Welcome friends!


We'll keep you up to date on our crazy tandem adventures... in the hope that you'll help us reach our goal of a dollar raised per kilometer ridden. 100% of donations will go to either Oxfam or Kiva, your choice. (In the case of Kiva your "donation" is actually a loan so you'll get it back!)

Mid-May to mid-August 2010
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Bolinas, California

Thursday, June 3, 2010

What is adventure, but a series of moments you would never have expected?



We have finally settled into something of a rhythm, pedaling 40 – 60 miles a day (oh yeah, and our minds have switched to miles – still working on Fahrenheit!) for 4 or 5 days, then taking a rest day… though our first “rest” day involved biking 20 miles to get to what we wanted to visit anyway, and then hiking up a mountain! We were pretty tired and tempted to spend our day in Acadia National Park chilling at the campground, but were so glad we didn’t. It was one of the most beautiful hikes we’ve ever done. We’ll have to go back there one day and recommend it to everyone.


Today we are in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, at the public library. It’s amazing how a thunderstorm can start and stop again in a matter of minutes, and wreak so much havoc! It could drizzle all day and we’d be fine, but throw a thunderstorm into an otherwise dry day and we’re soaked to the bone.

It’s fascinating to think about the significance of each little decision. Who are we not meeting by working out our way on the map instead of asking directions? What parade are we not seeing by bypassing a town rather than going through it? To stay here, or at that other campground down the road? To have a picnic, or stop at that café for soup? Often we don’t agree on the decision – and if one of us makes a wrong choice we *try* not to rub it in too much… ;-) One of those little decisions yesterday gave us a good reminder of what a small world it is and how we’re not too far from home yet. A very foggy afternoon, threatening rain, 10 miles from where we planned to go, and a recommendation to stay at a campground a half mile back the way we came: so back we went, found a gorgeous site, only 2 other groups in the whole campground – and we ended up sharing a campfire with a couple of guys visiting from north of Boston. Talk migrated from the Red Sox to where we’re from and what we (used to) do. Turns out one of the guys, Jeffrey, has extended family (mostly D’Eons) in Pubnico (a small Acadian fishing town near Yarmouth) and his uncle is Jean-Guy D’Entremont, our friend Alain’s dad!


Jane: For me, this trip didn’t seem real until after we left. I had thought about the fact that we would drive along some pretty roads, but the pleasure of riding through some of the quiet back roads lined with trees, the sun shining through the branches, the sounds of birds and the ever changing smells of the forest; a deer looking at us, not a bit startled because we’re so quiet… these are things I hadn’t taken the time to anticipate, and I am often in wonder.


So far our adventure has been packed with unexpected moments. One thing we’ve come to expect though, is people shouting at Eric, “She’s not pedaling!” ;-)

7 comments:

  1. Great photos! My neck is in a bit of a crick, but it was worth it ;-)

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  2. 'Tis a small world indeed!

    Did Eric pick you those flowers, Jane? Awwwweeee! Great pictures!

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  3. Haha, that's awesome guys!

    Glad to hear you guys are still making progress.

    Keep up the blogging it's great!

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  4. You are certainly clocking up tales to repeat endlessly to your grandkids! Can't wait for your next post, each one is better than the last.
    May the road rise to meet you and the wind be ever at your back.
    Lots of Love.

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  5. You 2 are awesome!! That's all I have to say! Great stories and memories for you! I love the "she's not pedaling" comment...it's priceless!!!

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  6. Hi Eric and Jane
    What wonderful photos! I'm so happy you're able and willing to keep this blog so that those of us at home can keep track of your adventure. What a summer!!!!
    Kathleen

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  7. What wonderful pics of the 2 of you jumping in the air! Frame those!

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