Departing Prudhoe Bay,
Alaska

Arriving Canada

Study time for the boys

Arriviving USA

Arriving Mexico

Oops - chose the wrong road..

..and dealt with it "eternally"..

Arriving Belize

Arriving Guatemala

SOA (Sick on arrival)

Arriving Honduras

Classroom time for a while!

Arriving Nicaragua

Volcano!

Tropical jungle days

Arriving Costa Rica

Rainy season days

Arriving Panama

Foggy steamy mornings

Ingrown toenail blues

Seasick on the boat - no road
from Panama to Columbia!

Arriving Cartagena, Columbia
after 5 days on the boat

Hey this place has huge hills!

Gotta rebuild the bikes
every thousand miles or so

Arriving Ecuador

..into..Southern Hemisphere

Galapagos giant turtles!

Bungee Jumping

Carnival in Ecuador

Arriving Peru

Woke up to four flat tires

Pure Peruvian desert

Davy hounding the shade

The mysterious "Nasca Lines"

Brutal sand storm days..

..but close to the ocean

Uh oh..bigger Andes?

 Some recent tweets:

@bcuban We're in Argentina 2000 miles from the finish line! Enjoying lovely summer weather for the holidays.
Dec 20

I flipped my map!!! I'm now on the very last side of the very last map of our whole trip. Almost there! http://fb.me/Df2TLXHE
Dec 20

Had an awesome tailwind yesterday for 90 km. then within 10 minutes, wind changed 180 degrees into tough headwind!
Dec 20

Crystal clear skies tonight so should have great views of the eclipse. Unfortunately, John just hit the sack and I doubt I will be able to make it that late...
Dec 20

Pitched our tents in the yard of a local family last night. First time I've seen a real life gaucho wearing traditional clothing!
Dec 20

Gorgeous views of the Andes today! http://fb.me/A7qNcLHg
Dec 20

@RedMountainSpa The Andes truly are special. We've enjoyed the spectacular views we've had lately.
Dec 20

The Amazing Disappearing River (Nihuil, Argentina): Today was bizarre – the river kept appearing and disappearin... http://bit.ly/gxJWVa
Dec 20

Ride ‘Em Cowboy! (10K past Valle Grande, Argentina): It was a lovely day – until the winds started shrieking, th... http://bit.ly/i45h9z
Dec 20

Wow! Just heard from a writer for Nat Geo Traveler (UK) who wants to profile us in an article! I am soooo honored!
Dec 20

Pulled in to the little town of Sosneado last night looking for a campsite. Found out there isn't one, but a lovely family invited us to pitch our tents in their yard. Such kindness.
Dec 20

Just found out there will be an eclipse tonight and the local planetarium will have a telescope out for us! Going to try and stay awake long enough to see it.
@Yankymetro_CP Still in San Rafael. With luck, we'll move tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
Dec 16

@abaesel2 Agreed. ice cream is good. Especially Argentinean ice cream.
Dec 16

Staying put today - the hubster is in bed sick. Darn! about 24 hours ago via web
Dec 16

Congrats to @worldbiking for reaching Ushuaia at the end of the world - in a snowstorm no less!
Dec 16

@LisaBorden But that cup of coffee is soooo lovely! Just made it with the coffee bags they have here in #Argentina.
Dec 16

First time in 3.5 years of full time #cycling as a family - separated on the road. http://familyonbikes.org/blog/?p=1648 #travel
Dec 15

Heading out tomorrow morning for a lovely little canyon with a big river and three lakes. From there, on to Malargue. 3 or 4 days, we think
Dec 15

Loved the officials at the immigration office. Since we're renewing 10 days before ours expire, we would lose those 10 days. Seeing as how we're cycling and won't be passing another town with an office, they gave them to me anyway!
Dec 15

Stood in line for TWO hours at the bank - and they tell me that's normal for Argentina.
Dec 15
 
Reason #1 why we tend to avoid hostels: parties that go on all night keeping us awake. ((yawn))
Dec 15

Another cyclist who just came up from the south is telling us the massive winds will start in a couple days. GAH!... http://fb.me/IoXH9djE
Dec 15

Today we'll enjoy the wonderful "renew our Argentine visas" experience.
Dec 15

Perfect Day (Tunuyan, Argentina) We couldn’t have chosen a better day to leave Mendoza – it was beautiful, even though we thought we were in for a miserable day this morning.. http://bit.ly/hR8E3S
Dec 12

