Ein Jahr

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Jody Jett

One year? There hasn’t been another in my life that passed half as quick. I arrived in Germany last October and find myself again surrounded by changing leaves, autumnal air, low-lying sunshine, the full effects of fall in northern latitudes. A nice place to be in moments of mindful presence. Elusive as they may occur.

Been some of the same and some of not the same. Bike riding, walking, climbing on rocks, tending to flowers, taking a few photos. Lots of local travel and a few extended ramblings. Been a couple of planned weeks off and a sudden stint of unrequested free time. Been unhealthy levels of news consumption—and too many unprecedented home-country happenings to ignore. Serenity prayer on repeat.

Highlights of the past few months: Another several day section of the Mosel Radweg biking upstream this time. Pedaled out of the garage, down to the Lieser, swung right at the Mosel, spent one night in Germany, one in Luxembourg, and one in France before doing the train/bike combo back home. A two-week family visit full of activity. Tours of German towns, rivers, and trails. Lots of castles, lots of spots, lots of memories. A week in the Netherlands checking out North Sea beaches, Texel Island, and the Afsluitdijk dike. A couple days in Liege, Belgium. A day of walking in the High Fens National Park. A weekend trip to Saarland. And so forth… One year in and more anxious questions than predictions as to what the next one might deliver. Deep breaths and a day at a time.

Château de Sierck, France where we finished the ride.

Völklinger Hütte UNESCO Ironworks Site. Amazing place.

If a photo can be a metaphor this one fits the time. Thanks for checking in und Bis spater!

Zeit Vergeht

Posted on July 6, 2025 by Jody Jett

Springtime was a fine time and summer proves equally pleasant. Days of hot. Days of not. Light until 11 pm makes for dreamy sunset bike riding, late night porch sitting, Bitburger swilling, guitar strumming, hammock swinging… Only hard part is going to bed when you should. 8 months in.

In that time, I’ve been trying to focus on two things. Figuring out how to best do my job and gaining a basic knowledge of local surroundings. If we’re around long enough, the time will come for broader travels in neighboring countries, but for now I’m quite content staying within a limited radius from the backyard. Exploring the trails, learning the customs, trying to speak a little of the language…

Rhineland-Palatinate. Farmlands, Woodlands, Vineyards, and River Valleys.

Every day I am grateful for the house and community we ended up in. The town has less than 2000 inhabitants, yet still supports a bakery, a nice restaurant, a convenience store, and a gas station. Like all the smaller villages around here (hundreds of them) the town celebrates festivals, sponsors sporting teams, and hosts social events. There is a bus that comes through every couple of hours from which one can access neighboring villages as well as the nearest train station. And the trails! I’ve mentioned this already, but even after months of walking and biking from the house we’re still discovering more routes, different loops, new possibilities.

We recently took some days to go on an extended bike trip from the house, down the Lieser and Mosel Rivers, and ended at the confluence with the Rhine and the city of Koblenz. This trip was well over 100 miles of riding on signed and paved paths with only a mile or so of sharing the road with cars! Unbelievable to imagine that a good portion of the country is set up this way.

After spending the solstice in Koblenz, we hopped on a train with the bikes, shuttled most of the way back, and then rode a different route home from the train station. The last couple of weekends have been similar with bus-supported bike rides to various named routes in the local region. Miles and miles and miles of cruising through vineyards, along waterways, through tunnels, across bridges, past churches and castles, and into the hearts of centuries old downtowns.

Other highlights from the past few months include four-days of hiking around the Mullerthal region in nearby Luxembourg, a day trip to a medieval festival at the Sedan Castle in France, a beautiful spring day in Cologne, Via Ferrata in Manderscheid, stumbling across too many other castles to count, a short canoe trip on the Sauer, a few music festivals, and more. Jede Woche ein neues Abenteuer. A new something to appreciate.

Springtime in Cologne. Sunshine and cherry blossoms.

Mullerthal Region, Luxembourg. A walking around wonderland.

We’re here if you want to see it for yourself sometime. Bis zum nächsten Mal, Freunde!

Rambles

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Jody Jett

Months of messing around. No big trips, but plenty of little ones. Difficult to remember what all’s been going on and not a lot of photos to show for many pleasant days and numerous local outings. Revisited a few regional sites from past posts and found at least as many new ones. Spent a week in Southern California and the rest of the time right here in Southeast Arizona—day hikes, backpacking trips, weekend BnBs, working on personal projects, and plain ol’ work. Disjointed recollections:

Tucson and Surrounds

Spent a week in Tucson checking out a couple state parks as well as hiking in Saguaro NP. Were scheduled to spend the time on a Mexican beach in mid-December, but the border crisis shut the crossing down for weeks keeping us close in. Appreciated the reduced driving and enjoyed the cabled route up and down Picacho Peak, a big loop around and across Wasson Peak, and a beautiful day in Romero Canyon in Catalina.

December Sunshine. Wasson Peak overlooking Tucson sprawl.

Time Travel

The Southwest is rife with relics of past lives and cryptic human histories. Realities we can scarcely imagine. It’s amazing the things one may come across without meaning to. With effort, whisperings of remnant artifacts may be pondered in proximity. I don’t prioritize visiting vestigial fragments of other cultures, but confess a curious nature when it comes to finding little known sites in difficult to access areas.

Randomly encountered internet article, some rain, and a little luck led us to these Gila River petroglyphs.

Backpacking trip from Johnny Creek to Pueblo Devol cliff dwellings.

Salton Sea

I recently spent a week in Idyllwild, CA brushing up on some wilderness medicine skills. There were many reasons I chose this particular class, not the least of which was its location in potentially wintry elevations. I’m getting right tired of being hot all the time—especially in the wintertime. Packed up the lighter layers of my Alaska gear and was pleased to spend a few days lying around in deep snow, often covered in fake blood and occasionally feigning injuries like heat stroke—though with slim chance of suffering the same. On the way there I spent a night beside the Salton Sea, which was both interesting and entirely uninteresting at the same time. Interesting for the anomaly which is the body of water itself; not interesting for the uninspired squalor of subhumans dwelling in barely habitable shanties along the shoreline. The inverse of freedom presents as autonomously imposed oppression.

A few enjoyable artistic musings and a town of straight trash. Bombay Beach, CA.

Douglas, Coronado, Naco, Bisbee, Cochise Stronghold

This was one of those ‘best of’ trips comprised of reimagined alterations to past itineraries. Sunset wildlife show at Whitewater Draw, a night at the historic Gadsen Hotel, a few miles walk to the border in Coronado National Monument, a steep climb to cave descent, an afternoon meal in Mexico, a couple chilly nights in an old mining town, stair climbing the Bisbee 1000, backroads out of Tombstone, a walk into the Dragoons…

Local Local

Or maybe. There is much to be discovered right out the front door around here. Though perhaps more like out the front door, into a 4×4, onto the highway, off the highway, down some dirt roads for a good while, and then… No trails means no people, rugged terrain, secret spots, and seldom seen landscapes in abundance.