Norte a Sur presented by Guayaki Yerba Mate is a series documenting segments of our journey from Maine to Argentina. The first three episodes document our three week bike and van trip around Vancouver Island earlier this year. 

In episode one, we cover our journey from Washington state to a destination we've always wanted to visit: Vancouver Island. Upon arrival we met our new Specialized Fuse Hardtail Mountain Bikes in boxes at our dear friend Gavin’s house and the adventure began. 

I had never put new bikes together, but after wrenching for months on the van, I felt a new unrivaled confidence in my handyman skills. Sofi gave me a solid half day to get it together and I completed the project feeling ready for the open trails, however we hit a major snag - a through axle. I had no idea that bikes had graduated from the straight forward lever style axle and was banking on this to tow the kids in our Thule Chariot. But without a custom made axle, we were on a three week biking trip, on a foreign island with new bikes and no way to tow the kids - or literally screwed.

I immediately reached out to the Robert Axle Project and they sorted us out with the only piece of gear that could hook up the wagon to the bikes, it would just take a couple days. So with that on the way and arriving up island, we put plan B in action - the kids in the Thule Ride Along Rear Seat and the Becco Baby toddler carrier and tackled leg 1 - down town Victoria city and the plethora of trails interwoven in urban, farm and coastal surroundings. 

From the moment we stepped on the bikes, we were immediately liberated from the van. It was like being kids again -a freedom that we didn’t have with the van. We could park, unload, set up our gear and be off for the day with everything on our backs with our burning diesel, deciding where to go, finding parking, and the monotonous and time consuming task of putting things away at every start and stop of the rig. For those that know, this can be a nightmare. 

We couldn't have timed the trip any better as the blackberries were literally falling off the bushes and the weather was perfect for swimming. By the end of the first week we headed out of the city and up to the north end of the Galloping Goose Trail home of the Sook Potholes. We spent two days here amongst one the best swimming holes I’d ever laid eyes on. The river was hardly flowing yet pool after pool was filled with perfectly clear golden water. The only problem was deciding which one to swim in! We found the backflip spot and the family friendly spot next to the van to wrap up the day with Guayaki mate in hand. 

Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Guayaki Yerba Mate . 

Along with our supporting partners: Specialized, Thule, Robert Axle Project, Patagonia Provisions, Justin’s, Good to Go, Topo Designs, Grandy Oats, and Freewaters.

Stay tuned for Episode 2 dropping next week.