The Honeymoon - Cycle Oregon!

For our honeymoon we toyed with the idea of a beach vacation in New Zealand, hiking the Fjords of Norther Europe or exploring the jungles of Costa Rica.

It just wasn't working though.

First off it was all way to expensive (we did just buy a house, have a wedding this summer and on top of it I might need some wisdom teeth yanked out.)

It also didn't quite feel like us. Even if we had the cash, a kick-ass stereo is more up our alley. Also, I always have qualms about the environmental impact of world-wide jet-setting, and while we would be bringing cash into the places we are visiting, how exactly to be a globally responsible tourist? Even "green" hotels are far from sustainable and it is hard to know how much of the money you spend in a place actually goes toward the local economy and/or benefiting the people who live there. I've definitely traveled far and wide and thoroughly enjoy it, but I'm more of a purpose-driven traveler than a vacationer.

Still, we want to go on a honeymoon. But where???

Then a brilliant notion was suggested - Cycle Oregon!

We will spend a week in September biking around Oregon - this year it is through the stunningly-gorgeous far NE corner. No TV's, no phones, no cooking, no cleaning, no dishes. They handle your meals, your snacks, your camping, your luggage, give you a ride if you get tired, your entertainment, they even a beer garden set up at every camp site. You don't have to think about a single thing other than riding to the next food stop!

AND Cycle Oregon is a non-profit with all the proceeds from the ride (and its giving fund) going to support social, health and environmental projects across the state and in the small towns we ride through.

I'm really exited. And I don't even have to plan anything for it (other than training all summer and then packing properly.) All you need to do is show up and they handle the rest!

Some quotes from other riders that jive with my thoughts on it:

Chris Milan and Lori Saylor Milan of Boring, Oregon:
"As an adult, it's one of the rare times when your only responsibility for a week is to show up and ride, show up and eat, show up and be entertained and then go to sleep. (And be kind to others!) And you're outside, all day, for a whole week. You see the sunset and the sunrise and all the stars in between. Plus we're helping out the many small towns CO raises funds for. We consider Cycle Oregon one of our favorite charities."

Dave Anderson of Glide, Oregon:
"To have a truly relaxing week of vacation. No TV, no phones, no distractions, no cooking, no dishes. It's like being a kid on summer vacation again. And you can eat pizza and drink beer every evening for 7 days and go home in better shape and 5 pounds lighter than when you left! You meet 2,000 really nice, positive people. OK, 1,990 really nice people and a few grumps."