February 28, 2011 (Updated March 22, 2023)

Biking with Llamas

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

41 comments

Best blog post title, ever.

Yesterday, Matt and I went biking… and stumbled upon a llama farm.

image_thumb

Want to save this post?

Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you great content every week!

Save Recipe

Yes, a llama farm. Is that not the most random thing ever?!

Let’s start from the beginning. 😉 As I mentioned, last week Matt and I bought our very first road bikes!

049

We both really like biking and used to bike together occasionally in DC, but were always using old mountain bikes — not exactly the best for biking on the road or even paved trails. Matt didn’t have a bike at all anymore, so we decided it was time to make the investment so we can enjoy biking together on the weekends 🙂

009_thumb1

We took the bikes out for a short ride on Friday night, but yesterday was the day to really test them out. 80 and sunny in February? Man, I love the south.

002_thumb

We had a great ride — both of us LOVE our new bikes! I can’t believe how big of a difference it makes having skinny tires and a much lighter bike. I was SO much faster and more comfortable. Biking on the road was a lot more fun than it used to be on my old mountain bike! 🙂 Especially when hills were involved!

We ended up biking 16 miles, starting from our neighborhood and doing a loop through some of the country roads by here. One of the things I really love about Chapel Hill is how easy it is to get out into the country! It’s so close you kind of forget.

001_thumb

And now — the llamas. To preface, a few weeks ago, Matt headed out for a run. He came back over an hour later, sweating buckets and talking a mile a minute. He said he had gone some random weird route, gotten completely lost, and found a llama farm. Clearly I just patted him on the head and told him to go take a shower.

Well — hot damn, he didn’t have heat stroke. There IS a llama farm here!

007_thumb

It’s about 3 miles away from our place. SO random.

010_thumb

I have no idea what llama farms are for. Do they just shear them and sell their wool? Hopefully they don’t do anything mean to them!

003_thumb

It was such a wonderful day for biking and enjoying the country sights. I’m a pretty slow biker, but I can’t help it — I like taking in the scenery 🙂

We stopped to say hello to these horses, too!

image_thumb1 image_thumb2

So cute 🙂

013_thumb 012_thumb

I’m so excited to get more into biking! Next time our plan is to pack lunch and have a picnic somewhere along the way 🙂

Sadly now it’s Monday and I have a long day of class ahead — boo! Time to get back after it. But first — I need some serious yoga in my life — time to bust out my Bob Harper DVD! My legs are feeling pretty stiff and a bit sore today, although surprisingly, I think the biking actually helped with post-long run recovery!

Anyway — hope you all had nice weekends. Ta-ta for now!

- anne

join the list

Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

you might also like:

