Flashbacks

Day 19-20

Every day I ride, I have flashbacks of places I've seen and experiences I've had. It makes me wonder how many more areas in the world I can explore that are new and fresh. Yesterday, we biked hard and far with the hopes of reaching another shelter. Luckily we reached it by 830 and it was below an old power plant and a beautiful waterfall. I had to strongly convince Sawyer that the top of the hill by the falls was safer and better than the shelter which kept us dry but smelled of urine and was on the road next to the traintracks.

The shelter reminded me of the time I had biked over a pass in Argentina to find a shelter at a crossroads. Even though it looked nice on the outside, it was actually a mouse infested port a pit that in any other circumstances, I wouldn't go near. But I was hit with a huge rain storm and that shit shelter was the best option that night...I kept my nose as close to fresh air as possible with rain falling millimeters by my head. But it kept me dry and allowed me to continue my trip; the Israelis who slept in the forest had their tent destroyed and their plans cut short. I'd say it was one of the worst places I've slept, but it wasn't.

I've slept in many strange places... like a brothel in Colombia, a sketchy border hotel in Bolivia with no light bulb, and under a highway to name a few.

This morning, Sawyer discovered wild strawberries on the side of the road. That's the beauty of biking...we never would have enjoyed them had we taken a car. They were better than candy.

I was just finishing saying how lucky we were to enjoy fresh strawberries this summer when we rode by a strawberry farm. Darien really really wanted to take a strawberry, but I said we shouldn't because they were sprayed and it was illegal. Then we saw some pickers and I told Darien to ask nicely for one. He was too shy, so I asked for him....and the picker spent the next 15 minutes gathering as many strawberries from other workers and loaded us up! She wouldn't let us leave!! It was a good lesson of...you should always ask. The worst is they say no.

It reminded me of the time I was an illegal apple picker in New Zealand. I worked on a farm for 2 days to make travel money. I learned to drive a forklift, that New Zealand apples are shipped to the USA (seems rather far to me) and red apples have to be at least a certain percentage red with no more than one blemish 1 cm by 1cm in size. Once you fill a small car hatchback of apples, you make 5 US dollars. That's how it was 20 years ago...I bet it's the same still. It was hard work. I think I made 20 bucks.

Daily flashbacks on this trip. When we hiked up to the hut in Slovenia, I was immediately reminded of the time Beth and I hiked to our first hut somewhere near Bariloche Argentina. We witnessed some Austrians with a 4 and 2 year old...and I told Beth I want to be them some day. Jared promised to make me cookies and carry the kids to the top...I have it in writing. I'm still waiting for warm cookies.

Or when it was super hazy in the most scenic region in Italy because of the heat. I remembered how I could barely see the beauty in Southern Argentina because of the volcano exploding. Beth and I biked in ash...which is a lot like biking on a beach. Not recommended.

Every time my kids complain about crackers and cheese and apples for lunch again, I get flashbacks to when I gave Lauren a hard time for living off of crackers, apples and cheese in Peru and Bolivia...turns out they really do make a
perfect and economical meal. You were right Lauren...again.

Jared just had his salami and cheese confiscated at the US border...apparently the European goodness had to be incinerated or our country would be forever in peril. Chile tried to take away my organic farmers market not even opened newly bought Argentinian honey...so I didn't taint their country....but I just sat there and ate it at the border. The whole jar. I ain't wasting no money.

Every time we leave the asphalt and a small town road turns to cobblestone, I think of the mountain pass Jared and I trudged up in Colombia. Worst up and downhill.... like biking a river bed but with a 45 pcnt grade.

My kids are having amazing growth experiences, although they won't recognize the benefits for at least 2 more decades.

I am witnessing new-ness through their eyes, although they are following my dreams right now and have yet to find their own. I just hope that the lessons they learn on this trip, the struggles and successes, stay with them at their young age and their highlights don't only revolve around the copious amounts of ice cream and playgrounds. But if they do, at least it's hard earned Gelato.