Leaving Mendoza city (by Davy) I got to go horseback riding, ziplining, and river rafting. I liked the horseback riding the best. I raced Daryl and watched him fall off his horse:(, but I was able to beat him in a race :) http://bit.ly/ijz3WZ
Dec 12

Leaving Mendoza city (by Daryl) Today is the last day we are going to stay in Mendoza. I had a good time here...Of rafting, zip lining, and horseback riding, the horseback riding was my favorite...I will miss Mendoza when we leave. http://bit.ly/ijz3WZ
Dec 12

Home (Chacras de Coria, Argentina): “Don’t you miss home?” the daughter of the owners of Postales de Argentina Hotel asked me... http://bit.ly/g9KHXn
Dec 12

Bouncy reindeer ornament on Davy's bike for the holidays! Cheers! http://fb.me/Pwgi8n9d
Dec 11

It feels so great to be back with my bike! Home again.
Dec 11

Got the bikes out of Mendoza! The Tourist police escorted us out of the city on the main freeway which we normally wouldn't be allowed on. We're now just south of the city and will head south tomorrow.
Dec 11

Great night in the historic San Francisco Hotel in Chacras de Coria south of Mendoza. Today we will ride the bikes down to here, then hit the road for good tomorrow! http://fb.me/KQk8NPay
Dec 11

Picked up some Skittles for the boys for Christmas. Will need to hide them in the bottom of pannier for the next couple weeks.
Dec 10

The wind is howling outside - a front is moving in from the south. Hope it passes quickly; if not, we'll face killer headwinds tomorrow.
Dec 10

Want to see more videos of our journey? We've got tons of them! http://familyonbikes.org/video.htm
Dec 10

Mendoza has been a fabulous place for us and we have truly enjoyed our 11 days here.  We’ve played tourist more than ever before and have gotten to know tons of people here!  This city will always have a special place in our hearts. http://bit.ly/eOEP13
Dec 10

We get back on the bikes tomorrow. We've had a blast in Mendoza, but are looking forward to our last 3500 km!! @LornadEnt
Dec 10

The childers are off to a birthday party. They'll have a grand evening!
Dec 10

Will we even remember how to ride a bike tomorrow? It's been like...forever.
Dec 10

Hung Christmas decorations on the bikes this morning - they look so festive!
Dec 10

Our hosts for tonight and tomorrow nights - a lovely old historic building. Lovely! http://fb.me/KQk8NPay
Dec 10

Got the bikes (amost) ready for takeoff tomorrow! It'll be good to get back in the saddle.
Dec 10

Our interview on CNN: http://tinyurl.com/22qub4w
Dec 9

Got to have dinner with @photojbartlett's lovely wife Romi last night. Too bad Jeff is up north freezing... http://tinyurl.com/24ey4ku
Dec 9

Horseback Riding with Cordon del Plata: I think I’m spoiled.  I can’t ever go back to boring… Cordon del Plata g... http://bit.ly/hHQS51
Dec 9

Rafting and Zipline with Argentina Rafting (Daryl): Today was an eventful day. The hotel we are staying at had b... http://bit.ly/fjqUaC
Dec 9

We are living in luxury! Many thanks to the Postales de Argentina hotel for hosting us for a couple of nights!... http://fb.me/Mx5ld0xC
Dec 9

Traveling by bus is a whole different mindset for us. We took a bus up to the Andes and "lost" 3 hours doing so. If we had cycled, those hours would have been the highlight of the day!
Dec 9

We had never been ziplining before - WHEEEE!!! http://fb.me/PmjcLuTN
Dec 9

All suited up and ready to raft the Mendoza River! http://fb.me/N5KZBYG5
Dec 9

My body isn't used to that kind of saddle. #1sttimeonhorsein30years
Dec 9

Horseback riding yesterday was incredible! So lovely - mountains on one side and graslands extending forever on the other. Wow!
Dec 9
 
@AndiPerullo @Yankymetro_CP We are having a blast! the Andes are gorgeous.
Dec 7

I think we've raised a couple of adrenaline junkies. Now they want to go skydiving.
Dec 7

Horseback riding tomorrow with Cordon del Plata!! http://fb.me/NCHpZYMZ
Dec 7

Rafting was great fun even though the river was pretty low. The boys sat in front and got wet! In the afternoon we went ziplining - six cables in all! What a day! http://fb.me/NCHpZYMZ
Dec 7

