adventure | Like Water

Same things. Different places. Biking, walking, working, living. Same themes as well but most recently it’s been Summer on a Roasting Globe and watching the world die around us. I won’t bore with a diatribe. 20°F above ‘average’ temps for months, minimal rain fall, major rivers at all-time lows, green to deep-baked brown and dead cracked earth. What is there to do but carry on carrying on? Wake up each day and look for a little good to celebrate. Qué Será, Será…

There’s been some positive for sure. New routes, new favorites, new local finds… Got to spend some time hosting my mom and showing her around. Made a couple trips to the Netherlands. Explored Frankfurt for a while. Yesterday we drove a short distance, parked in Luxembourg, rode to Thionville, France, ate lunch, rode back. Still mid-summer in the fall, but the spaces between nights and days, days and nights, have been a continued series of radiant sunrises and sets. Beauty to behold.

European Vacation

It was great to get my mom over here for a while. She showed up with a basic idea of things to see and do and we accomplished. Pretty simple really, visit some castles, check out some churches, get a glimpse of Germany. She was tireless in her time here and we were able to make the most of it. Five countries, several castles, plenty cathedrals, lots of trails, long days in North Holland alongside the North Sea, Rhine and Mosel River exploration, local showcasing. Good times and forever memories.

Low Places

I really like the Netherlands. The prices of daily goods are astonishingly expensive and the people are indifferent to the point of pretending you’re invisible. But the landscapes are amazing, the food is fun, and the biking infrastructure is world class. It’s refreshing to hang out in a place where riding is a way of life for most adults–both for everyday needs and recreating. Simply a better model of societal possibilities and both urban and rural transportation design. You may imagine easy flatlands biking as a reason as to why it’s possible. You would be mistaken: The wind is a hill!!! And a constant. Having enjoyed a week in the country with family last fall, and another with my mom this summer, Krissy and I decided to spend some days early September in the Zeeland region. Each day was a big loop in a different direction. Lots of time along the coast, miles and miles of riding next to canals, a few hours in a couple lively cities, and each evening spent watching the sun melt into the horizon.

Frankfurt

First time in Frankfurt other than the airport. Nothing but good things to say. Lots of riding around and checking things out. Got to spend a little time with a local (thank you Ginna!) and a couple days doing whatever we wanted. City space and green space. ‘Mainhattan.’ Weekend markets. Famous food court. I’ll throw in an unsponsored plug here for a fun app called ‘Atlas Obscura.’ I love using it to find random and little known sites with fascinating human histories behind them–scavenger hunts through out-of-the-way areas around the globe. There were several spots throughout the greater Frankfurt area, including Pinkelbaum–the tree that pees back, and a metro entrance resembling a crashed trolley car. Check check. Smile.

Around the Way

Still finding new trails, new roads, new things to do. Also: Home grown tomatoes!

Squinting at the sun. 2026 Summer Eclipse as seen from hills above the house.

The simple things. Human-powered propulsion. Two-wheeled exploration. Long quiet miles. Bike love. The past two months have been blessed with extended days in the saddle spent pedaling around in circles.

Slovenia

Eight days in Slovenia doing a bike loop created by daily decisions. Started near Kranska Gora, spent a couple nights around Lake Bled, couple more at Bohinjsko, several days along the Soča River, and a few hours riding through Italy to complete the route. Lush valleys with all-time views of snow-capped peaks lining the distance. Big climbs, steep descents, back roads, bike paths, and a couple train assists. Lots of sunshine and one full day of rain. Hearty local fare and too many (no choice but) pizzas to count. Dobri dnevi!

Ulm

Spent an evening riding along the Danube and around Ulm on the way back home from Slovenia. Birthplace of Einstein and home to the tallest church steeple in the world.

Vulkan-Express

Fun little day trip with one-way ride support from an old diesel locomotive. Enjoyable putter up a big hill in the well-kept old passenger cars and a great gravel route back down to the Rhine.

Bodensee

Four-day circumnavigation of the Bodensee and beyond. Spent an evening riding around Worms on the way down south. Started and ended the bike loop in Konstantz on the German side. Route cruises through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and in and out of lots of neat little ‘beach’ towns and historic sites. Made it around the big lake, then along the lower lake, and finally to Rhine Falls before hopping a quick ride back on the train. Photos are scarce for this one and the rest because, really, there’s only so many photos of people riding bikes next to beautiful scenery that a person can take (not to mention subject others to).

Tour de Ahrtal

Slim pickin’ for photos of this one but deserves a mention for sure. Not too far from our house there was a local event a couple weeks ago where they closed down 50km of highway to host a day of biking! Each little town along the route had a small festival going on with beer, bands, BBQs, and homemade cakes. There were checkpoints along the way where you could get a mark on your punchcard and later enter it for a big drawing if you had visited at least four of the 20 sites. It was a super fun day and probably the most enjoyable event (out of all the Christmas markets, festivals, etc.) I’ve done since being here.

Schwarzwald

Finally made it to the fabled Black Forest last weekend. Triberg, Germany’s highest waterfall, world’s biggest and smallest cuckoo clocks, Black Forest cake, and lots of straight ups and straight downs. Will call it a scouting trip for the next time as my favorite tailgater had to unexpectedly head back stateside the day before. Sweaty solo rides up some of the steepest climbs I’ve ever ridden under the searing heat of the most recent (and reportedly most fierce) European heatwave to date. Rough! Good times on the last day, however, with happy laps around the Schluchsee and a few liters of the local Rothaus brew to celebrate the Solstice.