A Wild Week in Madrid

April 9, 2014
Madrid, Spain



Saturday's big adventure was riding our trikes to Brunette, where Mónica's parents live to store them. She told me to lead and just go down the hill and go straight. I did. Right on to the highway and into a long, long tunnel with no shoulder and the 2 more lanes merged in from the right...OMG! Frightening to say the least! April did not follow, smart woman! And I could only keep going straight and find the first exit a km or so later. No shoulder! Cars driving 70 km/h! Lucky to have survived that one!! And after I got out a cop stopped, speaking no English, tells me to not bicycle in the tunnel! (Passer bys translated). Duh!!!

The kindness of strangers is all around even if I can't communicate. I called Monica when I got out of the tunnel but couldn't tell her where I was so I stopped an old man to talk to her. He spoke no English. You should have seen us talking to each other:). I texted her a picture of my GPS location so that she could figure out where I was!


I'm not feeling like blogging and I apologize. I'm tired from a busy schedule. The technology is frustrating the hell out of me: losing whole blog posts, trying to figure out how to manage and back up photos, and I really just want to live in the moment. Plus with so many people around after a quiet and lonely winter, I'm on overload. Hard to find a moment to myself. The joy of blogging is just not there. Especially when I'm not alone. So you may not be able to enjoy this journey vicariously like the others. My suggestion is to become Facebook friends. It's easier right now to quickly put up a post and a picture than to sit here all evening typing on this ipad trying to find cute pictures to share. Maybe I'll find my blogging mojo, maybe I won't. No promises.

My friends from Minnesota arrived today: Willing and Abal (trail names)...or Val and Phil. So our Camino plans are coming together. This is Wed (Apr 9th)...Saturday we will bus to St Jean Pied de Port, France where the Camino Frances starts officially. Monica and Marudo have graciously given over their apt to us and moved to her parents house for a few days. How kind is that? So we're enjoying this gorgeous apt in the center of Madrid within walking distance of everything.

April and I have been struggling over the visa issue here. It's pretty crazy but legally we can stay in Europe only 90 days every 180 days...26 countries are in the Shengen visa area. Alone I would just stay. Many bikers do and nothing happens, but April is the mother of a son who works for the State Dept and he's worried if she gets in trouble it jeopardizes his job. I'm also pissed about the stupidity of the law and the fact that they won't give us a 90 day extension to stay legally. Because so many countries are involved, there's no simple place to get answers. So we're heading to the UK for the summer. With luck it won't be too rainy. After April leaves, I'll have to figure out what to do, but that's months away. There's much in the UK to still be seen and the language will be easier for us both. After the Camino, we'll pedal up through France for a few weeks to get the ferry across.

Here are a few pics for your viewing pleasure.

Monica and Marudo:





With friends for drinks on the plaza...love "summer wine"!!





The apartment!




The sights!!!











Livin' the life!

BagLady

On The Road Again

March 3, 2014

I've gone and done it! Sold the house of 29 years; sorted, trimmed, and stored my stuff; and hit the road for parts unknown. I've always wanted to be homeless...and now I am:).

Right now I'm friend-hopping my way to Florida where I'll disengage myself of a motorized vehicle. Then after visiting the younger daughter, Dana, there I'll hop a plane (with bike and gear) to San Diego where eldest daughter, Avery, and hubby, Kevin, live.

Then I'll fly from LA to Madrid. An Appalachian Trail hiking friend, April, will join me with her newly acquired trike. Some more friends will join us a week later answer ouch we're heading to hike The Camino dear Santiago for 2 months. Then the bike tour will start. Going from Madrid to Istanbul it's the plan for this summer. And then Australia for a year... And Africa... and then...and then... And then. TBD.

Hold on tight! It's going to be quite a ride!!!

Getting ready has been exhausting. Closing on a house. Packing for storage. Packing for a world bike tour. Fighting the cold of the polar vortex. I'm done. I'm mentally fried. I want to sit on a beach for a week. And...guess what?...I can!! And will!!

Now I'm enjoying Thumper, my AT trail buddy...and wife, Vickie, in the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Tomorrow on to EZ Duzit's house for a couple of nights.
Reminiscing is such fun!

Livin' the life,
Officially BagLady



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Location:Sylva, NC

WOW...Women on Wheels

August 2, 2013
Fairport, NY
Yesterday I was honored to be added to the Wall. The Women on Wheels Wall
What a privilege to be included among so many amazing women doing amazing cycling!! Reading all these blogs should keep you busy while I'm off the road.
Right now I'm icing a tender foot. Might have a stress fracture on my right 5th metatarsal. I'm hoping it isn't and I can head to the hills next week for a 100 mike backpack through the White Mountains of New Hampshire. R.E.S.T. is my medical approach. Doesn't look like a doctor would add anything at this point. When going to the doctor's, my greatest fear is to be told to go home and rest...now pay me $200 for that advice. Since its the most common advice, I just do that first and keep my $200. My body knows how to heal itself if I just cooperate. Besides, no big event happened that could have caused this problem. I just woke up with foot pain one morning. Walking a lot that day made it worse. So no walking...or as little as possible:)

Foot miraculously better today:). More ice. More rest. And she should be good to go. Have no clue now what's going on in there. Got my fingers crossed she doesn't pull that stunt up in the mountains. EZ will have to carry me out!!

