bike | 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.