Settling In

San Jose, California

It has now been exactly one month since we pedaled back to our humble abode here in San Jose. The transition back has not been difficult.  Perhaps the long ride back helped.  We were certainly well adjusted to the United States by the time we returned.  We also had the benefit of getting to spend most of our first week with our dear friends, the Pfyffers.  This was the fifth time we’ve met during the trip.  Sharing the last week of their one-year, round-the-world journey, helped stretch out our travels and provide an additional transition period for us.  Meeting number six will have to be on their home turf, in Switzerland.

Since then, there has been plenty to focus on.  The house was in beautiful condition on our return. The yard, however, without anyone here for the last couple months, needed a bit of TLC.  Tending to it and tackling some deferred maintenance projects have kept me plenty busy.  We’ve also enjoyed seeing friends and family, which, hopefully, will continue for a while.

My sister Debbie, De Ann, and niece, Jamie

Meg's big ride friends -- Cousin Elle, Gina, and Pierce

Dex and Kylie, thankfully seem to be taking “proper” schooling in stride.  Actually, they both seem quite happy with the routine. Despite Dex’s concerns and apprehension before starting middle school, he has adjusted well, and, from what I can tell, is actually enjoying it (one week down!).  He and Kylie both feel that they are right in there with the rest of the kids despite our sporadic schooling last year.  My fingers are crossed.

First day of school

When we left in 2016, Kylie’s bike, with 20 inch wheels, was already too small.  I had promised her a new one -- with gears and handbrakes -- upon our return. To my surprise, the shop owner suggested we buy a bike with full sized, 27.5 inch wheels.  Kylie was thrilled -- 21 speeds, front shock.... With a new bike, her's would now dwarf Dex’s old one. Oh well. I think after the hundreds of hours we spent in the saddle this summer, I can easily justify a new bike for each!

In some ways, the biggest surprise is how easy it’s been to slip back into “normal” Silicon Valley life. I have to keep reminding myself how skewed that life really is, not just compared to the rest of the world, but even compared to the rest of the US -- the frantic pace, the persistent drive to succeed, and the crazy cost of housing. 

On the other hand, despite the ease with which we’ve transitioned, I certainly do hope we’ve changed in some way. At a minimum, Meg and I have at least put away our stylish “fanny” packs that were strapped firmly in place for practically the entire 62 weeks.  Passport, credit card, ID, money, camera, Swiss army knife… were never far from reach. But, seriously, I do hope that we have a wider perspective of what life is like around the world. I hope we are more welcoming, tolerant, and understanding of others. We were rarely, if ever, treated poorly. On the contrary, we were often treated with great kindness and generosity, which I am hopeful we will have a chance to repay. Certainly, one of the best parts of the journey was making new friends or meeting up with old friends and family in out of the way places.

To new friends met along the way – Amy and Jeff on the island of Murano (Italy); Peter while eating lunch near his home in Fuhrberg (Germany); Sylvia at the Reinaur Hof Hotel in Manheim (Germany); Thomas and Julie while eating dinner in Frankfurt (Germany); Corinna, Christoph, Anja and Laura while camping in Maribo (Denmark); John, Patsy, and Annie at the Mexican food restaurant in Cape Town (South Africa); Ettiene, Anne, Louis, Arno and Matilde while camping in Namibia; Jess and Grant at Etosha Park (Namibia); Andre and Stephen eating breakfast in Palolem (India); Andy and Charlie in the Kathmandu airport (Nepal); Jeff from San Jose on the Everest Trail; Bec at the guesthouse in Gorakshep (Nepal); Anne and Jean at The Nest restaurant in Chiangmai (Thailand); the entire Gibbon’s experience tour group in the hills near Huay Xia (Laos), David and Shelley on the “slow boat” down the Mekong to Luang Prabang (Laos); Helen, Frederic, Keiran and Amanda on the boat in La Han Bay (Vietnam); Franz and Bruce who patiently taught us Spanish in La Paz (Bolivia); Adam while exploring the Uyuni salt flats (Bolivia); Michael, John and the entire Salkantay hiking group on the way to Machu Picchu; Jon, Jackie, Jos, Christa, Becky, Paula... and the rest of the passengers and crew on the Tip Top II in the Galapagos (Equador); Bob and Bruce braving heat and headwinds in Gackle (ND); Frank riding east in Hazelton (ND); Bobby who instantly became part of our extended family while biking through Idaho and Oregon; Andrew and Emma, newly weds, while riding from the coastal redwoods to San Francisco (CA) – we’re looking forward to meeting again.

