Cycling to Gibraltar
Craig Bishop wanted his family's cycle ride to Gibraltar to be a learning experience for all involved – and that's exactly what it was.
Craig
'Annick and I saw this trip as part of a process of educating our children and developing ourselves. Maybe that's why we didn't feel a great sense of achievement when we reached Gibraltar. What's important is the journey, not the destination.
'The trip turned out differently from what we'd expected. On the minus side, we didn't learn Spanish or French, and the girls didn't meet other young people as often as they'd hoped. On the other hand, we had our attitudes challenged. It was reassuring to discover how much goodness is out there, we met and enjoyed the company of many people and visited a great many places. We had some magical moments cycling but it was the encounters with kindness which most stick in our minds. I have a great respect for our children (and a gargantuan respect for Annick). I discovered it's best to concentrate on getting over the next hill and worry about tomorrow's challenges when the time comes.
'I've had to hone the skills of compromise and cannot count the number of times I said the silent prayer: "Thank God we didn't do what I wanted us to do."
'To anyone planning a trip I'd say, just do it. Life is indeed too short. Basic ingredients for a family trip are agreement and compromise (I'd say love, but that might sound soppy). Leave your pride at home.'
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