Biking with little kids

Yesterday was a treasure of a day

So many beautiful memories made

We hung out, drank coffee, cooked, ate, biked, wrestled on the living room floor, and laughed

It was a treasure of a day.

....................................................................................................

Two kids and two adults,

Two on bikes and two in a bike trailer.

We rode on sidewalks, neighborhood roads and local bike paths.

All along the way, the kids screamed and giggled,

Over a bump, they'd say "Bump, Bump!"

Down a hill, they'd howl with joy as the wind ruffled their hair.

But their favorite of all was going through the tunnels.

It is then that their euphoria reached its peak.

It is then that we all joined in a chorus, screaming and shouting;

Giving voice to the wind, speed and wonder of the BICYCLE.

Two adults and two kids,

The joy, camaraderie and love exchanged,

All because we went on a BIKE RIDE.

Following are bits and pieces of a conversation my youngest niece and I had during this bike ride. We speak Serbian, so that's why I included that version before translating it into English.

1. "Dobar ti je ovaj sport, Tamara." / "This is a good sport, Tamara." - my niece
2. "A jel ti ides svuda sa ovim biciklom?" / "Do you go everywhere with this bicycle?" - my niece. "Da."/"Yes." - me. Tisina/Silence from my nience. :) 
3. "Tamara, moram da kazem Tati da je ovo brze od auta." / "Tamara, I have to tell dad that this is [biking] faster than the car." - my niece. "Pa da, to je zato sto osecas vetar po glavi." / "Well yes, that's because you feel the wind in your hair." - me. "Da, kao kad su svi prozori otvoreni u kolima." / "Yes, just like when all the windows are wide open in the car." - my niece. 

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE

"The future will belong to the nature-smart - those individuals, families, businesses, and political  leaders who develop a deeper understanding of the transformative power of the natural world and who balance the virtual with the real. The more high-tech we become, the more nature we need." - Richard Louv 

"Everyone is entitled to a home where the sun, the starts, open fields, giant trees, and smiling flowers are free to teach an undisturbed lesson of life." - the great Chicago landscape planner, Jens Jensen 

I just finished reading Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (2005). Despite the title, the insights presented in the book apply to all of us, children and adults alike. Louv uses research from various fields, such as neuroscience, ecology, biology, psychology, sociology, and urban planning, to explain the invaluable connection between our well-being and nature in all its complexity.

Someone recently asked me "What is one of the main points of the book that stuck with you?" This book does a great job of empowering the reader to do something to contribute to the creation of a more green, healthier and sustainable society for ourselves and future generations. It made me realize that over the last century, we, humans, have encouraged and developed a society that is separate from nature. Our schools, housing, businesses, and entertainment/leisure areas have been built as concrete jungles with little to no concern for access to nature. An important driver of this is the car industry that benefits from sprawl, disconnection, and the "busyness syndrome." While it may seem like there is no turning back, I'm even more optimistic about our capacity to live healthier and more sustainable lives as a result of reading this book. Why? Because the same way we created this concrete jungle society over the last century, we now have the knowledge and capacity to create a a different kind of lifestyle for ourselves - one that is in harmony with the natural world that sustains our spirits, minds and bodies. 

Because this book is a treasure trove of research and insights, here are some other illustrative quotes/excerpts from the book organized into the following topic areas:  

1. Nature-deficit disorder
2. Call to action
3. Benefits of nature
4. Local and urban development (solution and problem)

Source

NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER

• I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are. - a 4th-grader in San Diego (opening pages)

• Today's young people are, as we've seen, growing up in America's third frontier. This frontier has yet to completely form, but we do know the general characteristics. Among them: detachment from the source of food, the virtual disappearance of the farm family, the end of biological absolutes, an ambivalent new relationship between humans and other animals, new suburbs shrinking open space, and so on. In this time of quickening change, could we enable another frontier to be born - ahead of schedule? - page 230

CALL TO ACTION

• Those children and young people who now hunger to find a cause worth a lifetime commitment could become the architects and designers and political force of the fourth frontier, connecting their own children and future generations to nature - and delight. - page 280

• Passion does not arrive on videotape or on a CD;passion is personal. Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: child in nature. - page 158

• "This is what connects us, this is what connects humanity, this is what we have in common. It's not the Internet,  it's the oceans."  - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. page 198

• "We're part of nature, and ultimately we're predatory animals and we have a role in nature, and if we separate ourselves from that, we're separating ourselves from our history, from the things that tie us together." - Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. page 198

• We can conserve energy and tread more lightly on the Earth while we expand our culture's capacity for joy. - page 280

This excerpt from page 271 describes my partner's and my aspirations and mission during our lifetime: 