@lisadhc We can't wait for rafting and ziplines tomorrow! We've wanted to do the zipline for years, but somehow it never happened
Dec 6

@asadoargentina I have no doubt that the Patagonian winds will be one of our favorite parts of the journey!! (not!)
Dec 6

Talking with someone today. She said, "I don't understand Americans. You start your life here (points to a point on the table) and end your life here (points to another point). You spend your whole life racing toward the end, rather than enjoying the middle part." Sadly, she's right about many Americans.
Dec 6

@asadoargentina We will be up here for two nights - YIPPEE!!! http://www.pueblodelrio.com.ar
Dec 6

This will be us when we get down to Patagonia! http://fb.me/NVZ6Ie9M
Dec 6

YIKES! RT @worldbiking @familyonbikes It's hard to exaggerate how horrible winds are in Patagonia. So powerful they knock you off your bike.
Dec 6

Road Angels have added so much magic to our journey! http://fb.me/zdFWMz9i
Dec 6

Got my blog entry up about the past few days - it's been a whirlwind! We're loving Mendoza. http://familyonbikes.org/blog/?p=1640
Dec 6

Gracias! RT @EBVMendoza Pueblo Del Rio esta feliz de alojar a la Familia de Familyonbikes, BIENVENIDOS!!!!!! http://familyonbikes.org/
Dec 6

Carlos Calise, a professional photographer here in Mendoza, (www.carloscalise.com, @carloscalise ) was at the asado taking pics. He took some great pictures... http://fb.me/xdqJ9pY8
Dec 6

Many thanks to Entre Cielos spa (www.entrecielos.com) for the spa treatment last night!
Dec 6

I'm about to head out for breakfast on the veranda. Just like in the movies.
Dec 6

RT @WelcomeMendoza Many thanks to Bodegas Vistalba of Carlos Pulnta (www.carlospulentawines.com) for help sponsoring the @familyonbikes asado over the weekend
Dec 6

Check out this hotel in the Andes we'll be staying at the next couple of days. Looks AWESOME! www.pueblodelrio.com.ar 
Dec 6

Just got back from the spa - wow! What a treat! They only had time for two massages so John and I were going to be the lucky ones. But then - Davy wanted it and he's never had a professional massage before. I gave my spot up. Yet another experience for that guy! www.entrecielos.com
Dec 6

Wondering what an asado looks like? This is it! http://fb.me/LQzKGkcc
Dec 6

A bunch of the kids from the asado yesterday. It never ceases to amaze me how tall Davy is. http://fb.me/OzG7D0NB
Dec 6

@ArgentoWine Thanks bunches for sponsoring the asado yesterday! It was awesome!
Dec 6

Just picked up some cool old coins in the market in Chacras de Coria. Gonna make a neat necklace someday.
Dec 6

RT @WelcomeMendoza Thanks to Kyle & the team at www.argentowine.com ( @argentowine) for helping sponsor the @familyonbikes asado.
Dec 6

I don't even know what to say about the www.posadaolivar.com This place is an incredible place to stay! Just had empanadas with the family.
Dec 6

RT @WelcomeMendoza Thanks to David English (congrats to you two-new beautiful baby!) for helping sponsor the @familyonbikes asado www.english-associates.com
Dec 6

RT @WelcomeMendoza Awesome asado yesterday at the oasis of www.posadaolivar.com with @familyonbikes & a bunch of fun folks, w/ legendary "Karma" as the cook.
Dec 6

@abaesel2 To get to Ushuaia? We hope to be there in March.
Dec 6

@GreenTravelGuy In one way I can't wait to get back to the bikes. In other ways, I want to stay here forever!
Dec 6

@For those of you who have cycled Argentina - what kinds of food did you take with you as snacks on the road?
Dec 6

@LornadEnt We're in Mendoza, Argentina and are having a blast! Hit the road again next Saturday. Enjoy a lobster for me!
Dec 5

@LornadEnt We;re doing GREAT! The bikes are stored elsewhere, but assume they are alive and well. And you??
Dec 5

You really must see the view from our room. This place is over-the-top special.
Dec 5

I'm getting spoiled by these daily warm showers. Hitting the road again is going to be very, very hard.
Dec 5

@lovingthebike Mendoza has been great to us. I think it would be very easy to live here!
Dec 4

@whereisyvette We are thinking the boys might need to be in one place for a while. Argentina may be that place.
Dec 4

