Family cycling: Terra tributa

It's one thing to go on an adventure alone or as a couple, it's quite another to embark on cycle tourism with children. I spoke to four families who demonstrate that with a little preparation and adaptation, cycling remains the most beautiful way to travel and grow.

Here is the fourth and last beautiful story of the series.

This article first appeared in the excellent magazine Vélo Mag, May-June 2021 edition.

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TERRA TRIBUTA

The perfect time

What gives the meeting of a Frenchman pedaling Canada and a Quebecer returning from the same project in South America? A dozen years later, a family of four having cycled around the world.

It is Bertrand Lemeunier, photographer, documentary filmmaker and author, who narrates their many adventures. “Vanessa [Richard] got pregnant during our 9000 km trip to Brazil in 2012-2013. Our son Léo had his baptism of cycling in Poland even before his first birthday. Pregnant again, Vanessa cycled until her seventh month of pregnancy in New Zealand in 2016. Then in 2018 and 2019, the four of us toured the island of Taiwan and returned to New Zealand. -Zealand. »

Leo and Lucas are now 7 and 4 years old. “Whether traveling or not, you have to find a balance every day between working, exploring, moving forward, meeting people and resting, philosopher Bertrand. Except that with one or more young children, the most important thing is to listen to their rhythms. That's why the parents took advantage of the nap times in tow as much as possible to pedal. Even if it means towing both at the same time in a single trailer. The father mentions with a smile that the weight of his load increased from 70 kg to 100 kg with the arrival of his first son... and that on the second, he preferred not to know how much he had to drag!

"Our frames are getting heavier and heavier, it's true, he concedes, but these are minor adaptations to allow our children to open up to the world, to marvel at the splendours of nature. and the cultural diversity of our humanity. This is the school of life! Regarding the schooling of the eldest, the couple also applies the recommendations of the Quebec Association for Home Education.

Terra Tributa is the name of the various creations of the family – in writings, photos and videos – and means in Latin “The Earth received in sharing”. More than just a trip, it's a whole way of life and two careers that are represented by these two words.

"Shortly before we left for Brazil, my father died suddenly at the age of 59," Bertrand told me. He had just retired, having worked all his life as a laborer without realizing his dreams. This is one of my motivations for wanting to achieve mine. Often, we wait for the perfect moment: more time, more money. In my opinion, there is no reason to postpone our dreams. »

All right, Bertrand, all right.

You can follow the family's adventures on their website et their Facebook page.

The family in New Zealand.