to find a field to camp in, Chile, 2015
Kevin celebrated his 27th birds this week!
Definitely one of our best camping spots! Especially since the fishing was great. Patagonia, 2015.
Tough riding! It took us nearly all day to cover 40km.
We got snowed on during one of our climbs which made the world even more beautiful!
The lakes in Patagonia were simply stunning, 2015.
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.
Me and the two french couples.
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.
Team work! Patagonia 2015.
We got dust thrown on us during the first 100km as cars (tourist jeeps) past. Thankfully after that we were all alone!
Eating breakfast on the playground.
Finally a cycling photo of both of us!
Cycling through the sheep.
No hands!
Headed into the peaks, 2015.
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.
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.
Home sweet home for the night.
We finished Patagonia with Tim and Jordi, two friends from Idaho who we keep leap frogging every few weeks.
Caught my first trout on a fly!
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!
Kevin crossing a half frozen stream barefoot as its snowing. Miserable!
Kevin’s boot wanted to stay in Argentina so it jumped ship! Patagonia, 2015
Kevin being cute, Argentina 2015.
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.
Eating lunch outside the store, a common picnic spot for us now.
I apparently stopped for one too many photos cause my bike hitched a ride with someone else…
Beautiful mountains equals one happy girl!
Cycling through the sheep… again.
Sleeping in a field of quinoa.
Pushing through the rain and fog, hence the blurry photo.
We really enjoyed the few shepherds we met along the way.
Talk about a beautiful valley, Ushuaia, Patagonia.
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.
Cycling the Pan American, Chile 2015.
Another lake along the route.
You can see Kevin to the left, a tiny blob cycling in a vast landscape.
Cycling through the mud.
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.
Us, our bikes, and our home! Salt flats, May 2015.
These little bags (the piece of cloth is always this color) is what all of the women wear here.
Cycling through a stream, great way to cool down!
A bike packed full of food, some mountains, and a boy equals one happy girl! Torres del Paines, 2015.
Hiking in Torres Del Paines.
A cyclists nightmare; tunnels.
Fly fishing in Patagonia, Kevin has already dreamed of this, 2015.
Two Oregonian cyclists!
Beautiful camping!
Hiking into the park, Patnagonia 2015.
Happy to have exchanged my bike for a backpack for the weekend!
Yoga in the mountains with friends, Argentina Patagonia.
One of Kevin’s many fish, Patagonia 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.
Beautiful sunset in solitude.
Facemasks ready for the wind and dust!
Kevin and I outside of San Martin.
Swimming in a sea of sheep.
Setting off at sunrise to enjoy the whole day.
Contemplating the ride.
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 