Top 3 in 3 and more barfing

We’ve been on the road for three months and have settled in nicely. Not that we don’t have our challenges which mainly revolve around the damn iPad and normal “raising kids” issues. Other than that, things are going relatively well.  Admittedly, there have been mentions of missing friends at home.

Here are the ABCD Top 3 memories for our first 3 months on the road. If you ask us tomorrow, we  may have different answers because there have been so many wonderful experiences.

Audrey

1. Reaching the summit of the 15,000 foot pass with my three boys on the Lares Valley Trek en route to Machu Pichu (Peru) (See photos)
2. Water sliding in Mindo (Ecuador) (See video)
3. Watching our kids become more independent by running back ‘home’ by themselves in whatever city or country we happen to be in.

Bryan

1. Spending five nights on the Santa Cruz II cruise ship in the Galapagos Islands with my parents: Eating great food; swimming close to the animals; and, not making any decisions where we would go, sleep, or eat. (Ecuador)
2. Seeing the smile on the boy’s face after paragliding in Lima (Peru) (See video)
3. Swimming in Semuc Champay (Guatemala) (See video)

Colin

1. Eating, playing with other kids and swimming close to the animals on the Santa Cruz II cruise ship in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) (See video)
2. Eating, hiking, and sleeping at Sacha Lodge in the Amazon Rain Forest (Ecuador)
3. Paragliding in Lima (Peru) (See video)

Decker

1. Paragliding in Lima (Peru) (See video)
2. Hiking up to Machu Pichu and then seeing the ruins (Peru)
3. Swimming in Semuc Champay (Guatemala) (See video)

Of course, if we had to rate our worst times, today would hit the list. Decker got hit with a stomach bug this morning and threw up in Peru then walked across the border and threw up in Bolivia. While standing in line for our visa, the bus started to leave. Fortunately I was able to get our luggage off before it took off. I said to Decker, “It’s been a rough day hasn’t it?” And he responded, “It could be worse, at least it’s not raining.”

We took a short taxi ride into our final destination and are now resting comfortably. Colin was a trooper and helped a lot. My hardest border crossing ever.

However, this pails in comparison to what so many others went through 16 years ago.

Click here to see more photos or  videos.

TRIP STATS

• Days on Road – 93
• Countries – 6
• Flight (Miles) – 9,774
• Flight (Hours) – 30′ 51″
• Bus (Hours) – 69′ 55″