Back Issue | Escaping the Everyday Routine
The driveway has just been nicely paved, the diaperwagon is in the garage, and son and heir has arrived; now it’s all over. The once active and adventure-hungry young couple turn into über-careful old farts who spend evenings in front of the TV and weekends visiting granny and grandpa.
Yes, you can keep them quiet and occupied with the TV, smartphone, and video games, if that’s what you want. But a child’s inquisitiveness almost demands that you go for little adventures and explorations into the great outdoors — the big, wide world needs to be felt, smelt, and tasted.
The best way: a bike holiday with the kids! We set off into the wilds with Karen, Holger, and their kids Leni (8) and Luis (5).
Weekend adventure, here we come!
Friday afternoon, 17:00 hrs. The weekly dose of office work is done, so the weekend can start. We load up the old VW T3 bus with the essentials for the coming night out. The motors starts with a rattle, and we set off towards freedom. A relaxing holiday atmosphere spreads out over the rear seat of the 30-year-old camper van.
We’ve only just arrived at the river Isar, and Leni & Luis set off to the riverbank, building stone castles whilst Holger & Karen get dinner and the BBQ ready. The mistakenly bought tofu sausages are the only thing that doesn’t really fit in with our open-air world. The balmy summer evening passes by around the campfire directly by the river. Leni proudly plays a few chords on her dad’s Hawaiian ukulele whilst he watches on spellbound. “Around the fire it felt like the wild West. That was super cool!“ Luis explains the next morning as he climbs out of the rooftop camper van bunk, rubbing his eyes.
A fresh, black coffee and tasty muesli are the perfect start to the day. Then it’s shoelaces tied, helmets buckled, and off like a shot. It’s not the lust for speed, but the enthusiasm of the kids for just being out on their bikes that makes every meter worthwhile.
To start with we pedal along stress-free through the little mountain village of Wallgau, stopping at a fountain to top up our water supplies. Nothing refreshes on a hot day better than a face full of cold mountain water. The tarmac road soon turns into a forest track and we start to tackle the climb.
The seven gears on Luis’s Tout Terrain Streamliner+ are not quite enough on the steep gradient and so Holger has to help on the climb. With a hand on Luis’s back, he gently helps push him up the trail.
On trips like this, the most important thing is keeping the kids motivated. A sufficient number of breaks, a short overall ride, and an interesting destination are important. In our case the destination is a waterfall which we reach along a little trail just after our second food break. On the first section of the proper trail Holger walks alongside Luis, but he can already tackle small root sections.
Visibly tired but with a big grin on his face, we soon reach the falls. After a quick water fight everyone climbs back on the bikes and we set off back towards the van (of course not without the obligatory stop at the ice cream parlour where we enjoy the finest Galati and apple strudel). A fine end to the day
A few days later their sparkling eyes still light up as they recount the exploits of our little holiday. So you can see, there’s truly nothing better than an adventure together with mum and dad. Everything done right! Real life is always more exciting than a game console….
Everything you need for a good trip…
VW T3 Camping bus – The timeless, angular form of the 30 year old Vw T3 bus has become a classic these days. With a pop-up roof and integrated camping kitchen, it’s the perfect companion for weekend trips or longer holidays. Price: from approx. €5 000
Lupine Piko 4 – Use it on a helmet, as a head torch, on your bars, or just the old-fashioned way. The Lupine Piko 4 is available in many configurations. The low-weight, high output and exceptional quality construction make this a reliable partner for any journey. Price: €268
Coffee Machine – A daily dose of caffeine is an absolute essential for many people at the start of the day. To keep things authentic you should use a coffee percolator and a gas flame; then nothing stands between you and you open-air caffeine fix. Price: from €15
Exped SynMat Basic UL 7.5 M – Super compact, super light and super comfortable. The Exped SynMat air mattress turns a rocky ground into a four-poster bed. With six large, microfiber-filled air chambers, it also isolates you effectively from the cold. Price: 89.95 Weight: 405 g More Info: www.exped.com
Tout Terrain Streamliner – This bike can start off life as a tag-along behind an adult bike. Thanks to a rebuild kit, it can later serve as a perfect starter bike for first trail explorations. With 85/160mm of suspension travel, it offers maximum trail fun for kids. Price: from €1 199 Weight: 8.5 kg (as a trailer) 11 kg (as a bike) More Info: www.toutterrain.de
Fiskars XtractTM – This handsaw is ideal for sawing campfire wood or clearing overgrown trails. It is light and fits in almost every rucksack so you can always have it along for the ride. Price: €27.95 Weight: 130 g More Info: www.fiskars.com
Campfire – An adventure holiday needs a campfire to reach perfection. Cooking, drying, or just warming cold bodies, there’s no situation where it won’t make things better. Price: Free almost everywhere with suitable firewood.
Words and Photos: Christoph Bayer