• A sane civilization "would have more parks and fewer shopping malls; more small farms and fewer agribusinesses; more prosperous small towns and smaller cities; more solar collectors and fewer strip mines; more  bicycle trails and fewer freeways; more trains and fewer cars more celebration and less hurry..." Utopia? No, says Orr. "We have tried utopia and can no longer afford it." He calls for a movement of "hundreds of thousands of young people equipped with the vision, moral stamina, and intellectual depth necessary to rebuild neighborhoods, towns, and communities around the planet. The kind of education presently available will not help much. They will need to be students of their places and competent to become, in Wes Jackson's words, 'native to their places.'" - page 271

BENEFITS OF NATURE

• To increase your child's safety, encourage more time outdoors, in nature. Natural play strengthens children's self-confidence and arouses their senses - their awareness of the world and all that moves in it, seen and unseen. - page 184

• Nature introduces children to the idea -- to the knowing -- that they are not alone in this world, and that realities and dimensions exist alongside their own. - page 290 

• A sense of wonder and joy in nature should be at the very center of ecological literacy. - page 221

• Quite simply, when we deny our children nature, we deny them beauty. - bottom of page 186

• ...the elements that have always united humankind: driving rain, hard wind, warm sun, forests deep and dark - and the awe and amazement that our Earth inspires, especially during our formative years. - page 224

• In our bones we need the natural curves of hills, the scent of chaparral, the whisper of pines, the possibility of wildness. We require these patches of nature for our mental health and our spiritual resilience. Future generations, regardless of whatever recreation or sport is in vogue, will need nature all the more. - page 256 

• ...to be spiritual is to be constantly amazed..."our goal should be to live life in radical amazement." - page 285-6

• "To trace the history of a river or a raindrop, as John Muir would have done, is also to trace the history of the soul, the history of the mind descending and arising in the body. In both, we constantly seek and stumble on divinity..." - Gretel Ehrlich (page 285)

• Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University...proposed seven different intelligences in children and adults, including linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, spatial intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, and intrapersonal intelligence. More recently, he added naturalist intelligence ("nature smart") to his list." - bottom of page 201

LOCAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

• "They paved paradise/ And put up a parking lot." - Joni Mitchell; Then they tore down the parking lot/And raised up a paradise. - page 264

The Solution

• We are no longer talking about retreating to rural communes, but, rather, about building technologically and ethically sophisticated human-scale population centers that, by their very design, reconnect both children and adults to nature. - page 270

• ...such settlements [new green towns], to be truly green, should be connected to employment centers by transportation mechanisms beyond just the automobile---eventually even beyond autos with hybrid engines. No single community design will suffice; numerous, simultaneous approaches will be required, including green-urban infill, green towns,  increased public transport options, and greater use  of telecommuting and teleconferencing. - page 279

• Future development should: 1) Conform to topography; 2) Use places for what they are naturally most fit; 3) Conserve, develop, and utilize all natural resources, aesthetic as well as commercial; 4) Aim to secure beauty by organic arrangements rather than by mere embellishment or adornment. - page 260

• Every school district in America should be associated with one or more wildlife-and-childhood preserves in the region. - page 227 

• ...with natural corridors for wildlife extending deep into urban territory and urban psyche, creating an entirely different environment in which children would grow up and adults could grow old - where the nature deficit is replaced by natural abundance. - page 241

The Problem

• The cumulative impact of over development, multiplying park rules, well-meaning (and usually necessary) environmental regulations, building regulations, community covenants, and fear of litigation sends a chilling message to our children that their free-range play is unwelcome, that organized sports on manicured playing fields is the only officially sanctioned form of outdoor recreation. - top of page 31

• Today, 47 million Americans live in homes ruled by condominiums, cooperative, and homeowners' associations, according to the Community Associations Institute. The number  of community associations burgeoned from 10,000 in 1970 to 231,000 today [2005]. These associations impose rules on adults and children (if children are allowed in them at all), ranging from mildly intrusive to draconian. - bottom of page 28 

• By any measure, the destruction of nature caused by hunting pales in comparison to the destruction of habitat by urban sprawl and pollution. Remove hunting and fishing from human activity, and we lose many of the voters and organizations that now work against the destruction of woods, fields and watersheds. - page 192

Happy reconnecting with nature! 

~Modern Akhmatova 

First local BIKEPACKING adventure

“The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.” 

