A night in Parc Yamaska: A practice run (PART 2)

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENT

Nemo Losi 3 person tent
Believe it or not, we were able to comfortably sleep four people in a three person tent. Instead of placing our four bedrolls parallel to the length of the tent (which wouldn't have worked), we set them up perpendicularly to it. What this did was cover the entire floor with our bedrolls, except for the space below Charlotte's bedroll. She had a three quarter length pad. In this space we kept our handlebar bags which carried our most valuable items. This was one of my concerns, regarding equipment, and whether I had made the right decision by going with a tent of this size. In fact, when I set it up in the living room, last Christmas, and again in late spring (the latter being outside), I had placed the bedrolls parallel to the tent walls and placed Charlotte's pad by our feet. It wasn't until the tent was set up at the campsite, and while Julie was setting up the sleeping positions that I realized that the positioning could be placed differently. What a relief! Kudos to Julie who didn't even think twice about setting up the bedrolls this way, in fact, she didn't know I was concerned about it.

EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW

GSI Outdoors French Press

Another one of our newly purchased items that proved its worth. In my opinion a must have item if you like to have fresh coffee while camping. It’s lightweight, BPA free, and easy to clean. Julie and I love coffee and on previous trips we were never able to make two cups at the same time. All that has changed now.

A HELPING HAND

Water

Leo and Charlotte were the first ones out of the tent this morning. When I crawled out of the tent, I saw Leo and Charlotte sitting quietly on the picnic table. I’m not sure what was going on in their minds, though I knew what I had to do; coffee!

Leo was excited to fill up the water bottle (probably should have filled up the pot instead, hmmmm) and jumped at the chance to ‘lend a hand’.

Breakfast was fast and easy: oatmeal. Since we forgot to bring bowls, we all ate out of the pot. Who can complain when you only have one pot to clean? In the future, this task will assuredly be one that no one will want to do.

As we packed up, and put our gear back in our bags, Charlotte got an early start. She collected a bunch of sticks, that would eventually find their way rubbing up against my rear tire and the occasional spoke, and sat down in the Chariot.

TAKING BREAKS

Sports and massage, Chez Les Ouellet

We backtracked to the park’s welcome center where we stopped to fill up our water and use the bathroom before heading out onto our first and last stretch of paved road. Yesterday, it made me laugh to hear Leo, at age six, talk about longing to bike on roads that were smooth and flat. “Get ready son!” I told him in my best Foghorn Leghorn impersonation.

Along for the ride was Leo’s soccer ball, a size (two) for those of you who know the difference between professional (5) and others. The Jabulani came out whenever we stopped to apply sunscreen, consult nature, or snack. On this particular occasion we were taking shots at Julie, our willing and devoted goalie. On the bright side, she received a massage from our masseuse 'in training'.

About 15 km from home we stopped at Leo’s school mate’s house which butts up to the bicycle trail (route verte). We didn’t stay long, just enough time to eat an ice pop, check out their remodeling project, and let Leo and Charlotte run around. One would think a six year old who had just pedaled 10 km would be tired; no way. For the next twenty minutes we played soccer. And we had to win by two!

STARING OFF INTO THE FUTURE

The last 15 km home

From the time we left the campsite until we reached Chez Alexandre, Leo had been attached to Julie's bike, then detached, attached again, and now he wanted to be detached again. The process of attaching and detaching the bike isn’t a tedious one, although under certain circumstances, such as, being eaten by bugs, in a downpour, alongside a busy highway, etc. it isn't too appealing either. But for now, initiated by Leo, it was perfect. A stretch of paved road, uphill all the way to Waterloo lay ahead. Leo took off with moxie. He spent most of the time ahead of us, turning around from time to time. With each recognition that we were gaining on him, he would get out of his seat and peddle faster. Charlotte fell asleep in the late spring sun soaked afternoon.

REFLECTIONS

Team effort

We knew that this was a practice run for the month long summer trip and so, we weren't expecting an all out "what can I do next to help the team' approach from our kids. And let's not forget, they're six and four. What we did notice though, was an willingness to participate. A curiosity towards new tasks: setting up and taking down the tent, getting water, finding a good spot to put the tent, etc. In time, these tasks will become routine, and we'll approach them one day at a time.

Rhythm

Leo, either rode in front of us or in between. I never rode ahead, being too heavy and all. We're definitely in the 10km/hr (6mph) range which is fine for us. We'll see how this develops over time. Leo and I were the only ones with a bell and we played 'call and response' type games while pedaling. In the next week or so, we'll add a bell for Julie and Charlotte.

TOTAL DISTANCE

                         

Leo:  40 km

Julie/Chris:  60 km