The Travels of the Indochine Cougars
March 17, 2006
My friends Carie Weisenbach-Folz and Allan Folz and their two-year-old son Cody have their own bike team they call the Cougars. Somehow they got it in their heads that it would be a good idea to load up the tandem and take a trip as a family to China, Laos and other areas.
To prepare, the had Joseph Aherarne of Ahearne Cycles make them a custom rack (pictured here) to hold their panniers AND their kid seat. And if their tandem isn't enough of a site, they insisted on bringing their tall rear flag. Uh, for safety's sake. Right.
Their trip has been amazing and I've been really fortunte to be on their weekly detailed dispatch list. As soon as they arrived, they hit the ground running. "Yeah, we were quite the attention getters. The taxi and delivery truck drivers were the best. They were grinning ear to ear and waving a big thumbs-up. A number of the folks in private cars were madly honking like at a parade."
So with the Cougars' blessing, I'll be sharing with you some deatils of their journey. So far it has been great. Cody has been a trooper. Here's one of my favorite passages:
"As you might expect, maps of the road less travelled leave much to be desired. So we follow what should be the right road except it quickly deteriorates into something I can't imagine any falang (that's gringo in Indochina) should be traveling on. About 800 yards back there was a Y which we took the left branch. I decide we should have taken the right. Its a rough 800 yards and there is a well warn path cutting through some dry rice patties towards the right. Surely it meets up with the right. Well, in no time at all the well worn path cuts through people's backyards. The next hut it goes right under. For this we respectfully get off and walk the bike. The locals for their part seem impressed a bunch of westerners are coming over for a visit. Well, those that both to wake up from their nap. Some don't. Those that do wave, smile and shout Sabbaidee [hello]. Cody loves it. He starts laughing and squealling. Eventually the path cuts through a Wat with 3 monks doing masonry work. Then we are onto a road. Well kind of. Compared to the path its definitely a road. Soon another cross-roads and a stand selling red drink. I say Champasak and point. They smile and say Champasak. I say Champasak and point to the other direction. They shake their heads no. Whew. From then on everytime I see someone I say Champasak and point everyone smiles and nods. There was more rice paddy hopping and more cutting through folks backyards, but thankfully we never had to ride right under a hut again. Though there was two dry river bed crossings. Cody for his couldn't stop laughing. There was about 4 km of this. I was starting to think we has delirious from heat stroke, but Carie and I were doing all the pedalling. He was sitting in the back in the shade. I tell ya his laughing and the locals laughing an clapping did help us keep going in an otherwise very trying time. This was about 6 hours and 70 km into the ride (we did have some stops) and at the hottest part of the day."
Posted by orbike at March 17, 2006 7:40 AM
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Comments
That's really impressive!! I've been thinking of doing something like that with my family for a while. We've done quite a biut of touring in the US but never abroad. I have a lot of questions. We too use a tandem. How did you get it over there? Was it a hassle? What did you bring? How is Cody handling the foreign lands? I'd love to hear more about this!!
Posted by: Travis at March 19, 2006 12:29 AM
Travis-
I know their original plan was to not box the bike and try to just wheel it on the airline. They arrived succesfully but I'm not sure how the bike was transported. I'll ask them. They took an airplane from Bangcock to Laos and reported: "Our bike rode in the cabin at the rear in an area for I presume oversized parcels. I dunno, but climbing aboard and seeing the rear of the bike sticking into the galley was very cool. "
Apparently Cody is doing great. They even hitched a ride in the back of a pickup and Cody happily rode up from with strangers.
I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I'll keep adding their dispatches and I'll try to get some more info from them - when they return if not sooner.
- Ayleen
Posted by: Ayleen at March 20, 2006 5:02 AM