Regardless, just like the rest of the world, Backroads leaders get tired and need some time off to recharge the old batteries.
I finished my trip on Friday and came back to the leader house, enjoyed a fantastic meal with my coleaders and started daydreaming about my "tomorrow" and all the amazing things I could do with my day off (which, for the record: I still had to work a few hours on Saturday too). Just before bed, I called Dylan and my bubble burst with a only a few words, "I'm sorry baby, but your Grandma died today."
At first I felt ok because it was expected and I know she was ready, but the sadness found a way to creep in and the more I thought about my mom and how much I just wanted to give her a hug the more teary I got. I think back and I am just so grateful. I had such wonderful grandparents. That won't change the fact that I still wish I could have had a wedding that they attended and kids they met, but I am trying to remember how much they supported me and my crazy traveling dreams too. That is what is pushing me forward this week.
Another friend from Italy, Emily, came over on the infamous Bari-Dubrovnik ferry and she has been the perfect distraction for me. We joked about these plans the last time I was in Puglia, but her following through and the timing of it all was clutch.
Sunday we drove around in circles looking for new bike rides, had a great lunch with the family downstairs and then biked up to the overlook just before sunset. The highlight of the night: I learned a new card game.
Yesterday, we took a brief hike down to the "beach house" and then scraped up some motivation to push through the drizzly rain and bike to Montenegro. It is only about 30km south of where we live and well worth the effort.
Most of what I discovered about Montenegro can be summed up with one sentence: It is a lot like Croatia. I'm sure there are a lot of differences and I'm also sure that going 10km past the border control won't really show us what they are, but it was nice. I felt comfortable being there. Same, same, but different.
The road we biked was gorgeous with huge coastal views on one side and mountains on the other. It dead-ended into a construction site where we got a little nervous then decided to persevere as if we were mountain biking. After the construction came border control. New stamp! Check! We found a room at a post-communist, "modern"/falling apart hotel and then set out to explore Herceg Novi by foot.
One of the funniest moments was taking pictures inside a Fort at the top of the hill. We asked the man on guard if we could stand on the castle walls to which he replied, "Why not? I don't fall. You fall." Typical of Europe. They don't believe that a place should be liable for injury. They think that is personal responsibility...what a novel idea.
After taking several jumping pictures however and laughing hysterically, he came back smiling: "Please, ladies. I know that you are quite fit. But this is 12th century Turkish village. Many people die here. I do not want you to be one of them." Ok...fair enough.
I am not really sure that my grandma would approve of me jumping of 12th century fortress walls, but I can picture the little gasp and head shake I would get if I told her. I can see her face, with just a little bit of an open mouth, like she's tisking me, but with a smile on her face....as if to say, "You're crazy. But I still love you."
She would often recall a story to me from when we moved to West Virginia (I was 5). She said she was over to the house and we were sitting in my room. I told her it was the worst day of my life, and when she asked why I said I didn't want to leave and I didn't want to leave her and Grandpa. She laughed everytime when she got to this part and then she told me she'd always be with me. That we'd never be far apart. The last time she told me this was in January while I was home and I can honestly say I have felt her presence a lot this week. It is a really great feeling. I am happy for her and grateful for our time together. And I DO know she would approve of the card game!
"I love you...a bushel and a peck...a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!"
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