Two years ago, my daughter Genevieve (then 8 years old) remarked, “We are not a normal family.” I paused, waiting to hear what was next. She laughed and said, “We’re a traveling family!” Yes, we are!
I have always had “itchy feet”—a desire to wander to new places. Four years ago, my husband Ben and I decided to make traveling a priority for our family. First, we wanted our children to experience different cultures and to see the great beauty that exists in the world. While I am intrigued by stories in which families pack their suitcases and spend a year or more traveling around the world, we decided that the best “fit” for our family, at least for now, would be to do a slower round-the-world trip, one journey at a time. Our goal is to take at least one international trip with the children each year to a different part of the world. Second, we wanted to balance our family travels with our motorcycling adventures--Ben and I both share a passion for dirt bikes. In addition to riding many miles of trails in California and Baja, each year we explore the nooks and crannies of a different country for two weeks on motorcycles without the kids. Third, to fully appreciate the magnificence and diversity of this great country we live in, we purchased an RV that has provided us with many wonderful memories on extended travels throughout the United States.
We get so much pleasure from our journeys, and we have gained a deeper understanding of ourselves and our connections to other people and other things on this earth. Last year, we spent a total of three and a half months traveling, and this year we will be on the road for almost three months—lots of new and exciting places and activities, with plenty of space in between to savor (and emotionally process) all of the sights and special moments.
Below are our journeys, listed chronologically from the most recent one. The BLUE titles have indepth photo-stories covering our daily activities and discoveries. We would love to hear from you if you have any comments or questions!
| 2010 Journeys |
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Route 66 Through the Southwest U.S.
We spent two weeks meandering along Route 66 from Santa Monica, California to Gallup, New Mexico. We also ventured off the Mother Road to visit many scenic wonders, and rang in the New Year by traversing the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West.
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| 2009 Journeys |
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Peru
In mid-September through early October, Ben and I traveled to Machu Picchu and then rode dirt bikes throughout northern Peru, in the high Andes Mountains and parts of the Amazon jungle.
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Across the United States
During the summer, our family ventured on a two-month, cross-country RV trip to experience the wonders of the United States. Our round-trip route stretched from California to the North Carolina Outer Banks, with many exciting places and activities in between.
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Mexico
In April, our family spent 18 days exploring some of the communities in the colorful state of Oaxaca, as well as Mexico City and the peaceful villages surrounding Lake Patzcuaro.
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Southern California/Death Valley
We celebrated the New Year with a two-week RV trip to Los Angeles, San Diego, and the amazing Death Valley.
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2008 Journeys |
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Bhutan and Northeastern India
In November, Ben and I spent two glorious weeks riding motorcycles along the twisty roads of the Southern Himalayas.
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Pacific Northwest
In August, we ended the summer holidays with a two-week RV trip through Oregon, Washington State, and Vancouver.
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Grand Canyon/Southwest
In June, we took an RV road trip to see the wonders of the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, Bryce Canyon, and Las Vegas.
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Baja, Mexico
In May, Ben and I rode our dirt bikes over some incredible trails through the high desert mountains along the Pacific Coast.
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Portugal
In March/April, our family traveled through Portugal for 16 days, exploring castles, winding our way to the central mountains near the Spanish border, and soaking in the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea.
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2007 Journeys |
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Bolivia
In November/December, Ben and I rode motorcycles 2200 miles through the high altiplano and the jungle areas of Bolivia, including the “Death Road.”
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Baja, Mexico
In May, Ben and I rode our dirt bikes through a challenging series of trails over the mountains from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean, including the single track called the “Rockman Trail”.
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Spain
Our family spent two magical weeks in Madrid and the heavenly region of Andalusia.
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