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Our last bike day was from Langley to the ferry (3 1/2 hrs).  We managed mostly back roads in Surrey but had to do #10 highway. I now have my highway badge! When 2 big trucks fly by, you almost feel like you might get sucked along as well. The rain didn't help then either. But we did it. Poor Norm had his seat break then too. Weird watching half of his back side at a 45' angle. So to save the stress of semi trailers and motor homes, Norm headed for Ladner. True we did get to the ferry just in time to catch the 1 pm ferry but getting there we passed through potato farms, trucks loaded with potatoes, a gravel road beside the train tracks and finally highway 17. Feels good to be home.

Biking in the rain

I would say I passed my Rain Badge today! We spent the night in Everson at a really cozy B&B. We had use of the whole house. Made our selves a nice dinner of wine, cheese, bread and fruit then curled up in front of the TV while it poured outside. Monday morning we left about 9.30 in the rain for Lynden. It rained the whole way and going north brought the wind at us from the east. Warmed up (as best we could) with coffee/tea in Lynden and then on (north) to the border, once back in Canada we went along Zero Ave and worked our way up and across to our friend Sue's. We got to Langley (204th) by 1 pm (30 km). We headed to McDonalds where I removed rain coat, rain pants, socks, and shoes. I even dried my cold toes under the hot air dryer in the washroom to bring back some colour to them. Both Norm and I were amazingly dry under our rain gear but we failed to protect our feet. Walking into McDonalds we sounded like mud puddles.  Then over to Starbucks for hot tea and pass some time till Sue got home from work at 3. Still raining we biked a few blocks to Sue's where we did laundry and dried out our clothes. It feels so good to be dry and warm. Delicious dinner and now we can relax before the final push to the ferries tomorrow. It is 42 km from Langley to Tsawwassen. Our total trip will be about  265 km.
It has been an adventure. Loved the experience and have learned what I need to do the next time........ Remember photo cord, keep feet dry, wrap panniers in plastic to keep clothes dry, .....But most important we will both do it again. We are thinking of where our next bike trip might be??? Quebec, France.........

Road trip by bike

We've been on the road trip by bike for five days and only remembered my Google password today! At least I remembered, so no early dementia yet. Pictures once we are home, I did forget the camera cord attachment:)
We left Metchosin on Wednesday and headed for Sidney. We had only gone 20 minutes when Norm had a flat tire! Fortunately it was right beside the Outpost Bike Shop on Sooke Road. Good thing we left early. Lunch at Mattick's Farm and into Sidney for coffee. Weather was perfect - sunny! We waited to board the San Juan Island ferry and it started to rain.   It poured on our bikes and packs but not for long as we soon left. We arrived in Friday Harbor as it was getting dark and it was still raining but off we went looking for our lodgings-- Juniper Lodge about three  kms out of town. Note to self- next time pack a light for the bike. Fortunately there were streetlights part of the way and very little traffic. Juniper (real person) wasn't there to give us a key but again fortunately a guest was heading out and let us in! We dropped our stuff and headed back into town (in the dark now but we knew the way) and had pizza (me) and curry clams for Norm at the Rumor Mill with live music- a little bit country and then a whole bunch rock and roll. Thursday we again biked into town for breakfast (not included in our room) and on ward to the south part of the island to check out the American Camp and the Pig War. Biked back to town (round trip 10 miles). Had the best burger I've had in ages at Herb's Bar - oldest bar in the town, 1943.  Norm says we earned the meals with all this biking! Then to top if off we went to the local theatre and saw The Help. And again biked home in the dark -- but we are getting better at it now.
Friday we biked to Roche Harbor for breakfast (at least 10 miles one way). Again the best shrimp, crab, spinach, mushroom, Parmesan cheese and egg scramble I've had. Then back to Friday Harbor to catch the ferry to Anacortes (after a beer of course). Biked to our motel in Anacortes (five kms) and checked out the town before the stores all closed. (managed to find some old postcards:) Had some appies at one of the local saloons. The town is full, and I mean full, of bikers. It is the Oyster Run in Anacortes this Sunday and thousands of motorcycles come to town to ? show off. No one knows why it is called the Oyster Run.
Saturday was the big day. A chance to see if I really would make it as a touring bicyclist. We left at 10 for Bellingham after checking out the farmer's market. First along a trail then a busy highway (#20), over the river by an overpass, along side roads till we reached the Chuckanut Drive. Before starting our drive we had lunch (now noon) at the wonderful Rhododendron Cafe. Excellent salmon burger and chocolate brownie with ice cream - need those calories.   The Chuckanut Drive is winding, hilly and narrow. It runs along the coast and fortunately the drivers have to slow down due to the turns. The traffic was very considerate of us. I never felt in danger, nervous yes. By 3 pm we were in Fairhaven,  near Bellingham. We stopped for tea and to rest our bums. One more push got us to our B&B about three miles into Bellingham. We cleaned up and walked to town (two miles) for dinner. Found an excellent pasta place - The Table. Right next door to the Mount Baker Theatre that was showing an environmental movie festival. So we ate dinner, watched six short films and I won a door prize -- a toque although they call it a beanie here.
Now as we travel we plug in the laptop (I'm carrying it on my bike -- note to self: need lighter technology next time) and check the weather forecast. It says there is a severe wind warning coming in to the north west/Vancouver/Vancouver Island.  Yikes. Last night the wind roared through our B&B. Norm reminded me that the wind would probably push us east, so no problem. We decide to leave Bellingham after 12 so had time to do things this morning. We headed back to Fairhaven by bike and by going around the Marathon that was happening right outside our B&B. The wind was wild going there and help pushed us back home.
So here we are in Everson, Washington about 15 miles from Bellingham. Tomorrow we head to the border and Langley then Metchosin on Tuesday. The ride here was as Norm said, the wind really did push along at times. Only had a bit of rain when we tried to check out the town of Everson and Nooksack (we turned around before we got soaked)
This holiday has been better than I thought it would be. I really like bike touring. Yes my bum is a little sore but I can almost keep up to Norman and have never felt healthier! We have so far done about 190 km. And still have two more days to go. What a ride!

