I guess I don't have a strong sense of adventure

14 years ago

Since Moni's cross-country trip, I've enjoyed reading the travel journals on Crazy Guy On A Bike (where Moni kept her journal). I've followed many journals of adults travelling by bike throughout the world and at some point I started coming across journals that involved children travelling.

Sometimes I am just shocked. I just read a journal from a couple that took their 7-month old through South Vietnam, going through some very primitive and remote regions, sometimes staying in cockroach and vermin infested accomodations, towing the baby through crazy traffic, allowing the locals to handle the baby freely, accepting rides from strangers,etc.

Another family went across the US with a 12, 10, 8 and 7 year old and the mother said upfront they would stop the tour if they had to due to the kids not being able to handle it. Well the 12 year old developed breathing and fatigue problems and they kept going and going until finally total strangers who were reading the journal offered to help. The strangers drove 8 hours each way to drop the girl off with her grandparents (who were the family's ultimate destination) halfway between Michigan and NY. Thank God - I felt like slapping that mother every day she made that girl get on the bike again.

There is another family that sold everything they own and they bike around the world with two boys, 13 and 11. I've been following them through Mexico, Peru, Brazil, etc. It's fascinating but it scares me so much. I can't imagine having the guts to travel in remote regions with my children like that, or worse, along busy foreign rodes.

I certainly see the value in giving these children a sense of adventure, showing them how the rest of the world lives, etc. but I could just never do it myself.

Is this something you wish you had done or something you'd like to do with your young children?

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Comments (16)

vannie
14 years ago
Sure! In the comfort of a really plush RV.
debo_2006
14 years ago
Interesting post. I will certainly check out that "travel" website as it interests me to read about other people's adventures as well.

I'm an adventureous person and would consider traveling to that extent if time, money, and no restrictive obligations allowed, however, I don't feel I'd do it with children (if I had any) until they were old enough to appreciate the experiences and learn from their travels -- say 14 and older (based on their maturity level, of course). I'd probably have them keep a fun journal of their travels with photos as well so they always have those memories, not only in their head, but on paper to appreciate even more as they grown older.
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Marilyn Sue McClintock
14 years ago
If I were young, I would love to have traveled the country by horseback.

Sue
socks
14 years ago
Me too, Marilyn! Let's go!
wildchild
14 years ago
I love adventure but some of those examples sound more like self-centered "all about me" people who put parental responsibility far down on their list of what is important.

My take is that good parents adventure with their children at the age appropriate level of the child. They don't drag the child into activities that they themselves want to do under the guise of it's for the "family". It's not for the kids at all. It's selfishness.
kathy_
14 years ago
Yup I agree it is selfish when a kid is hurting and they keep on going.
But....I wish I would have been able to have travel adventures when I was a kid. Williams Grove and Hershey Parks were about as far as we got.
Look how many kids are being raised by video games. Better to see how the world really is.
OklaMoni
14 years ago
Paula, actually some of my earliest biking trips were with my daughter. :)

But, she was an adult, when we did the mother daughter trip she planned. All across Texas, from Corpus Christi Texas to Broken Bow Oklahoma.

It was one of the best mother daughter trips we did. I still have another one I should post, and will one of these days, when I have nothing better to do.

I wasn't as brave, when my girls were little, besides, we hadn't been bitten by the cycling bug yet.

Here's the trip I just talked about.

Here is a link that might be useful: ride across Texas
ronf_gw
14 years ago
What an interesting topic! I've always been up to a good adventure and wouldn't let having kids stop that. You just have to know their limits.
I've never biked for more than an afternoon. But, when the kids were little and I was living in New Mexico we'd go on some lengthy day hikes. You need to know what the kids' limitations are and respect those, and at the same time encourage them to stretch to the limits. I remember a hike we went on to an extremely remote canyon in the desert. We drove as far as possible then parked the truck for what was going to be about a six mile 'round trip hike. The kids were 2, 4, 7, and 9. The 2 year old was in a backpack. They did great on the way in because it was downhill and there was a river at the end. (Water is always a great incentive) For us parents there were some incredible native american petroglyphs in this canyon that were practically unknown. The return trip pushed the kids to their limits but with rest stops and encouragement they made it.
We also made some trips into old Mexico when the kids were small. Anytime you're in Mexico and away from the tourist traps it's an adventure! The stories I could tell.

Ron
OklaMoni
14 years ago
Ron, can you tell me, where that hiking possibility is? I am in NM quite often.

Moni
adellabedella_usa
14 years ago
Moni, don't you go to Albuquerque?

Here's a couple of places I would recommend checking out if you get the chance. We've done the smaller hikes that you can do with kids. You might enjoy some of the longer distances.

Kasha Katuwe tent rocks. http://www.explorenm.com/hikes/TentRocks/ It's beautiful. Just remember bring plenty of water.

El Mal Pais: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/rio_puerco/el_malpais.html El Morro and Inscription Rock is also in this area. http://www.nps.gov/elmo/index.htm
ronf_gw
14 years ago
You have mail, Moni.

Ron
msmarion
14 years ago
I'd love to do it on a motorcyle. My knees have never allowed me to do much bicycle riding.
Several of us "girls" a planning a trip to Key West in March. I've been waiting a while to ride my bike across seven mile bridge, so I can stop an watch the dolphins. The guys just never want to stop.
patti43
14 years ago
Nope, no sense of adventure. I lost what I had the day I gave birth. Sometimes "adventure" means uncomfortable and I'm just not into it ;-)
linda_in_iowa
14 years ago
I love going on adventures. I inherited that from my mom. DS inherited it from me and his dad.
drewsmaga
14 years ago
Last July, DS & DDIL took their 11 yo. old son, 8 yo. daughter & 6 yo. twins (boy & girl) on a 23 day 4900 mile car trip to 11 National Parks. The did a book of photos for me for Christmas and added the highlights:
47 miles hiked, 22 miles rafted
12 miles by mountain bike (5 miles uphill)
9 miles by horesback, 5 miles by stagecoach
9 nights camping
Temps. ranging from 36 to 107 degrees
17 shooting stars, 6 twisted anles, 1 tennis elbow (from chopping firewood with a dull axe)
2 tubes of Neosporin, 1 tube of Biofreeze
Over 1400 pictures and a lifetime of wonderful memories!
joyfulguy
14 years ago
At the time of Canada's hundredth anniversay in 1967, our son was about 5-1/2 and daughter about 2-1/2 and Sue and I went with MIL to Montreal to share in the great experience: I'd have loved to have taken our children, had they been a bit older and could have appreciated it. But that was more of an experience than an adventure.

I've encouraged our children to have a wide-ranging, adventurous spirit and to be curious about this wonderful world in which we live.

Daughter went on an exchange scholarship to Germany near the end of High School, and enjoyed it ... including travelling to various parts of Europe and to North Africa.

When they were about 10 and 7 they drove with me from southern Ontario to Thunder Bay, at the north end of Lake Superior, then flew back home alone while I travelled to the Prairies.

As I consider this, I regret that I did not take them on more venturesome activities - but they have been involved in such things, on their own.

Folks who lack a venturesome spirit ...

... miss out on a lot of interesting, challenging and memorable experiences in life.

Broaden your horizons, folks ... you'll find when you go to various parts of the world, including rather primitive places, that folks are friendly ... and generous. Many who have little have a less acquisitive - and more friendly - spirit.

ole joyful.

I guess I don't have a strong sense of adventure

Comments (16)

vannie

debo_2006

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