Machka 

Summer holiday season in the Northern Hemisphere is about to begin. Several of us in the Southern Hemisphere are planning holiday time too ... getaways from winter.

And more specifically and currently, the Easter holiday long weekend is upon us.


So ... where are you planning to go on your various holidays this year. Are you planning to bring your bicycle?

Are you planning a cycling tour? Or maybe a holiday surrounding a cycling event in another area? Will your family be cycling with you?

DEK

Going to Orlando for Easter weekend. May bring my bike and see about riding the West Orange Trail but it will depend on whether the hotel will let me bring my bike into the room. I won't leave in the car or anywhere else in the hotel.

LowCel 

I generally take a vacation every five or six years whether I need it or not. I don't think this is going to be one of those years. I did take a full week off work about 10 years ago. That was nice.

Machka 

I would hate that!! I just couldn't do that. I have had some good jobs, but none of them would be worth that.

I usually try to take at least 3 weeks in a row off each year, most years. Plus other days off here and there throughout the year.

LowCel 

Between working a full time job and being part owner of a small family business I don't get much time off. I use most of my vacation time from my real job to work for our family business.

Machka 

So far this year ...

Mid-January -- we took a long weekend and went to Gippsland and area (south-central/eastern Victoria) where we cycled up a couple mountains, and visited the ocean.

Mid-February -- we took a long weekend and went to the Phillip Island area for a cycling event that didn't quite pan out the way we had planned, so we made the best of it and had a nice look around the area.

Some ocean photos from our mid-January and mid-February long weekends: https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...7629300260523/

Mid-March -- we took the Labour Day long weekend, and went to the central Goldfields area of Victoria (sort of the middle of the state) for a cycling event. Then we did an overnight camping trip and exploration of a little goldfields town.


The Easter long weekend is almost here ... and the beach beckons.

fa63

What is this "Easter holiday long weekend" that you speak of? Should I tell my company that such a thing exists and demand that I be given Friday before and/or Monday after off?



Actually, I think I will take Friday off and go for a ride anyways (we don't get a day off).

Machka 

Such a thing does indeed exist. Our organisation closes down for 4 days at Easter ... last year Anzac Day was the Wednesday, so we took the Tuesday off as a leave day, and got a 6-day weekend. This year Easter is earlier so we're limited to only 4 days. But ... as I said ... the beach beckons, and so do the roads along the beach.

Machka 

I've done that sort of schedule many times in my life (working 1 full-time and 1 or 2 part-time jobs; or working 1 full-time job and going to night classes part time; or going to uni full time and working part time; or working several part-time jobs all at once) ... but I don't think I've ever done it for more than about 11 months in a row. Then I take a month off. I like travelling too much.

DEK

It's been about 8 years since I took off a full week. I'd much rather take several long weekends than 1 long break of 2-3 weeks. But then again, I only get 10 days vacation so it's not like I have a lot of options anyway.

AMFJ

In my adult life I've never had a full week off work. The most I've ever done is 3 days.

I try to take a Friday/Monday here and there for a good 4 days.


My plans this year are a Friday-Monday in Dahlonega, GA area to ride the 6 gap route before September. Haven't decided when yet.

I have a business trip to Chattanooga in August, I'm going to try and stay an extra day over and ride in that area since I'm going to miss the 3 state/3mountain ride this year.

Other than that--nothing else planned.

Seattle Forrest

My boss gave me a talking to about how she doesn't like your type. I've been tasked with using three to four weeks of vacation this summer.

I'm going to Little Giant Pass, Sahale Mountain's peak, kayak camping on glacial Ross Lake, and ... I can't remember the whole list.

LowCel 

My boss gives away his leave time every year and then tries to make me feel guilty any time I take an hour or two off. I still take my time off, but I do feel guilty about it from time to time.