Time to head home

Wow! It has been almost a month of travel and it has been great. We have spent the last 3 nights in London with Tony and Ingrid Hodge near the Chalk Farm tube stop. Monday we walked through Hamstead Head - lovely green spaces and perfect weather. We even had a fascinating talk with some local south end Londoners who asked why anyone would want to visit Britain! Interesting slice of a different look at life, immigration, the economy and more:) Later Norm and I checked out the Camden Market. Amazing how much stuff they can fit into one area. Things you will never need! but fun to look at. This was the first time on our holiday that I needed my raincoat. We did get wet but not for long. On Tuesday we walked Tony to work and then continued on to downtown London, looking and buying books (what else). Had lunch at Food for Thought - an excellent vegetarian restaurant Holland recommened last time we were here and it was super! We then we to the Imperial War Museum. Interesting but emotional. Met Tony and Ingrid for a beer at the Salisbury pub and dinner- Japanese meal- delicious! And now we pack for home. First to Paris, then to Toronto and into Vancouver by 5 pm the same day! See you soon.  

Whiskey with porridge and jam with sloe gin.

How is that for the way to start your day! That was part of our breakfast at Steyning this morning. We stayed at a manor that I would say had seen better days but that isn't how it was advertised. Our room, The Beech Room, had lovely red rose pattern of country scenes for the wall paper and the lamp shades and the curtains and the bed spread and the pillows. The bathroom fixtures were also in a lovely pink/red shade. But after a perfect day of walking and a wonderful dinner of fresh salad, crab and anchoive cakes, vegetarain lasagna and I had mussels with hand cut fries, topped off with homemade coconut icecream while Norm had the Rhubarb dessert, we slept wonderfully. Yummy!
Today we had that famous whiskey porridge and of course the full English. (we now leave out the fried mushrooms, tomatoes and beans) before heading out again. This time we took our own packs and walked only 8 km to Shoreham by Sea. There we caught the train to Winchester (only 3 hours). So here we are back with all our luggage and ready to spend one last night here and then to London for a fun filled 3 days. The holiday has been excellent. I thought with 4 different countries to visit we would feel overwhelmed. Not so. We are enjoying every change and new adventure. We even aren't getting on each others nerves too much yet! Hope you are enjoying our trip tales. Next time I will bring my own computer to keep up to date and post pictures of where we have been and especially of what we are eating! Debby wait till you see my pea and ham soup. See you in June.