leave a comment

41 comments
  • Renie
    So pretty. Llamas and Alpaca are big here in Georgia. You have to have at least two or they won't survive, they have to have company. They are entered in live stock shows and keep the grass mowed and are terrific pets and easy to care for. We are seriously thinking about getting two Alpaca to roam on our five acres. You also need a barn and we live out of the city limits and already have a barn. Good tax right off too.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      That's cute that they like company! :)
      Reply
  • Victoria (District Chocoholic)
    It's hard to tell from the photos, but based on the height relative to the fence, it looks like they could possibly be alpacas (unless you saw a sign that indicated otherwise). Alpacas have very soft fur, so many clothing items are made of alpaca fur. Regardless of whether they are llamas or alpacas, they probably shear them for fur - llamas have soft undercoats, but it's a bit coarser than alpaca fur.
    Reply
    • Anne P
      How interesting! We didn't see a sign either way so you are probably right :) They did look very soft and cuddly! I wanted to pet them but they ran away from us :) Are they friendly?
      Reply
      • Melissa
        Like llamas, the only real defense an alpaca has is to spit so it you annoy them, better duck. I got to hand feed a few alpacas at a farm here in Newfoundland. I love them. They're especially a-dork-able right after they've been sheared. Skinny little necks and fluffy heads. It's one of my favourite fleeces to knit with. So soft and warmer than sheep's wool.
        Reply
        • Anne P
          I was thinking that they might spit at us! They all ran away the second we came though, ha.
          Reply
  • Jennifer
    Sounds like a great bike ride...glad you are loving your new bike...kinda making me want to get more into biking by just hearing how excited you are!
    Reply
  • Emily
    so random! I used to live in Vermont and there was a farm with a lone camel at it. Definitely the most bizarre animal I used to ride by. I love that you guys are loving the new rides!
    Reply
  • Clare @ Fitting It All In
    So fun! I love seeing live animals during my runs too. They had the horses out in the park on Saturday:) Also, made your Pumpkin Muffins of Deliciousness. At three right away. AHH!
    Reply
  • K
    Those llamas are freakin' adorable!!!
    Reply
  • Christina
    That is so random! I hope they don't hurt them either but that's so funny to just run into them! And there were so many! usually you'll see an animal farm have a few outside but they had a ton. Looks like you guys had a great ride, sure you'll have a lot more once the weather stays warm :)
    Reply
  • DHP
    What fun! And a llama farm, of all things. Glad the new bike is a hit; sounds like a great ride. Remember to invest in a small speedometer for your handle bars -- and buy Matt a pair of bike shorts! :-) The cushioning is worth it!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      You'll be happy to know those ARE bike shorts! Underneath the normal looking shorts there's padded biking spandex. Cool, huh? We found them at the bike store last week - apparently they are the latest thing! He was happy to not be wearing spandex :)
      Reply
      • DHP
        Matt needs some real bike shorts! Spandex!
        Reply
  • Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles
    I love llamas - I think they're absolutely hilarious! So fun that you stumbled upon them!
    Reply
  • Jayce
    I'm pretty sure those are alpacas - so cute!! What a beautiful bike route!
    Reply
  • Allyson
    Totes alpacas! They make amazing wool and there is probably a spinner and dyer living in that farm. So sweet! I'll have to have you go get me some fancy yarn for a future fANNEtastic knitting project! hehe
    Reply
    • Anne P
      Haha that would be amazing!!
      Reply
  • Manon
    This is EXACTLY why I need a bike!
    Reply
  • Hunter
    Aaawwwww!! I LOVE LLAMAS! Soooo cute! Great photos, as always :) PS: Nice work 80 degrees and sunny in February!
    Reply
  • Stephanie
    If you ever find yourself venturing to Sacramento, CA, you might want to plan a stop in Davis as well. Between the biking reputation, farmers' markets, university events, and small-town charm, I think you'd love it. I went to college there and I miss it so much, but at least seeing all the photos from Chapel Hill really reminds me of it. http://daviswiki.org/
    Reply
    • Anne P
      I've heard Davis is cute! Really, all of California is pretty awesome... :)
      Reply
  • Gretchen @ Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen!
    I was going to weigh-in on what I thought Llamas were used for (like sheep, for their wool) but apparently everyone else has already covered that! I guess the way you should feel about alpaca wool is the same way you would feel about sheep's wool either way, huh? Very cool little discovery though - definitely puts a big check in the "Pro" column for just getting outside and MOVING! You never know what you'll discover!
    Reply
  • Kristen
    haha Im not sure what a Llama farm is for either, but your bike ride looks fun! and Im glad you like your new bike
    Reply
  • Lauren
    So funny! There's an alpaca farm near my family's summer cabin, and I always plan my run to go by and see the alpacas. They are so funny looking!
    Reply
  • Kelly
    I don't know that I've ever seen a llama farm. I'm incredibly jealous of your weather though. Those temps sound amazing right about now.
    Reply
  • Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down)
    There's an alpaca farm near my house that sells wooly hats, mittens, blankets, etc. They're super soft and fluffy. :D I hope to get more into biking this summer too. It's such a fun workout. :D
    Reply
  • Lauren
    Haha, that is so funny! I don't think I've ever seen a llama other than at the zoo. I'm not sure how I would react if I ran into a herd of them on a leisurely ride.
    Reply
  • Marlow
    Holy cow! Ummm...a year ago I lived two houses down from that llama farm :) Crazy!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      No way! That's crazy!
      Reply
    • Anne P
      Not that I noticed? We weren't all that close though b/c they ran away!
      Reply
  • Lindsay
    Love the llamas/alpacas!! Lisa and I saw llamas at the Lowry Park Zoo. You can pet and feed them!! We were obsessed, and may or may not have elbowed our way through little kids so we could pet them :)
    Reply
  • Kris S
    Congrats! Nice that you guys invested in something you both enjoy! Sounds like you're loving the road bike- next time we bike together I'm sure you'll have picked up the pace and will be speeding along! :P
    Reply
  • Breana Lai
    Hey there! Just wanted to tell you that it is an alpaca farm. My mom lives right next door. There are about 150 of them with the majority of them female. The males are kept in the back and are solely used for their breeding capabilities. Most alpaca farmers don't have male alpacas, so other they bring their females over for the day. The owner calls it 'drive-by breeding'. I wish I was kidding. The noises the female alpacas make don't seem enjoyable :) Oh, and unlike llamas, they don't spit. They just run away because they are trying to protect their babies (they are pregnant for 11 months of every year!)
    Reply
    • Anne P
      How interesting! Those males must be feeling pretty lucky, ha. Thanks for sharing :)
      Reply
  • Patty Cuoco-Schoen
    Hi, Found your site by accident looking up information for our Llama who is not feeling well do to heat stress. Yes, the pictures you have are Alpacas. We have three Llamas and my Husband uses them for packing. Ours have never spit at a human, just at each other! They make a "humming" sound when they are happy or anxious. They also make a "warning" sound, somewhat like a horse, when threatening animals are around. They are excellent guard animals for live stock. They are pack animals and always have to be more than one. Ours give us "llama kisses" gently rubbing their face against ours. They are not very friendly until they know you. Our "Cherokee" "Thunder" and "Scout" get along so well with our dogs, chickens and goats. Their fiber is beautiful and can be spun like wool. We have a beautiful throw made from the fiber of our boys. We have males because they are larger and stronger than females. Nice surprise to find your site. Enjoy your riding and the wonderful animals you will see. Patty
    Reply