Neither Jason now I have ever really travelled for 5 consecutive weeks, let alone with kids. So honestly we didn't know exactly how this would work as a family. What we've found after 3 solid weeks is that there is a certain momentum around extended travel that propels us forward. It isn't exactly that we grow bored of a place, but moreso that we are a bit addicted to what might be around the next corner. Or, perhaps it is the motorcycle? No one gets a motorcycle (or sidecar rig in this instance) to just go from point A to point B. It is about the ride, the adventure, the next turn; and what you see, hear and smell along the way. Jason and I knew this, but we weren't sure how the kids would adapt. But, it seems that they, too, understand the inherent nature of the journey. They have become experts at surveying the scene, soaking in the bits that strike them as interesting, and then quickly moving to questions about where we are headed.
At the same time, AND conversely, there is a strong desire, particularly with the kids, to get wherever it is we are going that day and understand how long it will take to get there. There need to be markers to the day: where we will be for lunch, or for our next pit stop or sightseeing moment. Without breaking up the day, it can seem endless to the kids. And, endless to the kids, feels like an eternity to us with their constant barrage of "are we there yet?" questions. When they know we are at our final destination for the day, they are relieved. As we move our bags from the bike to the guesthouse or hotel, they quickly note the basic amenities of their new home for the evening and settle in.
The biggest challenge so far hasn't been so much that we are tiring of the journey, but rather that we don't always align on when we'd like to move on versus stay a while longer. Our interests are all different so when one of us wants to linger longer over a meal or a walk or a museum, then you can bet that one of the rest of us does not. This has led to more disagreements than I'd like. Mostly the learning is that we have't built in enough time for the kids to do kid things. The afternoon on the ropes course in Zermatt or the pool at Lake Maggiore have created some of the happiest moments for the kids. We are now being more conscious in evaluating those options to make sure everyone gets to do something they choose and will really enjoy.
And, well, frankly sometimes you just need to stay put. Even Jason and I need that. The other day I was pretty down about a few things...I had a migraine, it was hot, the kids were pestering each other and I was starting to wonder about why we were really on this trip. So we stayed an extra night at our next stop (where coincidentally it was way cooler) and we all had a chance to reenergize, have some fun and take a break from the daily grind of road directions, lodging choices, and helmets! By the next morning, I was reset and ready to go. And isn't that just life anyway? Whether at home or halfway around the world, a rest day can make all the difference.
So, can we go now? :-)