Up the Downs

We left Winchester on Wednesday after touring the Catherdral and seeing Jane Austen's grave. Then took three buses to Cocking to start our walk on the South Downs. The night in Cocking was in a really funky farm house, they even had chickens. We havenow walked for two days and about 5 hours each day. We went from Cocking to Amberley on Thursday and from Amberley to Steyning today. The path is really wonderful. Great view can be seen over looking the patchwork land below. Awesome. And the trail is so easy compared to Italy. Tonight we are in Steyning and tomorrow we hike and then train back to Winchester to pick up our remaining luggage. We finish off in London for 3 days and then home. Wish we could tell more but using the public library make for limited use. See you all in June.
Note... along the south down trails we see only badger holes and squirrels. I failed to mention that on the cinque Terre there we saw much larger holes in the ground and Norm though moles. Afer even bigger holes we realized they were from wild boars! Nice he didn't tell me before we hiked into the hills:))

Winchester Cathedral.......

We are now in jolly England. After a long day from Nice to Paris to London to Waterloo Station to Winchester we arrived about 10 pm. Tuesday we explored the town. We had a great tour of the history. Learned about King Arthur, Bishops, Wolvesey Castle (really was a palace), Winchester College and more. Norm would have to fill in the details later. (history being his thing). Today we are about to check out the market, get food for our next 3 day walk of the South Downs and learn more about Winchester. We just learned that it is a bank holiday this weekend which makes for difficulty finding accommodations. With no bag service to carry you packs, we have been trying to figure out how to do walk and not carry our stuff. So we are off by bus to Cocking, hike to Amberley, then Steyning and then maybe Lewes. If that is too much we will take a bus (I'll suggest it:) And then we will have to come all the way back to Winchester to get our bag. For those using a map, check out our route. We did part of the South Downs a few years ago and this will a different part, closer to the start. Weather is looking good so off we go. Hope to report back in a few days. After the hikes of Italy, it should be a piece of cake.

hiking can be painful

I mentioned that we hiked from Manarola to Vernazza on Friday and I was amazed at how much it took out of us but we did it, well on saturday with crowds of people arriving we (Norm) decided we should hike over the hill to Riomaggiore, a 15 minute walk along the coast. We left at 10 and at 3 arrived. If Friday was up hill......Saturday was unbelievable. It was over 2 hours straight up and we got lost once when Norm had me hiking into someone.s grape orchard (we backtracked out of that spot). We made it to the top of the ridge, really high up (pictures once we are home). Ate lunch about 1 and then down again. My calves were aching. But I did it and the beer was so good once down.  Even Norm admitted he was feeling the hills. Once home we changed into bathing suits and dove into the salty Mediterrean. It was so nice, Loved it after all that physical effort :)))
Our last night in Manarola we celebrated with a classy dinner (recommended by Rick Steves) at Trattoria Billy. Norm got to pick his fish right off the platter and then they cooked it up for him. Very cool. This morning as got ready to leave we felt every muscle going down the 70 steps to the train. And guess what the train we planned to catch was cancelled. Oh well we waited for 30 minutes for the next, got to Genoa only to find out that our next train didnt show up. We learned that SOP beside your destination means cancelled, there is a strike on in Italy and we didnt know. Well after 2 hours we got another one and now we are in Nice. A few hours later than we planned but enough time to walk about. Love the Mediterranen. Tomorrow we are off to Paris and on to London and Winchester for more hiking but after the Cinque Terre it will be so much easier.

Over the hills of Cinque Terre

We are off to Italy after saying goodbye to Doug and Maureen. Great time with them. It isn't easy to find a computer in Italy so this may be short but exciting. We took 4 trains but arrived in Manarola Thursday afternoon. What a wonderful spot. Cliff hanging village! A beautiful place. This morning we walked to Riomaggiore in 20 minutes along the coast. After a coffee/juice on the return we found the trail had filled with bus loads of tourists and students!! Ach! but we snuck by and then headed into the hills to the next village, Corniglia. There was no one on the mountain path probably because it is a mountain and it is hot! After 2 hours of up and down we arrived there to a wonderful cold beer. (>Yes I had a beer!) then on to our next coastal walk but again up and down to Vernazza. By now my feet are a little tired. Norm said it was ok to wear sandals since the Romans did years before. Once I cooled my toes in the water they felt great. These villages are amazing. Such a feat to build on cliff edges and such rock they are built on. The holiday is going great. This hike has got us ready for the south Downs in England. And the trek today allows us to drink more wine, cheese and pizza. I think I am in heaven. Tomorrow I hope to swim in the Mediterranean sea and eat anchovies. Next thing I'll be speaking Italian. Prego! Hope to write again soon. But sorry pictures later. Ciao

