An intimate gathering of family, friends and supporters met last night on the second floor of Slainte here in Hamilton. When I arrived at the pub last evening, I saw Heidi just about to lug the child trailer up the stairs. I grabbed the back end of the trailer and accompanied her up the stairs. That was our first in-person meeting. Only a handful of people were already present while Reuben and Heidi Vanderkwaak were busy positioning their loaded bikes and trailer (minus the kids) by the stage.
I first met Reuben via a comment on one of my personal blogs.
congrats on moving into car-freedom!
our family plans to go this route soon (we'll actually be selling our car - also an echo - this spring).
I had just lost my job and, following up on a long-nurtured dream of reducing my carbon footprint and learning to live at a more human pace, I had posted about our plans to get rid of our one family car and transition to car-free status, relying on our bikes, our feet, and public transportation to get around. While changing circumstances haven't allowed us to make the transition yet, the Vanderkwaaks managed to transition and our now embarking on this exciting adventure. One reads about these stories elsewhere, but for a Hamilton family to embark on this sort of thing is even more exciting!
People sat or stood around in little groups, catching up or exchanging stories, while I made my way around to listen in and snap some photographs. Reuben, surrounded by a small group of young men engaged in discussion of cycling and travel, shared stories and past experiences on the road -- the physical challenges and exhiliration; the sense of freedom and adventure, surrounded by nature and camping in the wild or at campgrounds; and the friendliness and helpfulness of strangers as they invited them into their houses, offered them breakfast and exchanged stories. There is a great appeal in both the sense of adventure and communing with nature, as also in the communing with fellow travelers and strangers. It was captivating.
The ideas and ideals behind Heidi and Reuben's adventure are simple and admirable. It is for them an "exercise in adventurous simple living," about "strengthening relationships through compassionate giving," and "living in the now." While their inspiration, and model, is derived from Christianity, and the ideals also sound very Buddhist, there is a growing movement, quite apart from religious motivations and ideals, of seeking to simplify our lives and slowing down to live in the now, of living at a more human pace and peeling back the layers of abstraction in our lives that keep us from being in touch with nature and one another, and of seeking a more connected, compassionate, genuine way of being. And much of that, despite the adventure they are about to embark on, also involves strengthening local communities and economies.
While Reuben is the acknowledged adventurer, having long nurtured a dream of this kind of epic cross-country tour, Heidi's enthusiasm, while certainly evident, seemed a little more subdued. While both have collaborated on DIY solutions, such as the wonderful sun shield and rain cover for the kids on the back of the Xtracycle, made out of PEX plumbing tubes, poly fittings, velcro and silnylon fabric, Heidi is the self-proclaimed re-user and up-cycler. She also has cooking, preserving, meal preparation and sewing skills -- she sewed the fabric covers for the Xtracycle weather shield. And though I didn't have much time to chat with Heidi, it seems this adventure is as much about the living of her ideals -- simple, sustainable living, eating locally, and acting on social justice issues -- than the physical adventures.
As for their kids, Eden and Harper, whom I did not get a chance to meet in person yet, this adventure will likely be a formative life experience and promises to be a wonderful educational experience. They will get to spend so much time in nature and with their parents. The experiences of the children of other families who have undertaken similar trips testifies to the amazing educational potential -- education in simple living, geography, planning, forming relationships, language, culture, etc. While there will be challenges along the way with young children in tow, especially for Reuben and Heidi, the educational opportunities of such an adventure are much greater than any daycare or classroom could ever provide.
I also had the opportunity to chat with Heidi's sister and brother-in-law who were there to support them, and to her mom, a long-time school teacher. While supportive, mom wasn't as excited. While there are obviously worries about the challenges of the open road for such a long time, she also said she was so used to seeing her grandchildren regularly, something that will obviously not be possible now. But there will be the blog to follow them in their journey through regular updates, as well as Spot satellite GPS technology that will track them wherever they go. And with family scattered across parts of Canada and the US, the Vanderkwaaks will be able to make some stops along the way to visit. And mom says the family will meet up in the US in a few months, close to where she went to school.
While about 25-30 people were present at the Pedal Powered Family Kick-Off Party last night at Slainte, I'm sure more are following along on their website, Pedal Powered Family, their facebook page, and twitter @pedalpoweredfam. There is another opportunity to show your support in person and on your bike via the Pedal Powered Family Farewell & Send-Off May 21st, 0830-0930. Roll along with them the first few kilometres. And of course you can adventure with them vicariously via all the links above.
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