Touring with a Toddler

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SANDY GREIG CHANGE MY DIAPER OUTSIDE TOURING WITH A TODDLER ilvio: Latin, meaning “belonging to the forest.” Silvio, National Park and day-hiked on the Appalachian Trail. His our son, was not conceived in the forest, but he first words were “dirt” and “bike.” spent his first couple of days there as a zygote — the At this point, you might be wondering, what does this White Mountains, to be exact. We found out my have to do with cycling? Well, we were just buying time partner Amy was pregnant on our way to a six-day until he reached his first birthday — when he could finally backpacking trip to the Appalachian Trail in New wear a helmet! Diane Lees, from Hubbub Custom Bicycles SHampshire. We lasted about three days before we decided in Chesterland, Ohio, said we had to wait until then before we had spent too much money trying to get pregnant to risk he could be pulled in a bike trailer. After some extensive it hiking in the rain and sleeping on cold dirt. We ended our research, we decided on the Thule Chariot Cougar 2. We trip early. Jake, the dog, could not have been happier. With bought the double in hopes that Silvio would have a brother no Internet and a couple of AAA guidebooks, we ended up in or sister. It didn’t turn out that way, and we are blessed with Jasper, Maine, and day-hiked Acacia National Park. Silvio, the one outstanding son, who is quite happy that he can bring all zygote, would be happy here for the week. And so his life in his books, stuffed animals, and pillows on rides. the forest began. Before Silvio could walk, crawl, or even sit up on his own, Pre-Child, Pre-Touring we were day-hiking with him in the Smoky Mountains. He Before Silvio, Amy and I completed a two-day bike trip was five weeks old. I carried him in our Baby Bjorn, and we around the Finger Lakes in New York. We rode 60 miles each changed his diaper on the trail. Amy nursed on the trail. At day and learned two things after that trip. First, even though 10 weeks, he was sleeping in a tent in the Allegheny National lakes are flat, the area around lakes is not. Second, apples are Forest. At five months, we spent a week in Shenandoah heavy, eat them first. We really enjoyed this tour and knew it was the perfect activity for the two of there? If so, where is the closest grocery Ohio. Two trips involved camping, for us. Because neither one of us wanted to store? Is it on the way, or can one of us the others we stayed in hotels, B&Bs, give up our passions when we became go alone? If yes, now we need locks. cabins, or hostels. parents, we knew the perfect way to Once you’ve answered all those In some cases, we rode one way and take a family trip would be multi-day questions, plus a couple dozen more, you used a shuttle service to transport our van bike touring. can finally start working on The List. to the end of the trip. But, over time, we settled on out-and-back trips. It’s easier, What to Know What to Bring cheaper, and our van was always within In order to have an enjoyable trip, I think the most important part of 35 to 40 miles — comforting to know we needed to be self-sufficient on a any trip is the packing list, or as I like when cycling with a toddler. tour. I had to be able to fix just about to call it, The List. Ours was a bit more Most of our trips were in late spring anything that could go wrong on our complex than most: diapers, wipes, toys, or early fall. The weather can be iffy at bikes. So I purchased a nice Gunnar books — you get the picture. Depending these times, but riding in 85-plus degrees frame with the goal of building Amy on the type of tour, we might need isn’t great with small kids. Crabbiness is a touring bike and, at the same time, camping equipment. Thankfully, the never fun on a multi-day tour. It should learning about bikes. With the guidance Internet really has everything. We found be noted that the person who cries the of my favorite bike-shop mechanics, plenty of lists for bike touring. Between most gets the most attention. Because the Park Tool Blue Book and YouTube, The Camping List, The Touring List, that person is always Silvio, I’ve realized I created a wonderful touring bike for and Silvio’s List, we compiled a very that if I’m crabby and I’m going to cry, it’s Amy — flat bar, steel frame, mountain- comprehensive document. The List is a best to just cry in the rain. Then no one bike gearing and 38mm tires. I am in no work-in-process, because there’s always will know. way an expert on bikes, but I felt pretty the list in addition to The List with all the Even though we plan our trips to confident in my abilities. It shifted, it new stuff not on the previous tour’s list. the “nth degree,” preparing for almost stopped, it steered left or right, and it Besides the bikes (which are on The every mechanical issue and using The would survive. List!), The List is the most important List that is four or five pages long, item. It’s the first thing you start after we are never quite ready. We learn Where to Go planning the trip and before asking from each trip. Sometimes the lessons The second important aspect of any “have you seen all the cats?” it’s the last are really hard and hit you right in self-guided/self-supported tour is the thing you check before you actually the heart. They’re about family and actual planning of the trip. Because we start the trip. disappointment. And sometimes the are pulling precious cargo, we ride only lessons are as easy as packing batteries on routes with no traffic, basically Rail Our Tours for the iPod charger. It’s important to Trails. This is good because we can ride Over the past two-and-a-half years, learn from each trip: it makes the next two abreast without getting honked at we’ve completed five separate multi- one all the better. although the towns along the trails can day trips. They ranged from two to be few and far between. This can make five days and were all within an eight- Our First Tour touring with a toddler a bit inflexible at hour drive of our home in northeast For our first tour, we decided on times. the C&O Canal from Cumberland, We have to know where water stops Maryland, to Washington, DC. The are located or take extra water. We route is 184 miles long. I felt it would either have to buy milk or carry it, be best for our safety, for additional which now means we need a cooler. help with Silvio, and for overall morale Because kids can be finicky with food, if we took Amy’s father, Peri, and her we need to know where all the closest brother, Chris, with us. Let’s bring some restaurants are located. Silvio loves all guys with us, I thought. I wanted to feel types of food, but sometimes the closest safer, plus they can carry the heavier food is tavern/bar-type food or fast gear. food. We have to research what food We trained for three months. Both options will be available locally. We also Peri and Chris purchased new hybrid don’t have the luxury of riding around bikes. We decided on five days riding looking for a nice place so we have to an average of 35 to 40 miles a day: two make good choices about where we nights of camping on the trail, a night spend the night. at Harpers Ferry Hostel, and a night Other things to locate are bike shops, at a hotel. On the final day, we planned ice-cream shops, playgrounds, and to spend some time in DC, visiting hospitals/clinics. Plus, do they have museums, walking off all the leg cramps, secure parking for our bikes and the and seeing the sights. That was the plan. trailer where we are staying? Do they As it turned out, our pace was too have laundry service? Can we cook slow for Chris. He was out of sight 80 Top left: Some light reading while waiting for breakfast in the Allegheny National Forest. Bottom left: Taking a break creekside in Shenandoah National Park. Right: Dinnertime on the C&O Canal Trail, applesauce and pears again. percent of the time. Peri really struggled would usually ride right past us, further behind us, then would ride back up in with the weight on his bike. As a result, frustrating both of us. front of us again. We could barely make his pace was much slower than ours. After three days of yo-yoing with it up once and he was doing circles What I wanted was a great trip spent as a Chris, waiting for Peri, and nursing a around us. Besides the fact that this was family enjoying the outdoors with Silvio. “why did we invite them?” attitude, the driving me crazy, his erratic riding was Sadly, I realized that everyone else had entire trip turned very ugly.

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