OMG

Those are the words I would use to decribe the today's driving. Doug did an incredible job! We went to St. Paul de Vence- wonderful hilltop village (they are all hilltop villages here) and then into Monaco. The road was so winding, twisty, sharp .......and more! I most'ly kept my eyes closed. The coast is exquisite with the Mediterranean so blue. And the cars are unbelievable - Bentley, Ferrari, Rolls. Way too many people and with the Grand Prix coming, the place was wild and crowded. Good to experience.
The day before we saw some really beautiful hilltop villages - Gordes and Rousillon. They were amazing. And we traveled to the Mediterranean where I dipped my toes in at Stes. Maries de la Mer in the Camargue.Sounds like I know the area - Norm is helping.
Tomorrow we travel to Italy and say goodbye to Doug and Maureen. It has been a great 5 days of sharing the trip and driving. Pictures might be coming and I will try to have them right side up. As Debby says when they come from the other side of the world the photos are off centre.

Praise the Lord!

I thought that would get your attention. Norm and I have just come back from a performance with the University Gospel Choir at St. Julien church a short walk from the hotel. Praise the Lord!! It was quite fun. Not a lot of black people in the choir - maybe 8 out of 30 -- but they had the place rocking. In Utrecht, we spent Thursday exploring Utrecht. Norm visited 3 museums, me one. He saw the Dick Bruna museum and learned about Miffy and followed up with the Utrecht central art museum. I went wandering......and shopping, looking in store windows, eating ice cream and checking the cloister gardens at the Dom Tower. We met up again and then went to the Betje Boerhave's Grocery Museum, a little hard to find but best all, free!! I think I know why, not a lot to see but we went upstairs and viewed the one room of old grocery products, many kinds of soap. I guess they kept things cleaner in those days. The main floor sold lots of candy in glass containers like the old days. We bought lots:) Next to the open-air market  in town had us buying more frites with mayonnaise - so good. We also loaded up on snacks for the train trip to Arles, southern France. I thought we would head back to to our room when Norm said there was another museum to see, the Working Man's Museum. We did finish the evening off with broodjes and ice cream cones. Saturday we took the train to the south of France. Utrecht to Amsterdam, and on to Paris at 300 kmh -- first class with food service -- we were surprised! Took the Metro from Gare de Nord across town to Gare de Lyon and waited 3 hours till the fast train to Arles, famous for its association with Vincent Van Gogh. We arrived at at 9:45 Saturday night. Couldn't find a taxi but by asking a man if he was a taxi or knew how far to town, he offered to take us to our hotel room, quickly!!! Wow, what an exciting five-minute ride through narrow narrow streets with high walls. So we have now met up with Doug and Maureen this morning. After breakfast we toured the sights that Van Gogh had painted -- even the Hotel Dieu hospital where he was treated after cutting off a piece of his ear. A short walklong the Rhone river demo9nstrated the power of the famed mistral wind. Wow, Doug figured it was was blowing up to 80mh. After a delicious lunch (I had a Nicoise Salad, so good with lots of salty anchovies) and a 500-ml "pichet" of the house white -- delicious. Norm and I toured the coliseum and the amphitheater. We then saw a gospel choir practicing so decided to come back for the show. A full day! Hopefully we will add pictures later.

