When we first set out on this trip, my dad asked me if we were taking foldable bikes along. I politely thought to myself, what in the world would we want bikes for? Well, I could not have been more wrong.

Even as soon as Panama, we found ourselves saying, ?wouldn?? t it be great if we had bikes� to run this or that errand. At that point in time we didn?? t have room, as we had another couple on board. Once we did have room, we were in such places as Tonga and Fiji, where foldable bikes are really not easy to come by.

Once in New Zealand we found some nice ones down in Auckland, but they were way overpriced. Finally, about two days before we were leaving, our friends down the dock on Big Buzzard offered to sell us two of theirs at a great price. We jumped at the offer and couldn?? t be happier with the purchase.

Since we have been in Cairns, we?? ve ridden all over town and to the outskirts looking for such things as fishing rigs and engine parts. In the past we would have had to either walk which takes forever, or take a cab, which is annoying and expensive.

The bikes fold up to a size not much larger than the wheels themselves and weigh only about 20 lbs each. They fit in a nice bag and we store them either in the forepeak or the pilots?? berth, depending on where there is room at the moment.

We?? re not sure how helpful they will be on the atolls in the Indian Ocean, but for now they offer great mobility at a relatively low cost. Not to mention we get a little exercise too!