On our way now to Barcelona(... finally!), I can't help but feel a nostalgia for this path I have fallen into. The first time I backpacked through Europe ( 8years ago now) Joy and I ended up along this same trek. Through Montpellier to Barcelona.  However, Joy and I had to learn a pretty good lesson of not showing up in a town after the train station was closed and busses we're done. We had found that we were pretty stuck. Also, we hadn't eaten since the morning and just wiped from that days travel from Edinburgh Scottland. We ended up getting help from local frenchmen, of all people, and all we owed them was a "good reputation of  french people".
This got me thinking  about the trials and errors we come across in life, or on particular journey's within life. I was waiting at the train station with our bags while Aaron booked our trip and saw crew after crew of touring cyclists. I looked at our bags, and was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I started trying to justify our adventure as more worthy, or more adventurous. I convinced myself that half of these people in their jeans and street clothes  that they weren't even going that far most likely, or they knew where they were going everyday, how exciting can that be?... etc; but that we were testing the limits by taking one idea and exchanging it entirely for another under split decisions. I figure one can second guess their second guess all day long, but when it comes down to it you got to decide at some point. So, I decided! It is going to be a journey through daily life... with my new husband, and a learning of compromise and saying with the moment.

     I may be projecting this as a chore at times here, always with this undertone of guilt, or hassles... but really it has been paradise and I figure in order to make something even remotely interesting to read there has to be some kind of antagonizing aspect, right?!
It has been good for me to post this blog when we make the time, I hope to be able to post picutres some day soon.
 with love,
J.D.

Problems Solver meets Problem Enhancemet

Finally, some sun soaking, lazy loungin', pizza eating days!
We enjoyed our stay in Avingon and made our way to Arles. It is a quiet city of busy tourists to see the ruins of 2000 years prior. Yesterday we walked nearly 5 miles in the sun and heat before we got to set up camp, and to our demise one of our 3 tent poles snapped! I was pretty wiped at this point and I lay my head down and tried to stay out of Aarons way as he worked his magic. Now, we all have something I think that we do particularly well in times of distress. For some it is a problem solving genius state of mind that kicks in, and for others it is a whining, complaining, crying fit of rage that overcomes like a sudden possession from another concious existance... I'm sure there is something inbetween , I've just never seen it.
So Aaron gets to work, like he knows exactly what to do. Hardly a comprehendable word comes out of his mouth, and before I can slip into my fit he has halfway completed the solution. He takes the pole and completely dismantled it. He uses one of the less stressed poles that supports the bottom and switched it with the broken one from the top. INGENIUS!! and it totally worked! I wish I could say "go team work!", but this was Aaron's prideful moment! he rocked it! just glad he's mine  :)

We enjoyed pizza and beer and a pool after that ordeal, but the camp ground wasn't the best expeirience... so we are shipping out, still we don't know where; maybe Netherlands, Spain, Italy, or somewhere in the mountains!
Sending my love and thoughts of summer fun in every post!
~ J.D.

Riding the wave

Bonjour friends, family, and anyone interested!
We have landed in Paris now four days ago, and we have successfully moved around the country of France with little interruption.
Our honeymoon has turned into a trip of riding the wave for what's best as a unit, rather than what's best for ourselves. What I mean, is simply that. Being our first adventure as a young married couple and after a couple of stressful weeks, ( consisting of moving, getting married, and planning this trip) it seems in our best interest to do what feels good. As some of you may know, the original idea was not only to make it to Europe but spend 3 months and bicycle on tandem the entire time! The hour we were going to be leaving for the airport we made a swift decision to ditch the bike and gear altogether due to cost (3times as much as our tickets), and mobility. This was most certainly a wise idea! The plan was then to rent a tandem and trailer and bring what we needed in our backpacks, making us mobile and prepared! We made it to Avignon to find the bike and trailer rental, and it couldn't have been easier to get! We took off, fully loaded, and to my demise... I was completely unable to continue. MAJOR bummer. The light hearted anything goes attitude dissapated instantly!
I can speculate that I began feeling this way in Texas where we lived prior, and trained for this adventure. We had a couple of traumatic happenings that delt with aggressive drivers towards cyclists. People aren't aggressive here, but everyone is FAST!! I felt so much stress it seemed unwise for our relationship to endure such a time. :(
It was a major set back for our attitudes, but we made the decision together and now we proceed with a lighter load, and have big plans for living it up in the up coming weeks!!
There will be and has been beautiful music, and beautiful scenery, and beautiful people.... and DELICIOUS food! MY GOD the food, spectacular. Vegetarianism here is just not appetizing.

We have seen priceless pieces of art at the Louvre, and are camped out on The Rhone in Avingon Provence. You could throw a dart at the map of Europe and that is how we decide our next move... if it feels good, it is good.
ride the wave...