Tag: Bike Touring
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Bead by Bead
Maggie’s beads. So where did they land on this unforgettable experience? Dotting the landscape from Dublin to Budapest, they mark our journey in their own special way. The first was placed at the base of the statue of Oscar Wilde in Merrion Square Park, Dublin. Look at his expression! Did he know what we were…
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Beneath the Veneer
I remember our first day in Thailand vividly. I was overcome with regret that I had signed us up for two years in a place that on first glance, was so dirty and delapotated. But miraculously, as each day passed, I was able to see the beauty that was hidden just behind the piles of…
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Crossing the Line
When the road surface changed abruptly from smooth pavement to rough, chip seal, I wasn’t completely surprised to see the sign, “Slovenska”. We had entered Slovakia. In the distance we could just make out the outskirts of Bratislava, the capital city. Tall communist block style apartments amid pragmatically designed buildings. Structures with purpose. Rolling into…
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Call the Ambulance!
Many years ago my good friend, Jeri, and I traveled to Italy on an unforgettable adventure. With Rick Steves’, “Europe Through the Back Door”, as our bible, we used a eurail train pass to get from town to town, covering way too much ground in just a few weeks. We saw countless cathedrals, palaces and…
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Our Lady of the Train Station
The train system in Europe is amazing, but for the uninitiated it can be a bit overwhelming at first. So when the Old Lady with a shopping bag approached us at the S Bahn ticket kiosk in the Munich airport, we were grateful for her assistance. “Vere are you going?” she asked, outing us as…
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Maggie’s Beads
As I pulled the beautiful blue glass bead from my back pack, I knew I had a perfect place to put it. We were in Porto, Portugal on the main boardwalk along the river. A blue dingy was on the dock, waiting. The bead needed to be on this boat. It was so apropo because the creator…
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Little Surprises
I was longing for a hot shower. The fantasy of this simple pleasure kept me focused for the last 10 miles of a grueling day. Arriving at the Costasnovasurfhouse ( yes, one word) I smiled to myself. A youth hostel. I should have known with a name like that. So when the sun-weathered owner walked…
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Be Strong
“Do you think we should pay attention to that sign?” Rick says just a little sarcastically as he pedals up next to me. “What sign?” I gasp, as I down-shift. He laughs. “Oh, you know, the huge one back there that reads, ‘Trail Closed’”. We had been training for our big ride across Europe for…
Gonzo Girl 