― Frank Herbert, Dune

Standing on a bridge in Patapsco Valley State Park
in MD during our bikepacking trip

Two weeks ago we went on our first bikepacking trip. It was a spontaneous decision inspired by our desire to get out of the concrete jungle we live in  and into a more serene and green environment. We've always enjoyed camping and find that sleeping in the woods, even if just for one night, does something for the mind, body and soul like no other activity that we've tried. However, neither one of us had ever combined camping with biking before, and so this was our time to experiment! Furthermore, and perhaps  more telling, is that we plan to do a two-week bikepacking trip this October, and we needed to see what we were getting ourselves into :)! I'm happy to report that it was a fantastic trip, though not without its ups and downs (literally and figuratively). 

Here are a few things to consider as you plan your bikepacking trip: 

• WHAT IS MY/OUR VISION FOR THIS TRIP? 

Our priority was to leave our home on bikes and return on bikes. In other words, that we wouldn't need our car to get anywhere. The other big priority was to sleep in the woods. Then we also had a few other wishes, like seeing or exploring something new. We settled on riding through the Patapsco Valley State Park and downtown Ellicott City in Maryland. 

• HOW MUCH MONEY DO I/WE WANT TO SPEND? 

We actually didn't end up spending anything on this trip, mainly because we didn't buy any new gear (and didn't eat out during the trip like we had planned). In addition to wanting a simple, easy, and rejuvenating trip, we didn't want to spend too much money on it. This is one of the great things about bikepacking. Once you have a good bike and some basic gear (emergency kit, rack, basket, small backpacks, packable sleeping bag and tent) it's super cheap to go on short bikepacking trips. 

• HOW MUCH TIME DO I/WE HAVE?

We only had the weekend for this trip, and other things to take care of during that time. So we wanted something that would rejuvenate us, but not take up the entire weekend.

• HOW FAR DO I/WE WANT TO BIKE? 

The above points will narrow down your options, though there are other things to consider, like availability of safe routes, parks, and camping grounds near you.  When my partner was researching routes he discovered that there weren't that many campground options for us within a reasonable biking distance (given our time constraints) that also provided us with safe roads to bike on and nice scenery along the way. We ended up riding 40 miles round trip. This was a good distance and not too hard for people like us who don't ride long distances on a regular basis. The one catch was elevation! Parts of our route were grueling for me, though my partner thought all of it was great! :) At times I felt like it was more of a workout than a leisurely bike ride that I was hoping for, but in the end it was SO worth it. Key takeaway: When your partner or someone else is planning the route, make sure you know what they have in store for you, so you can adjust or completely get rid of your expectations ahead of time. 

• WHAT GEAR DO I/WE NEED?  

Because we wanted to something easy and simple over a weekend, it didn't require too much gear. We did have to do some research ahead of time, figure out what we already had for gear, and finally, experiment putting the gear we had on our existing bikes. Once you have a good bike and some basic gear (emergency kit, rack, basket, small backpacks, packable sleeping bag and tent) it's super cheap to go on short bikepacking trips. Luckily, we had all of this basic gear already, so we didn't actually need to buy anything for this trip. However, for our two-week bikepacking trip we have bought some additional gear, but that will be part of a future post. 

• WHAT DO I/WE WANT TO EAT AND DRINK?

If you want to keep things simple, plan ahead and see where you can stop to eat along your bike route. Make sure that the place will either have spacious outdoor seating or bike racks to store your bikes during your meal. You should also bring some light snacks with you, like granola or nuts and fruit that isn't too heavy or bulky. Obviously, water is essential, so plan to bring enough (rule of thumb: 3 liters or 1 gallon/person/day) or research places where you can refill during your trip. 

We planned to get to Ellicott City (16 or so miles into the trip) just in time for dinner. I had been there many times before (by car) with friends and enjoyed delicious food. BEWARE however, that biking into Ellicott City on a weekend during dinner time is a NIGHTMARE and there aren't any bike racks in the downtown area to lock your bike to!  As we arrived into the city, we realized pretty quickly that the traffic was horrendous and that the downtown area should really be a PEDESTRIAN-ONLY zone. It felt a lot like Georgetown in Washington, DC during rush hour or on a weekend; just plain noisy and super congested.  Furthermore, there were no bike racks to lock our bikes to, no outdoor eating areas, and no take-out as far as we could tell. Therefore, we continued on our merry way toward the campground, with four apples we had brought from home. Our dinner: two apples. Our breakfast: two apples. Once we got home, we ate 2 pizzas :)! 

• WHAT IS THE WEATHER GOING TO BE LIKE?

This might need to go to the top rather than the bottom of this list, since this is critical. We monitored the weather throughout the week and because we wanted to keep things simple, and it was a very short trip, we didn't really have to start packing until the day of when we planed to leave, so this wasn't too much of an issue for us. Plus, it's summer time, so the weather isn't really that much of an issue like it is in the winter. 

Happy bikepacking adventures!

Modern Akhmatova

Useful resource:
http://www.bikepacking.com/bikepacking-101/