Guided Bicycle Tour

Even though I have now guided a bicycle tour I am still trying to wrap my mind around it. I try to put myself in the shoes of the guided. What could make this more adventurous for them? How can I provide a safe and yet Marco Polo like adventure in a guided tour?  I don't know all the answers but this is my experience. 

"Involvement"

Involvement is key. This may mean you have to carry a few extra items with you. For me that means I will be pulling the BOB trailer. I can usually tote a few more items in the BOB. In this case it was just some obsidian and some flint knapping tools in addition to some jewelry making items. With this were able to make some very nice obsidian arrowhead necklaces. This served as a perfect foreshadowing of what was to come in a few days when we would make atlatls and darts with what was provided by the mountain. 

"Exploring"

What is interesting and unique about the area you will be touring?

There is lots of speculation about this rock carving. Most people believe it is from the Escalante expedition when the Spanish first entered this area. Others believe it is a petroglyph from a local native american tribe and others believe it is much older. It is unique and therefore difficult to ascertain it's origin. 

Here I pored some water on it to make it pop out for the picture. In the spring this is in the middle of a waterfall.

Link to other interesting rock art near the area. Click

"Equipment"

To a committed bicycle tourist good equipment can make a more hassle free trip. As an inexpensive option that works really well is the rig above: $8.00 used kiddy trailer bought from a yard sale stripped down to a flatbed. On it is a strapped on $4.00 used back pack bought at a thrift store. I was surprised how well this rig preformed. Lighter than my BOB and it held up really well even on dirt roads.

One of my favorite pieces of equipment is this light weight tarp. It is made of a parachute material and so it folds up to nearly nothing. here we made it into a really nice canopy at a base camp that we stayed at for a few days. It is amazing what you can make with some sticks and a tarp. On long riding days I have used it to cover my bike and bags. At times I have used it for a shelter which works great in conjunction with my hammock.

The making of an atlatl dart.

Fishing was amazing and much instruction and technique was taught. 

Campfire art.

If video does not play...click here.

Bandits on the Bike Trail

"Do not approach wild animals they can be dangerous"

Ok I get this rule, however the animals are illiterate and must have different rules. Like the time I was ocean kayaking in Monterey and a sea otter comes out of the quiet ocean and lays on my kayak. $10,000 fine for approaching sea otters. "Go away little sea otter"! After he scared the jeebees out of me. Afterward I had to explain to a park ranger that the otter should be fined for approaching me. Luckily he saw it my way. I recently learned that approaching wild bison can be a frightening experience. You can read that in an earlier blog. Sometimes you happenstance a communion with nature. Like the time I was down-hilling over a ridge and came to a sliding stop in the middle of a large heard of deer. Funniest thing; they looked at me and must have realized I was no threat and so they went back to grazing like I was part of the natural terrain. Free climbing one time I was face to face with a coiled up rattle snake. our faces were about twelve inches apart but instead of biting me and sending me to a plummeting death he just slithered away. Yesterday I learned that raccoons do not see well in the day light. Spotting them 50 meters ahead on the bike trail I stopped to obey the non approach rule. OK not really I just didn't want to spook them so I can get a picture.  So, I held perfectly still and it was like I was invisible. They kept getting closer and closer and the next thing I know they are sniffing my leg. I laughed because it tickled and they then scurried off. I think it was a big surprise for them and didn't know what to do at first. Hilarious! 

Other wildlife sightings for this ride include: Swallows diving at me (I was a little to close to the nests), lots of magpies, snakes, and different varieties of ducks in the canal. Soon the sunflowers will be bursting with blooms.

The Thistle. Scotland's national flower. They always remind me of my days in the bonny land.