The Touring Tandem

September 20, 2014

The Touring Tandem

[Originally posted Sept 20, 2014]

(Jessica writing here - it's great to have guest writers.)

Last November my family spent Thanksgiving on Long Island with the Pratts. While we were at Hendricks Tavern in Roslyn waiting for dessert to come, Clayton and I moseyed around the restaurant and he said, “Hey Jessica I have to tell you a secret and you can’t tell anyone yet.” He proceeded to tell me about his plans to take a year off from medical school and travel with Katy through Europe, India, and Southeast Asia… by bicycle. My jaw dropped. Clayton said he was a little nervous to announce the news to some family members, for obvious reasons I suppose. I told him once he is done with school he can work for the rest of his life so his plan sounded awesome (and I was super envious).

The news was broken to the rest of the family a month later, we were at dinner in Salt Lake City. Clayton asked everyone what their New Years Resolutions were. Eli gave his response, then Dylan. Finally everyone answered but no one asked Clayton what his plans were. He just sat patiently and quietly. The meal was almost over and then he blurted out, "Alright, no one asked me what MY New Years Resolutions are?" We all thought it was Clayton being selfish. So I casually said, "Okay, Clayton, what are you going to do this year? More school?" Then he started. Acting somewhat cavalier, he said he and Katy would fly to Ireland, get on a bike, maybe a tandem, ride around the UK, then maybe take a ferry to France, then maybe Italy. He just kept on talking. Everyone in my family had turned their attention to Katy (Clayton is prone to joke but if Katy said it was happening, then it was happening). Katy just kind of sat there silent--perhaps to see what my parents' reactions were. Eventually she smiled instead of hitting Clayton and telling him to get real. And just like that the wheels were in motion. Katy quit her job. Clayton got permission from the University of Michigan to take a year off from school.

As soon as I was informed of what-would-be the Touring Tandem’s draft itinerary, and plans to go through Croatia, I knew I had to jump on the opportunity to come visit them. “Nice Opportunity!” – as my son Charlie would say. Dubrovnik, Croatia has been on the top of my Bucket List for a long time. My best friend in high school, Angela Mazer, spent her summers (1998-2000 if I’m correct) working for Global Kids Organization where they would have summer camps for Bosnian and Serbian refugee children on an island off of the coast of Croatia. Hearing about Angela’s adventures got the bug in me.

In any event, in May I booked tickets for me and Charlie ($3,800—that’s right) and September FINALLY arrived and we were off! And last minute my sister Elizabeth, who has a Delta buddy pass this year, decided to come. (Elizabeth has a major case of FOMO—“fear of missing out”—and traveling to Zambia, Botswana, Turkey, and Greece this summer wasn’t enough international travel for her.)

This trip has been epic. Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia. Amazing countries. Wonderful people. Beautiful landscape. Here are some highlights… As previously mentioned on the blog, as soon as we landed in Dubrovnik, I changed into my biking clothes and Clayton and I biked from Dubrovnik to Kotor, Montenegro. We got some interesting stares at the airport. On the ride Clayton shared his knowledge of the civil wars that occurred in the Balkans during the 90s. I was fascinated by his wealth of information about the downfall of Yugoslavia and how the Serbs (Orthodox), Croats (Catholic), and Bosniaks (Muslim), whom had once resided together under one dictator, ended up fighting each other—all during the time I was attending Churchill Junior High and Skyline High School. Clayton and Katy have absorbed so much information about the history of the Balkans and, more broadly, the history of Europe. Lots of talks this week about European history, wars, and American politics. I apologize, I digress (like my brother…).

When Clayton and I crossed the Montenegro border and descended down to the first town of Montenegro, I may have squirted a few (tears). Not really sure why. Leaving the confines of 170 South Main, SLC, and hauling down the highway of a foreign country with my brother on a tandem bicycle, ocean breeze blowing in our faces and burning thighs, was nothing short of exhilarating, an adrenaline rush, and feelings of gratitude for the perfect moment.

Clayton and Katy are living THE LIFE right now. Not life — THE life. (Clayton tries to tell Charlie that kindergarten is life and that baklava in Bosnia is THE life. Charlie is catching on.) You can’t really experience a place so up close and personal as you can biking. As Clayton and I entered the little towns, people are crossing the street right as you approach them. You see their facial expressions, what they are carrying, what they are wearing. You smells all the smells (well, Clayton doesn’t) and you hear all the sounds. All sensory perception at high alert. It must beat all forms of transportation, even the TGV.

Now let me discuss the athletes: Clayton and Katy. What a team they are!!! They have the whole biking thing down to a T. Clip in first with left feet and then on the down pedal click in on the right. When Clayton hears Katy’s “click” they are off. When I was on our ride, there was definitely some tight turns, steep hills, and dodging of cars passing us while on a narrow shoulder but the whole time I trusted Clayton. He is smart and has good judgment in making decisions in often times fractions of a second. Not to mention his legs are extremely strong right now—he hauls!!! And, of course, Clayton wouldn’t be Clayton without his constant sarcasm and joking.

Katy. She makes up for what Clayton lacks. In the evening there is preparation for the day (biking or not). Ya know, charging the phone and lights for the bike, hanging up a wet swimsuit, drying out damp clothing, filling up the water bottles, staying in touch with folks back home, etc. Clayton fails miserably in this department. Katy is a sweetheart and she is constantly “prepping” for the next day. And while he’s often oblivious to how much Katy does, he is appreciative and he loves and adores his Kate.

Katy is one tough chika. It poured rain today, our last day, and it’s amazing that Katy and Clayton have had the girth and mental stamina to keep biking through the rain. It gets dark early here and when the sun goes down it’s cold if you are wet. Katy is also so well-organized, smart, and she’s continually reading up on things. While discussing future destinations, routes, and places to stay with Clayton at night, Katy is also keeping up with world news and events and in the middle of reading a book. She’s a wealth of info. If you have a question, just ask Katy.

So cheers to the Touring Tandem! Some people talk about traveling the world. Clayton and Katy are making it happen! (We’re really doing it though Harry, aren’t we buddy!) I wish them all the best out on the road into the great wide open of new things to experience, new places to stay, new people to meet, new currencies, new bakeries… But of course, the same bike, and same clothes. We love you and will stay tuned . . . via the blog.