derek arnell @derekarnell - Twitter Profile

Today I turn 39, it’s my birthday 🥳🚴‍♂️🎂 And I’m spending it cycling 200 miles across the Netherlands… with three kids in tow 🇳🇱🤪 Loads of people have messaged: “Where’s all your luggage?” Well, the bad news is — what you see strapped to the bikes is pretty much it, for the kids. The good news is — I’m wearing a bamboo T-shirt which, according to the label, can’t smell. Let’s hope it lives up to the hype, because it’s about to get tested 🥴 No change of clothes. No luxuries. Just two bikes, three kids, and a few small bags. Although… Anna did treat us last night: we stayed in an actual castle (see pic) 🏰 It only cost €80 — the kind of magic you just can’t plan. And honestly, that feels like a pretty good metaphor for 39: 🚲 Travel a little lighter. 👕 Carry only what you really need. 😋And make sure you’ve got enough snacks to keep the show on the road. Excited to see what this year brings, I’ve got some HUGE announcements over the next couple of months. But for now, it’s panniers, pancakes, castles, and pedal power 🥞

MrJamieMcDonald's tweet photo. Today I turn 39, it’s my birthday 🥳🚴‍♂️🎂

And I’m spending it cycling 200 miles across the Netherlands… with three kids in tow 🇳🇱🤪

Loads of people have messaged: “Where’s all your luggage?”

Well, the bad news is — what you see strapped to the bikes is pretty much it, for the kids.

The good news is — I’m wearing a bamboo T-shirt which, according to the label, can’t smell.

Let’s hope it lives up to the hype, because it’s about to get tested 🥴

No change of clothes.
No luxuries.
Just two bikes, three kids, and a few small bags.

Although… Anna did treat us last night: we stayed in an actual castle (see pic) 🏰

It only cost €80 — the kind of magic you just can’t plan.

And honestly, that feels like a pretty good metaphor for 39:

🚲 Travel a little lighter.
👕 Carry only what you really need.
😋And make sure you’ve got enough snacks to keep the show on the road.

Excited to see what this year brings, I’ve got some HUGE announcements over the next couple of months.

But for now, it’s panniers, pancakes, castles, and pedal power 🥞

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derekarnell retweeted

Adventureman

@MrJamieMcDonald

12 months ago

We were on TV!! 🎥✨ Life has a funny way of coming full circle… When we shared we were selling our ‘forever home’ to live a more soulful, nomadic life with the kids, we didn’t imagine it would lead to ITV Westcountry inviting us into the studio to share our story. And wow… they surprised me live on air by digging out the very first interview they did with me when I was 14, braces and all, when I was a shy kid dreaming about winning Wimbledon 🎾😳😂 (I was so self-conscious back then, but seeing it now… it was a beautiful reminder of how dreams evolve.) Now, a little plot twist worth mentioning: When the piece went out, they shared that we were heading off on a campervan trip… which sounds romantic, but we’re not actually doing that! 😅 We thought about it, but thanks to Brexit and the 3-month Euro visa limit, it’s just not long enough for the kind of journey we want to create with the kids. So the current plan is looking more like: 🌴 An island in Thailand as our starting point. (We’re equal parts excited and terrified.) In the interview, we talked about the messy but beautiful reality of pausing the conveyor belt of busy family life to actually live before the school years fully kick in. 🤯 We know it’s a bit mad. But it’s our kind of mad. If you’ve ever wondered if there’s another way to live, or if you’re on the edge of a big decision yourself, I think you’ll get something out of watching this. Over the years, Anna and I have built up so many adventure memories, both solo memories and memories together, and in years to come, we want us to say to the kids, “Remember when we did that?” And for the kids to smile and say, “Yeah, we really did it.” #FamilyAdventure #LifeChoices #NomadicFamily