Family Biking Vacation -Just Back!

[AuntPetunia]

We are back from a supported ride with the kids in West VA.
We had a great time and saw things we would have never seen on our own. (We would have been afraid to go that far from civilization on our own)
Our guides were great and we were with 3 other families. (There were 15 in all)
We didn't know each other at first -but by the end of the week we were pretty close!
If anyone has any questions please ask!

[bike4ever]

pictures, please?

[Brandi]

I 2nd that! Pic' please.

[AuntPetunia]

The pictures don't really do it justice (doesn't everyone say that?)
Part of what made it so awe inspiring was that we saw almost no one for two days. So whatever views we saw were unspoiled by loads of people.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h240/auntpetunia_2006/westva025.jpg

[AuntPetunia]

Sorry its so big
I tried to make it smaller but it didn't work
Edited to add -now it is too small
Maybe I can figure this out

[AuntPetunia]

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h240/auntpetunia_2006/westva015.jpg

[AuntPetunia]

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h240/auntpetunia_2006/westva020.jpg

[AuntPetunia]

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h240/auntpetunia_2006/westva009.jpg

[AuntPetunia]

The rig -with everyone's bikes
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h240/auntpetunia_2006/westva021.jpg

[Brina]

that looks gorgeous. how old are the kids? is that a trailer-bike one is on? what were the accomodations like? how many miles a day?

sorry - you said ask questions.:D I think a trip like this would be cool, but not sure if my trio is the right age yet (6,6, and 3)

[AuntPetunia]

Yes -that is a trail a bike -she just turned 8 and is almost too big for it -but we were afraid she would get whiney.
It was supposed to be about 8-10 miles a day -with more mileage available for those who wanted it. But it wound up being less. The guides were good about judging the crowd and we had 7 kids in the group so we usually rode about 5 miles or so -then let whoever wanted to get in the van and go to camp and the others would ride on to camp on their bikes.
The youngest child there was 5.
I can't picture doing it with kids younger than that -but I am a bit uptight about kids- kind of type A if you know what I mean.
The first two nights were primative camping -no toilets- no running water.
I did not realize this when we booked -but I am kind of glad I didn't know. I might have refused and missed out. The scenery was amazing and we played in the river every day with no one there except our group.
We had campfires and made some mores and played frisbee.

The third night we stayed in a restored mill house that is now part of a state park. We had showers!!

[hibiscus09]

Beautiful photos! My family (mother, father, brothers & sisters) are from West Virginia -- it does have some very pretty scenery. Glad you had a nice time!

[ladyfish]

How did you find out about the ride? Was it a specific company running it, or what?

My boys would love something like that! Now if I could just get DH's ankle back in shape (he had a horrible sprain that just isn't healing well) we could do some great rides together.

[AuntPetunia]

Yes, it was a company
Western Spirit -We had read about them in magazines and on the internet.
They have much harder trips -this was an easy one bike wise

[Veronica]

We did the Upmqua River with Western Spirit last year. I'd definitely do another trip with them.

V.

[tsali911]

That sounds (and looks) great! I can't wait till our kiddos are big enough to do a trip like that (7,5,3). They are great riders, just not quite ready. Thanks for all the info. :D

[Patti37]

What a wonderful vacation. I am very jealous.

[AuntPetunia]

Thanks -it was nice. Not an easy kind of trip -but such an adventure.
We want to do the redwoods (same company does a trip there) in a year or two.:)