Meg with Jon and Jackie in the Galapagos

Bobby and Dex in Marshall, Oregon

To all those who have hosted and helped us along the way -- Wendell in Port Orchard (WA); Bob and Angie in Milwaukee (WI); Glen and Terry in Sudbury (MA); Geraldine and Jed in Milton (MA); Jaume and Moni in Lloret De Mar (Spain); Julien in Lausanne (Switzerland); Michael and Ruth in Solothurn (Switzerland); Axel and Marion in Endingen (Germany); Björn and Annica in Bjärred (Sweden); Bertil and Annika in Södra Finnö (Sweden); Kerstin and Åke in Stockholm (Sweden); Cam and Jan in Vinterbro (Norway); Sally and Rob in the field below Heath Cottage (England); David and Margaret in Beadlam (England); Phillipa and Andre in Stanton (South Africa); Amy and Jeff at their temporary home in Bali (Indonesia), Helen and Shane in Chapman (Australia); Cam, Peter, and Juliet in the hills above Thirroul (Australia); Sharon and Steve in Auckland (New Zealand); Geraldine and Jed, again, in Milton (MA); Glenn and Terry, again, in Sudbury (MA); Sara and John in Shutesbury (MA), John and Karen in North Adams (MA); Dan and Anita in Schenectady (NY); Anita, Dave, and Larry in Rome (NY); Andy and Wendy in Liverpool (NY); Anne at the farm in Lyons (NY); Jackie, Jeff, Hillary and Marie in Scottsville (NY); Michael and Jessica in Ancaster (Ontario); Ned and Cary in Camalachie (Ontario); Ben and Lydia in Grand Haven (MI); Bob and Angie, again, in White Fish Bay (WI); Anne and Rick in Waukesha (WI); Aunt Ruth in Lake Delton (WI); Don, Joan, and De Ann in Lakeville (MN); Jason and Ginny at the Honey Hub hostel in Gackle (ND); Margaret and Pat at the Rock Roof Inn in Glen Ulin (ND); Sandy and Joe for the lift between Jordan and Mosby (MT); Delores and family at the Hill Ranch Oasis B&B in Mosby (MT); Arlen and Shawn in Missoula (MT); Patrick and Jalet at the Spoke'n Hostel in Mitchell (OR); April in Eugene (OR); and Simon and Mary in Bandon (OR) – thank you for your generosity and making us feel at home.  

Geraldine, Cole, Jed, and David in Boston

Terry and Glenn at there home in Sudbury, Massachusetts

To those who modified their plans and went out of their way to meet up with us -- Gary and Terri in Venice (Italy); Fede and Isabel in Asti (Italy); Mike, Ely and Cole in London and Paris; Craig and Kevin on the Everest trail (Nepal); Isabel and Maria in Chaigmai (Thailand); Mike Y in Hong Kong; the Pyffer family in Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand and California; my big sister, De Ann, on the South Island of New Zealand; Zoe and Isabella in Quenca (Ecuador); Nemo, Bob and Jerry biking between Milwaukee and Lake Delton (WI); my brother Don between Lakeville and Fergus Falls (MN); April, Kevin, Kirk and Sue from Missoula (MT) to Eugene (OR); Craig and Sharyl at Smith Rocks (OR); Don, Joan, and De Ann near Fort Bragg (CA) -- thank you for making it possible.   

Mike, Ely, and Cole visiting us in London

De Ann, meeting us in New Zealand

With the huge number of places we've been, we've been asked multiple times if we were ever scared during our trip, and I’ve struggled to come up with much. Meg and I have started watching Homeland, and that certainly would convince you that most people outside the country are out to get you. Most people, I suspect, worry about crime or disease, and that really never turned out to be an issue. The few times we were scared, had to do mostly with our physical environment: hiking down a steep, boulder strewn pass in Nepal for Meg, crossing a high suspension bridge or being bounced 20 ft in the air for Kylie, getting too close to a Cape Buffalo in S. Africa for Dex, or, for me, having to ride the white line along a busy, windy roads in the US with heavy trucks racing by.

Now that we’re home, we’re certainly much more comfortable leaving the kids at home. They’ve earned some extra independence. I'm also pretty sure they are much more comfortable with that freedom and also with interacting with adults. On the food front, Meg and I are trying to up our game. There's no substitute for fresh wholesome ingredients, and we were often impressed with the local street markets, fresh squeezed juices, fresh bread, good coffee, inexpensive wine....

The most common question we are asked is, what was our favorite country. I always sigh when I hear that.  There were great times everywhere.  Even harder, are the countries we didn’t like.  For the final blog (I promise!), I'll take a stab at rating, summarizing, and quantifying this big, crazy adventure -- how far we traveled, what we liked and didn't, what we spent, and whether we'd do it again.