John_V 

Retired! Every day is a holiday. Going to northwestern part of Illoniois for the week of Easter. Not taking the bike so it will suck not riding for a week. The weekend after we get back, it's the Orlando area for the MS 150.

valygrl

This thread is making me appreciate my part-time/contract job a whole lot! I did the 2-weeks-a-year thing for an eternity and it sure is nice to be on a different schedule now. Machka, those of us in the US don't get a "summer holiday" most of us just get a few weeks of paid time off a year (if that) and very little freedom to use it in big chuncks.

I'm going to Arizona for a week of supported bike tour, the week after next, a 4-day weekend in CA (Death Ride) in July, and some kind of 3-4 week self-supported tour in September in the Cascades.

I don't get vacation pay or any other benefits, but I like it this way - lots of freedom.

clichty

Yeesh that kinda sucks. We are forced to take 5 consecutive days off at a time once a year and my boss has never frowned upon using PTO. Even if I don't have a vacation day planned, I will take a few days off here and there to just not be at work. Stay-cations are a lot of fun.

Peiper1

My wife and I are going to London for one week over Easter, she has never been and it will be fun to see all the Olympic preparations (on top of London's numerous tourist delights). In September we are planning 3 weeks in Peru, Bolivia and Northern Chile.
Can't imagine a job that doesn't allow ample time for travel .... life is too short to waste on crappy jobs.

Seattle Forrest

I've been taking a week a year ... three to four weeks this summer is going to be so luxurious, I won't know what to do with myself!

Machka 

+1

I've been fortunate ... where I've worked, it was expected that everyone take 2-3 weeks off in the summer, and then often another week over Christmas, and maybe even an additional week in February or so to go to Cuba or Mexico or someplace warm.

I've also held several contract positions, and that sort of thing really suits me. I can work through my contract (and get my holiday time while working), and then I can take a month or so off to travel before going into the next phase of my life.

Your travel plans sound good. I'm especially interested in the Peru, Bolivia and Northern Chile trip. Are you taking your bicycles and touring, or are you using another method of transportation?

Peiper1

@Machka .... PM sent

Machka 

Sounds like you've got a good boss!


There's a danger in experiencing the freedom of a decent amount of holiday time .......... you'll want to do it more often!!


We went from September 2009 to April 2011 only taking long weekends once every 3 weeks or month or so. And that was OK. But then we took 6 days at Easter last year, and that triggered the desire to take more. The 3.5 weeks in August 2011 only fueled the fire. And by the end of the week at Christmas, I just wanted to keep travelling.


So ... is your bicycle coming with you on your adventure?

Machka 

Rowan did a hub-and-spoke tour over the Easter weekend. We had thought we might do an overnight tour, and we brought everything we needed for that, but the weather was a little scary over the weekend ... howling winds, driving rain, and a sudden drop in temperature.

We were also planning to camp all weekend, and did the first night which was good, but the next morning we were offered a unit and with the winds gusting up to 80 km/h, we decided to take it. Good decision.

We also decided to make the trip a hub-and-spoke tour then as well.

Thursday - drove to Port Fairy.

Friday - spent some time at the beach on boogie boards, some time taking photos of the ocean and area, and some time relaxing.

Saturday - drove out to Portland, and then cycled out to Cape Bridgewater and back on new touring bicycles for a total of 37 km.

Sunday - cycled here and there around the Port Fairy area for a total of 39 km. Got caught in one of the many rainstorms passing through the area, and got totally soaked.

Monday - spent about 4 hours walking around the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool, then drove home.


Photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...etail/?page=15
https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...etail/?page=16
https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...etail/?page=17
https://www.flickr.com/photos/machka-...etail/?page=18

krusty

I'm quite senior where I work, and get 6 weeks of paid holidays per year. In a few years I'll have another week. Unfortunately it's difficult to get a long stretch of time off all at once, especially during the peak summer holiday season. Fortunately I'm a skier (I was a professional many years ago), so this year I treated myself to 3 weeks at a couple of favorite locations in British Columbia, where I used to live. Darn I miss that place badly.

chasm54

Er, why is this thread in the road forum? Foo? Touring, perhaps? But hardly road-specific...

Seattle Forrest

No. I don't think I can secure it to a kayak, and even if I could, there are no paved roads.