In 2016, a good friend instructed me concerning the Sisters Centennial Journey. It was a 3 week cross-country tour to rejoice the one centesimal anniversary of the Van Buren sisters 1916 bike journey to indicate the federal government that girls may assist with the battle effort. I had by no means launched into such an formidable journey, nor had I ever been on an all-women’s journey, however the once-in-a-lifetime alternative sounded too thrilling to go up. This bike mama wanted to place the thought into motion.
At first, I used to be apprehensive about how I might discover three weeks of daycare and summer season camps for my now 12- and 9-year-olds and if my husband would be capable of deal with all the additional operating round. However as the thought of this epic tour grew to become extra critical my husband mentioned, “Nicely, you might take the children.” Up to now we had joked about getting a motorbike with a sidecar so we may very well be these cool (loopy) mother and father within the carpool lane.
5 months earlier than the tour, we grew to become the proud new-to-us house owners of a Honda Shadow Aero 1100 with a Champion sidecar. We prepped the automobile, our gear, and our our bodies. We began “sidecar bootcamp” to get in form for lengthy rides. Our SENA helmet communicators saved us collectively, listening to music and speaking to one another.