We've now moved over to the Posada Olivar. This place in absolutely phenomenal! It's like a little refuge in the middle of chaos. Lovely (HUGE!) rooms and grounds! http://fb.me/zfEIv9Hm
Dec 4

I think I'm in love. I may never leave Mendoza.
Dec 4

@solotraveler The asado was fabulous Incredible food and wine and great conversations!
Dec 4

Wow! They went all out on the asado today. A large group of expats and locals, delicious food and wine, great conversation, and a big ol' group of kids! We all had a blast!
Dec 4

Off to an asado...oughtta be great!
Dec 4

Grateful that I remembered we haven't dried out our tents yet - if we don't do that soon they'll mildew. Eeeewwwww! Will do tomorrow.
Dec 2

So true! RT @dads4life I've got parenting down to a science. (every day is an experiment!)
Dec 4

Enjoying wine and tapas at The Vines of Mendoza last night! http://fb.me/PfnC41zy
Dec 3

We have really enjoyed our time here at the Soltigua - our room is so big and luxurious! http://fb.me/NvcHuxQg
Dec 3

Enjoying Mendoza: Yep - we’ve certainly been enjoying our time here in the big city.  We only arrived here on Tu... http://bit.ly/gccWoh
Dec 3

Apparently, they actually check ID on kids to see a PG13 movie. I'm off to see Harry Potter in order to get D & D in...
Dec 2

Learning about Argentina: As we tend to do for our sons’ education, we’ve taken advantage of where we are and ha... http://bit.ly/dX1AMQ
Dec 2

Off for wine and tapas!
Dec 2

@earthypets As a family, we don't like the party atmosphere in many hostels anyway so hotels work better. Cheaper typically. #TNI
Dec 2

@greenrglobe Nope, not today. We are officially off the bikes for the next ten days YIPPEE!!
Dec 2

We just moved in to the Soltigua Hotel - wow! Our hotel room has two floors and a complete kitchen! http://fb.me/AuwatfA8
Dec 2

Looks like we're on for a wine tour and lunch tomorrow!
Dec 2

Wine and tapas at the Hyatt tonight! Can't wait
Dec 2

@maleabihaggle Wish we had had a police escort in all the cities! It's so nice to ride with them.
Dec 1

They were awesome! RT @WelcomeMendoza Mendoza Tourist Police totally pro & on the job: @maleabihaggle http://www.twitpic.com/3c212c
Dec 1

I feel like a country bumpkin all enthralled with the big city life.
Dec 1

I'm loving this AC in the Xumec Hotel in Mendoza. A huge step up from where we typically stay in the boonies!
Dec 1

RT @WelcomeMendoza @familyonbikes Looked like fun!:--> RT Video: Local interview: Family on Bikes, Canal 7, Mendoza http://www.mendozasun.com/familyonbikes
Dec 1

@1Dad1Kid @cyclingslopes We are loving Mendoza.
Dec 1

Got some new sleeping mats! Ours are pretty trashed after 2.5 years on the road.
Dec 1

@rdenning We just got to Mendoza Argentina yesterday! Are sooo thrilled to be here!
Dec 1

The article about us in Los Andes - a Mendoza paper. (In Spanish) http://fb.me/Np3O207J
Dec 1

 Today is errand day - got a whole list of stuff to check off. Once that's done, it's play time!
Dec 1

@AmpERobert I hope to see the tango somewhere!
Nov 30

Tomorrow the hunt is on - size 14 shoes in Mendoza, Argentina. This oughtta be fun...
Nov 30

@jdkimple It's been awesome! And we have ziplines, spas, horseback riding, wine tours, and chocolate lined up!
Nov 30

Just heard that the main national newspaper of Argentina wants to fly a reporter to Ushuaia to cover our arrival - whenever that may be...
Nov 30

Had a police escort into town! Love it - no worries about traffic! Also had a photographer hanging out the window all the way in..
Nov 30

@MrMarkBeaumont I think I can find the steak and Malbec, but which route did you take south of Mendoza? We're deciding how to go south.
Nov 30

Mendoza!! Just checked into the Xumec Hotel who is sponsoring with a couple nights stay. It's LOVELY!
Nov 30

"Looks like the wind died down. We're off to Mendoza!"
Nov 28

"@Turban_Diva Thanks! We had hoped to hit the road today, but it was too windy. Tomorrow we take off wind or no!"
Nov 27

"@1Dad1Kid There was a one pair here of sneakers in San Juan that would have worked for a few months. Hoping to find bigger in Mendoza. Fingers crossed!"
Nov 27
 