Under the U for Utrecht

Wednesday we found that the market just south of Nijmegen wasn't as "high end" as the one in town. Still I bought some delicious dried apricots and Kees white asparagus (spargel) for dinner. White asparagus is THE height of vegetables at the moment - everyone is eating it. Dineke served it for dinner with a lovely egg sauce, mashed potatoes and ham. Yummy! And of course Kees's helped by peeling each and every stock. Before dinner and after the market we went for a bike ride to the African Museum. Who knew that there was such a venue in Nijmegen. Quite fascinating seeing all the exhibits but not enough time to take it all in. Alas our time in Nijmegen has ended and we are back on the road again. Norm and I arrived in Utrecht today. I had no idea what kind of a town it would be and was pleasantly surprised. We checked into our hotel, nice room, nice price and nice walk from the centre of town. Back we hiked into town and signed up for a tour of the Dom Tower, all 465 steps. Great views and interesting information. We could see all the way to Rotterdam and Amsterdam! What a perfect way to see the town. Next we did a walk about and you will pleased to know that Norm has now got 3 new pairs of socks from Hema. He was a little disappointed to learn that the Waterboard Museum had closed (lack of attendees). It really was on his list of things to do in Utrecht. (I think it rates up there with the Pencil Museum of Keswick I think:)  We did manage to have some delicious frites met mayonnaise and some wine from Italy - Prosecco. And now a glass of wine to end the wonderful day, tomorrow the Grocery Museum. It is amazing what Norm finds.

Sunny in Holland

We are here in sunny Holland, with summerlike weather and flowers everywhere -- even their lilacs are fading now, while Metchosin's are still to come. Kees and Dineke Breurkens made us feel very welcome, at their comfortable home in Nijmegen. The logistics of getting here are something else -- on Sunday May 8 at 8.50 am we flew to Montreal (hi Ineke, hi Leanne), and 3 hours later to Paris, arriving at 8.30 am local time. Another three-hour stopover at Charles de Gaulle airport was followed by a not-so-fast fast train to Brussels where we changed trains for Amsterdam. That one got us in just seconds short of catching the train to Nijmegen so we waited 30 minutes and by 8pm Monday night we arrived! Two full days travelling -- lucky we still have trhe stamina for it. We slept so well that night. Hopefully pictures will follow to show the highlights (once I buy the correct cord). Tuesday morning we went on a 15 km hike through a park near Nijmegen. It was wonderful -- sunny, not too hot, lots of up and down, a beer stop part way through and a picnic lunch. Five hours later we were home again for dinner with Kees and Dineke´s children, Jasper (girlfriend Maarta) and Iris, whose boyfriend Bram is off in Istria (part of Croatia) bicycling strenuously. The couple are keen to cycle in Canada, so friends and relatives, Norman will be calling to line up an itinerary for them next year.  Tomorrow.....market, Dutch shopping, museum and more.

Backpacking by ferry and bus

We are one step closer to Paris, after using four modes of transportation and we're still on the ground. Drive to Victoria and leave the car at Lucy's for Holland. Lucy drives us to Swartz Bay, walk on the ferry, lovely voyage to Tsawwassen -- as usual, Norman helped steer through Active Pass -- then board airport bus. That followed goodbyes  to our Scottish friends in the morning. We had them at the Colwood bus stop before 9 am, then home to do 3 loads of laundry and prepare the house for the next arrivals, Mary's brother Reg and his wife Cathy, wonderful housesitters from Prince George. Tonight we are at the Accent Inn in Richmond. We convinced the bus driver to let us off the bus on Bridgeport Road instead of the River Rock Casino. Then we put on our backpacks and hiked 15 minutes to the motel. You should see my food survival kit. I have enough food to feed Norman from here to Montreal - salami, cheese, Italian bread, Dutch Bakery cookies, licorice, buns, chocolate bars..... Well half is already gone:) Tasted good as we picnicked in the room and watched the Canucks lose.

26 days in Europe!

If we can do a blog while traveling to San Francisco then why not while heading to France, Holland, Italy and England? So here goes. Today we packed, did errands and picked up 6 guests who are at the moment sleeping in our home and leaving first thing tomorrow after they have buttermilk pancakes for breakfast. These are friends of Norm's friend Michael Fitzgerald. The Hammond's and and their son Craig and their friends Craig and Karen are all from Glasgow. Just listening to them talk is entertaining. One has to concentrate to fully understand the conversation. Such fun!
So tomorrow is really the day we start our trip. We leave for Vancouver and then we fly May 8 to Montreal and on to Paris. We depart at 8.50 am and arrive in Paris about the same time, one day later. Stay tuned for stories along the way......I hope. Having no computer may dampen the progress.