The kids were old enough and the time seemed right. So David Bateman, professor of teacher education, and his wife Lisa Dorrill along with Lucas, age 10, and Emma, age 8, packed their bags and left for a summer holiday in France. What made this trip unusual was that the Bateman’s took along their tandem bikes and biked about 600 miles in 21 days including parts of the Tour de France course. The trip, despite being hilly and hot, was a wonderful experience and the family is planning to bike across England next summer.

The family takes a moment to enjoy the port in Honfluer. The bikes were transported in the cases that then became luggage carriers. Below left, the family enjoys breakfast in Jumieges. Biking allowed the Batemans to enjoy the sites like Mt. St. Michel.