Step lightly,

BagLady

Home Sweet Home

June 30, 2013
Fairport NY USA
Yup I'm home! Been here about 2.5 weeks. Ready to leave. Not happy to be here. Too lonely. Too disconnected. Too isolated. Like a hermit. I can have whole days I talk to no one. Don't know how to reconnect here.
But first I have to share the voyage home. 30 hours of travel over 2 nights. A few hiccups with Blaze. Patience and persistence got us through. In LA I had to move her from terminal 1 to terminal 7! Her tires were inflated so I couldn't just hop on and ride her. Besides I had my carry on luggage too. Maybe the shuttle? Yes! Even though she blocked the whole back door and isle. Thank you. Landed in the morning and managed to stay up all day, even going to an Adirondack Mountain Club monthly meeting that night. And then slept 16 hours to catch up.
One of the challenges since being home is staying to the right side of the road:). In the car or on the bike. Several times I've pulled out into the wrong lane. Oops! Especially on my bike. Takes time to readjust!

Family reunion has come and gone. Was fabulous! 27 of us got together at an Adirondack Camp near Rochester. Plenty of bedrooms, dining areas, and living rooms to accommodate us all easily. Grocery shopping took 3 of us nearly 5 hours but having the menu and shopping lists done for us (thanks, Erin!) was both a treat and a challenge. The challenge being trying to decide volumes and substitutes if needed. But we did it! Thanks Barb, my sister, and Dana, my daughter, for persevering with me especially in Wegmans:/!!!
One of the highlights of the weekend was shooting clay pigeons over one of the ponds. Dana was the only girl game enough to give it a try and she nailed one after a few stray attempts! After watching a while, and never wanting to miss an opportunity to try something new, I joined in. Rifles are heavy...and noisy. When that thing went off my ears were ringing. But I did manage to control my aim and hit one of those flying saucers! Fun!!



(Pull that tummy in!)

Hugs,

Bag Lady

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Heading Home Soon

June 4 - 9th, 2013
Auckland, NZ

Yup, back in Auckland. But not before bussing to Wellington and enjoying a last few days with Moa and Pru, getting my gear left there, Skyping with Kiwi and Alison (because they're in Spain for the year...remember the going away party the end of Jan?), and unveiling Bella the Bag Lady, the doll dear Ann from Nuhaka made for me. I really choked up unwrapping her...she's a treasure and the best souvenir of NZ. What a gift!!

Today I flew back to Auckland, said goodbye to Bruce after he gave me a tour of the west coast here, and settled back in with Cory and John, the folks I stayed with her a month ago going north. They've offered to help me get to the airport in a couple of days. Until then I'll do some shopping and packing. Got more to take home than I started with. Hope it's not over weight. Have thought of leaving side bags right on the bike and seeing if it goes that way. Would be easier:). Think I'll try it.



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Last Days

June 10, 2013
Auckland, NZ

Meet Bella, the Bag Lady, made for me with love by an elderly woman I met months ago in the east coast. Thank you, Ann Hill of Nuhaka!!! I treasure her deeply! And purple is my color!

Bella, the Bag Lady...a gift from a Kiwi woman

Notice the backpack and umbrella!




I think we look like twins!!!


I know my blogs have been a bit scattered: in thoughts and in posting. Guess that represents the author. I'm feeling a bit scattered. Zipping around by bus. Saying many goodbyes. Packing. Souvenir shopping. Not the tranquil life if peddling. And all signs of a change that's coming that I'm not eager about. I love that the family reunion is in a week...don't get me wrong! But after. What then? Don't think about it, you say? Everyone is asking me, what next? Once you start doing these extended trips, I guess it's expected that they continue. Or something's planned next. But not for me. I have to wait to be directed. The Universe lets me know What Next. And she hasn't told me yet:/. But when the time's right, I'll know.

Right now, I want so badly to pack up Blaze and pedal on. I'm not done. Haven't had enough. Tired of some things, but this week off the bike had scratched that for me...so I'm ready to roll again.

Options:
- cycle around Australia. 1 year roughly
- cycle around the US perimeter coming back through Canada. 1 year
- get a camper trailer and explore the US staying longer in different spots, looking for the place that calls me. The drawback is I'm not living on my bike. Plus is a could settle down...sorta.

All this leaves the question if what to do with the house: sell or rent. Sell is what I think is right. Cut the umbilical cord and get set free!-

June 11th



Sunrise my last morning in New Zealand. Think I'll go for a bike ride:)))

BagLady


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Bussing It!