"100 miles north of Mendoza, Argentina. unfortunately, wind is howling, making it very tough to get there!
Nov 27

  @SjBremix Oooohhhh.. My son has been dreaming of lemon pie and lemon cake and lemon ice cream...
Nov 27

"@CircaRigel It'll be delightful farther south. It's the getting there that'll be tough."
Nov 27
 
 "We found cherries today! Cherries!! Yep - summer is coming."
Nov 27

Woke up in the middle of the night in San Juan with howing winds. They are still howling - from the south. We're staying put another day. Darn!
Nov 27

"My sons are soooo excited about the ziplines in Mendoza!! YIPPEEE!!!"
Nov 26

"If we were @MrMarkBeaumont we would make it to Mendoza in a day. But we're not, so we'll take 2 or 3."
Nov 25

"@WelcomeMendoza Yep, in San Juan. Almost to Mendoza!"
Nov 25

"John broke a brake cable today - the one that has to stretch all the way to the back of the tandem. We're hoping he has a spare stashed in his trailer - if not, we'll be placing an emergency order to the USA."
Nov 23

"Made it over another pass and into the valley that will take us south to Mendoza!"
Nov 23

"@WildLives They have great coffee bags here in Argentina!"
Nov 21

"Decided to wait one more day before takeoff - kiddo is still pretty stuffed up. He feels fine, but stuffy nose makes it hard to breathe."
Nov 21

"Looks like we will be on the road for Thanksgiving... Had hoped to reach Mendoza by then, but it ain't gonna happen with this delay. Will have to round up a chicken or something once we get there and celebrate after the fact."
Nov 20

"We've "only" got 4000 km left to the end of the world!!"
Nov 20

"@ArdenClise It seems so bizarre to hear everybody talk of cold and blustery when it's hot and sunny in Argentina!"
Nov 20

"@reizkultur We'll be out in the Patagonian wilds for hte hollidays. No Christmas markets for us this year..."
Nov 20

"Next stretch is 120 km with nothing except a mountain pass. Can't attempt if a kiddo is sick!"
Nov 19

"Climbing a Pass (23 km past Nonogasta, Argentina): Gads - they said this would be a climb, but I didn’t expect a real Andes-level climb!"
Nov 18

"@blueallez We are about 500 km north of Mendoza right now. Have a wonderful little very cheap cabin, so all is well."
Nov 17

"@Wanderingtradr I will look for the apple milk - sounds interesting! We've discovered the dulce de leche muffins - didn't take long!"
Nov 13

"Argentina has coffee in little tea bags. Why doesn't the rest of the world do that? It's so convenient!
Nov 13

"Speaking of coffee, I've discovered dulce de leche in coffee. Decadent!"
Nov 13

"Hating the km posts reminding us how far we have to cycle. Every. Single. Kilometer. I don't need to be reminded that we still have "
Nov 12

"Made it to Chilecito - halfway between Salta and Mendoza"
Nov 12

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Some recent press & interviews:

Los Andes Newspaper, Mendoza, Argentina, Dec 1, 2010 "Una familia recorre en bici desde Alaska hasta Ushuaia"
“Los chicos estudian matemática, historia o las características del lugar que estamos visitando y después hacen informes sobre lo que han aprendido. Sobre todo queremos que aprendan la vida normal de las personas y que se vayan dando cuenta de cómo van cambiando a medida que avanzamos”, señaló Nancy."

The Mendoza Sun, November 18, 2010, "Family on Bikes, Alaska to Argentina"
"In Mendoza we will have to make the decision on how to get to the Lake District and when we get there we will decide our route farther south. The main consideration at this point is my bike - we don't trust my wheels much right now so aren't sure we want to tackle a lot of dirt roads.  We'll make the decision at the last possible moment." -


ABC: Good Morning America , September 6, 2010
VIDEO: "“There was one moment up in northern Peru where I started thinking.. I don’t know if this is worth it,  maybe we should call it a day and go back home, but one of our boys  said ‘let’s not complain and push on’, and as we moved further south, things really turned around”



Parade Magazine, August 15th, 2010 Would you take an 18,000-mile bike ride with your kids?: Road Scholars
"“Ride away slowly,” Nancy whispered to Davy. Then, as the bear chased after them, they amped up their gears and, legs and adrenaline pumping furiously, blasted to safety. “We were zooming away at a speed I didn’t think was possible,” Nancy recalls. “It’s amazing what you can do when you have to.”