I'm impressed at the distances those kids rode! And your exceptional grandparenting! Well done!

What a wonderful thing for the kids, and they were amazing! Just imagine them on the Rhine or the Mosel or the Loire or, or...so many kid friendly choices. They could sleep in a castle, hoover the pastries and it would be so much fun. I think it is a grand idea. Pun intended.

The only ride we did with our boys was the Galloping Goose out to the Sooke Potholes...twice (other than riding in from Swartz Bay to Victoria to visit relatives, a family tradition). They complained a bit about being bored on the ride the first time (ages 10 and 12), but the second time was their idea.

I’m very impressed about how well Avi and Violet did! Kudos to you. And kudos to both of you for doing this trip with them. I agree with you that it isn’t a ride for kids but you all did great! I think Cycling the Danube is a much better choice.

I enjoyed your blog as always...the grands certainly did a great job! I will continue to look forward to your adventures😊 Love my Latch...enjoyed a tour of the trails in MN earlier in the summer. All the best. ardell

The perils of ferry food:

Last year my wife and I bike the Aland Islands between Sweden and Finland. On the second day we had to take two long ferry rides to go from Korpo on the Finland side to Lumparland on the Islands. The first ferry ride was immediately after a huge breakfast at the inn we stayed at, so even though the food looked like what you show above on BC Ferries, we decided to wait to eat on the second ferry - which only had vending machines for "food"!

I should have paid more attention to the more experience ferry riders who were bringing pizza on board from the shop right next to the ferry terminal...

It looks like baby donkeys are born with full-size ears. How cute!

Through fields of hops for Oregon craft beer! Though I know you don't care about that.

Buying syrup is another time one needs reading glasses in the store.

While the Maple Guild and Crown ones are flavoured maple syrup (why change that fabulous flavour?), the Magic ones are "flavored monk fruit syrup" which made me look up monk fruit. It's the fruit of a herbaceous perennial vine grown in China whose extract is used as a sweetener.

I gave my younger son my gloves after just such an experience on the Galloping Goose when he was 10. We took our boys backpacking later that same month and he should have been wearing them then, too.

Very impressive riding without the assist to Newberg. It may be mostly flat but I know of at least one steep climb.

Epic photo!

This must have been an epic trip highlight! Would have been for me, although I admit the peaches would be stiff competition.

Yes, some of the hills were indeed pesky. Avi just went up them, but Violet frequently jumped off her bike and walked, before trying again. She has this amazingly fast and fluid motion for jumping off. So frequently I would find myself jamming on the brakes. Since my gears are derailleur, this would leave me in too high a gear as I restarted on the hill. On the final night, we failed to plug in my battery properly, leaving me riding unassisted. Even pedaling as a result a 90 pound (with load) 9 speed only bike was not so tough - because most of the route is fairly flat.

Thanks Kathleen! We some how did not predict that the distances would be so long, despite the excellent route website and having the gpx for it. So it was great that the kids just ate up the kms.