June 3, 2013
Napier, NZ

I'm doing a bus road trip back to Wellington. First stop was Rotorua, town of the thermals. I'm using one bike Lanier as luggage, not easy to tote around. Got into town Sat about 4 pm and the hostel I had selected on line was booked up. Really? Lately I've been the only one at the hostels. Oh, this is a 3 day weekend. Queen's Birthday Monday.

They nicely found me another place to stay and saved me lugging my pannier in my arms (no handle) around twin. 4 bed dorm. Yun, Noh, and Ester are my roommates. I'm the minority we joke! Honorary Asian. I accept:). Yun and I met first and joined up to walk the town, get some dinner and later do the hostel hot tub. Then we all agreed to do a Maori dinner and concert together the next night. Fun to have playmates!






Then yesterday I was back on the bus to Napier. Boat Boy, Bruce, has bought a new boat and its here. It's a catamaran. Huge thing. His new tour business. Got a bit of work to get it shipshape, but he says he can do it.





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Island Life

May 28 - 30, 2013
Waiheke Island

Arriving onto the island on a rainy day, I was delighted to find smiling Doug and his one room bach...a warm, dry place to crash never looked so good. I was able to change out of my pj's on the ferry so I felt a bit more together. I realized that when traveling in a fragile way (like hiking and biking are) and when your gear is in shambles, it's a bit unsettling. I have to remember TRUST. It will all be okay. My biggest fear is to be on the side of the road, no place to camp and everything's all wet. That's a nightmare! But everything works out. And today was an example. Take a deep breath and just GO WITH THE FLOW.

So I took over Doug's place hanging a bear line and getting my stuff set out to dry. The day was miserable outside: rain and wind and then hail! Doug was out for the afternoon so I chilled and dried everything with a space heater. My ability to live rustic pays off here. Outdoor shower. Toilets in park next door. Cooking on camp stove. No heat source except a space heater. Pretty basic. One one block from the beach!

Yesterday I took off for a tiki tour of the island. Quite hilly! Always concerned about getting too far away and the sun setting before I get home, so I stayed on the western half. Lovely bays with old boats moored. And more beautiful beaches. I just wanted to sit and read and write for awhile.




And Blaze enjoyed the view too:




Back at the bach, Doug cooked up a delicious dinner of mince, pumpkin, kumura, broccoli, tomatoes, celery, onion, and seasoning. Yum!


And today I've had the place to myself. Busy trying to figure out the next couple of days.

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All Soggy

May 27 - 28, 2013
Gulf Harbor to Auckland NZ


Heather was a treat to meet. This woman drives and repairs a 1947 truck camper! There was actually a little community living in the ferry parking lot: Brian in a proper campervan, Lilly in her car, and Heather. There's a publication when you join the Campervan Association that tells you about all the free camping spots, as well as other info. Good to know!

Just took this pic of the sunrise as I ferry into Auckland.




Just spent a challenging night camped by the ferry with heavy rain and gale force winds. Packing in the dark this morning with everything all wet was not fun. The bottom of the tent was puddles. I'm sitting here I'm my tattered marino long johns and shorts over them to cover the hole in the butt. Everything is just jammed into the panniers chaotically! I feel out of control and its not a good feeling. Couldn't find things this morning when packing, but I scoured the spot before I left so they've got to be in there somewhere. Landing in a major city in shambles doesn't feel right. Hope I can find a bathroom, find some dry clothes and get dressed.

The day has just begun:)

Oh, should explain. I cycled down to the ferry yesterday only to find it only runs in the morning Mon & Tues. (it was Mon). That's when I met Heather...taking a picture of her camper. What a sweetheart she was! Even came over this morning with hot tea for me while I packed up:).



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Last 15 kms

May 27th
Orewa Beach, NZ

Down to my last 15 kms. There'll be some local biking, around Waiheke Island and Auckland, but the tour itself will be over:(. I'm not ready for that. My legs and heart and lungs will go through withdrawal. I love pedaling all day not knowing what's around the next bend in the road nor where I'll sleep that night. Why is that? Haven't a clue.

Lots of coastal hills yesterday. But we managed:). Slowly...lots of granny stops... Up we go.

I've tried to calculate how far I've gone in NZ. My computer jumped ship at Cape Reinga. Is that a deep message? It had about 2000 miles on it. That's about 3500 kms. Add another 1000 kms I'd say because it started counting in Wanaka, South Island when a new battery was put in at a bike shop and the tweet didn't check the mileage count before I pulled the old one. So for giggles and grins, lets say 4500 kms in NZ. That's 2700 miles in 5 months. Love it! Then there's the SE Asia part and I'd have to check Sylvia's journal for that piece.

Got to to marina for the Gulf Harbor into Auckland Center and found out I should have checked a ferry schedule...or better remembered the one I did check: no ferry Monday afternoons! Oops. Have to camp out here and take the 7 am ferry.

Interesting community


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