Keeping Fit with The Pedouins
The Pedouins captured my attention when I saw a posting that they were traveling through my hometown: Petaluma, CA. This adventurous family had set forth on an epic journey to Alaska: trekking 7,000 miles, passing two oceans and one gulf, and traveling across 13 States on one tandem bicycle, built for five.
This is one family that is not contending with childhood obesity, nor fighting a sedentary lifestyle. “With a leap of faith we (Dad/Bill Harrison, Mom/Amarins, and their daughters: Cheyenne, Jasmine and Robin, then ages six, four and two respectively) left Kentucky on August 1, 2009 with $300 in our pockets. It is our goal to ride our five person tandem bicycle across the country to Alaska.” Pioneers in family cycling, “We set out to prove that it is possible for a blue collar worker and a stay-at-home mom to live their dream. A dream to show our girls this great country we live in.” They have been grateful recipients to numerous people and companies, including REI in Marina, CA.
The Pedouins, models of healthy living, stopped in historic Petaluma in March 26 & 27, 2010, staying with locales: Caryn and Tom. Numerous photo posts display them at the Cheese Factory, where I had once attended Shakespearean Festivals while growing up in Petaluma. Community hospitality was in abundance for the Pedouins as their progression into town was accompanied by The Petaluma Wheelmen, whom graciously escorted them! This family then had the chance to enjoy a delicious, gourmet Pedouin pizza from Pizzica Pizza. To round out the day’s events, the family cooled off with a swim at Club One’s pool before retiring for the day.
Bill and Amarins Harrison are held in the highest regard, demonstrating their feats through physical activity: real commitment that is crucial to stave off childhood obesity. In clear alignment with Let’s Move Campaign, established by First Lady Michelle Obama: “Let’s Move will give parents the support they need…help our kids to be more physically active… in every part of our country” The Pedouins personify this endeavor with flying colors!
Understandably, the Pedouins’ trek across the country may seem daunting, but there are alternatives to this enormous endeavor. LA Times Journalist Jeannine Stein notes in her article, A Better Incentive For Exercise, “For those less inspired, there’s a van for riders who don’t feel like keeping up with the pack.” Participants partaking in a bicycle tour with Digngo, a luxury European bicycle tour company, enjoy these luxuries, and are paid 3.5 cents per calorie burned daily while bicycling. Now that’s incentive to get in shape!!
We all know that traveling with a family of five can be challenging, especially on the open road, with only two wheels to get them from point A to point B. These brave parents share similar sentiments with blogger Nancy Sathre-Vogel, in reference to her blog: Reasons to Take Your Children Bicycling: There about a million reasons why travel in general is good for kids. “On a bike tour, you will go through tough times and kids will learn – when they reach the top of a steep pass or reach Grandma’s house after battling a head wind all day – the value of sticking with it and not giving up.”
Upstanding parents in a world torn with accountability towards their children’s health and well-being, the Pedouins embody their fundamental beliefs of physical fitness. They are setting high, yet attainable, standards for their children. As noted by Richelle Riley, on twitter @Healthyeating42, “As families, let’s do everything we can to make those lives long and healthy ones.” Fighting Childhood Obesity is a Noble Cause. They are beacons of light in which we all can aspire to!
As the Pedouins’ quest inspires us all, there are alternative activities that families can pursue, as suggested in this book: Keeping Kids Fit: A Family Plan for Raising Active, Healthy Children. The author, Len Saunders, commends, “Keeping Kids Fit will become a great family resource and guideline to assist parents with maintaining a healthy lifestyle for their children.” This is a great option to keep children in shape and avoid suffering from childhood obesity.
The Pedouins are well-equipped to stay in contact with the general public, visit their website where you can contact, cheer, offer accommodations, track, or listen to them live at: http://www.pedouins.org/. At each new location, the Pedouins dutifully report their mileage, total mileage-to-date, campsite location and hosts, weather conditions, flat tires, flat tires-to-date, falls with bicycle, and falls with bicycle-to-date. Daily updates are also available, befriend Bill Harrison on Facebook.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
And of course, most important, the flat, fitted cut that flatters your physique. Lifestyle Center
Great job Teresa! Wonderfully written and informative blog! we need to keep this conversation going! This family inspires me and they are a true test of determination and will…something every generation can learn from!
Nice fill someone in on and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you on your information.
[...] More here: Keeping Fit with The Pedouins [...]