A clear sunrise at Cotopaxi. I walked down this dirt road, trying to find a vantage point where I could capture the rolling hills, volcano and the surrounding mountain range. Then this perfect red truck drove into my frame just as I reached the top of a hill. What a perfect morning. We spent 3 days hoping the clouds and haze would clear to get a view of the volcano and this morning we lucked out. Plus, the volcano is active so those clouds are actually plumes coming from the crater.
So many chance meetings on this trip have led to the most memorable experiences. Like exploring these canyons with a crew of Argentinians who patiently let me take photos of them crushing every climb in sight. Including this 40 meter endurance test piece.
Tangan. It’s hard to put into words the adventure that it took to get to this place. Endless hours on google & WhatsApp, researching and bugging strangers (that quickly became friends), scouring Quito’s gear shops for climbing equipment and then getting stuck in no man’s land for 6 hours waiting for a ride. A broken truck, a donkey, a horse, some incredibly hospitable Ecuadorians, a rain forest, cold beer in a river and SO much trout. The endless cracks were a bonus.
Our climbing gear was at home, thinking we’d take a break and just go backpacking in Ecuador…until I heard about Tangan. Long story short, that’s where @keithbrett82 saved us and lent us his double rack after a few beers. Then we managed a ride with @danielf199 and climbed with @santiperusc@laucyoga@griffinpic . Thanks for showing us around - this experience was a short but special one. #climbonphotos
It’s confirmed, the Jacobson’s are officially snowbirds.
Our San Diego trip started with a question: Where can we fly that’s close, warm, sunny, and conveniently located near an overnight bikepacking route? So we packed up our bikes, our bags (many, many bags…), and our baby, and headed south to soak up some family time and sunshine.
While Juni happily posted up with her grandparents, auntie and cousin, mom and dad headed for the San Diego trails on our gravel bikes. The terrain on our first day was a little spicier than expected but the landscapes were beautiful and we were well-supplied with snacks (crucial). A lunch stop at Veronica’s Mexican Kitchen brought us back to life with cold Dr. Pepper and generous plates of carnitas tacos and chile relleno. It was exactly the kind of refuel we needed before heading back onto the trail. We rolled into camp under pink skies and toasted the day’s kms with mini bottles of wine and freeze-dried banana pudding before turning in at 7:30pm.
After a 5:30am wake up, our second day of riding was longer but easier and overall we pedaled around 175km and 3000 meters over two days from Mount Laguna to Del Mar Beach. We also discovered our new favorite beverage (slide 9) at a snack stop in Ramona before winding through endless orange groves on our way to the coast.
We wrapped things up at the beach, where the whole family was waiting with snacks, 7-Eleven hot dogs and pints. The perfect ending to two challenging but unforgettable days on the bike.
Mom had been battling the plague the week prior and nearly didn’t make the bike trip (see slide 8). But when your incredible family offers to watch your toddler so mom and dad can sneak away for an adventure together, there isn’t much that can stop you.
We found a route on @bikepackingcom that ran roughly 170km from Mount Laguna to Del Mar. Net downhill, which is always a treat but still a good trek. We packed light, sat in the dirt, ate at Veronica’s (damn that was good), drank doctor pepper & mini wine bottles and mostly talked about our baby. Thanks to family for coming to suck some sun and watch our little girl. The road was a bit too bumpy for her but Dad has lots of ideas for the next family trip.
Ever wondered what bikepacking with a 10 month old is like on Super 8? Probably not but here you are anyways. Pedalling is harder, the hills are steeper, you pack WAY more but the beer tastes better and the snacks are sweeter. We started on Pender Island, made our way to Saturna for the annual July 1 Lamb BBQ then to Salt Spring for cider and duck wings. Ocean dips, unexpected night rides, camping, owls, so many hills, and so much fun. The adventures have shifted but I'm grateful we're still able to get after it in some form or another.
Chilcotin Super 8 dump.
I wouldn’t say I love carrying two cameras on a remote bikepacking trip (thanks for the help @jordan.ek.jacobson ), but it’s always worth it when the film comes back. Grateful for the chance to sleep outside, for family who’ll watch our kid, and for friends willing to suffer a bit for the good stuff. Trips like this are harder to pull off now, but when life’s stripped down to what fits on a bike and there’s no service, it’s definitely rejuvenating.
Also, special thanks for @nomadic.mechanic & @ryan_tasker for ensuring our brakes worked and we didn’t have to hike out of the mountains.
A magical way to end a trip, salt water shower in the ocean, not a person in sight. Miso soup and some canned wine at sundet. Clear head and tired legs.
Started the morning ride with endless ocean vistas and not a person or car in sight. Rolling into the undulating dirt double track through the Redwood forest. Then descending Bolinas Ridge, which was some top notch gravel riding. I stopped in at Gestault house for a bratwurst and beer before finishing the ride at another camp overlooking San Fran. Very epic day on two wheels.
Solo in San Francisco. From the airport with one stop at REI for fuel and a couple Fatty’s (meat sticks). I biked through the city and over the Golden Gate Bridge, weaving my way through the Marin Headlands to a lonely Pantoll campground on night one.
