This one's for you mom...

I have done a little travel since I last posted. I'm sorry that I have neglected to fill you in, but I have been enjoying my time. The less time on the computer the better. These days are filled up with part time work, bike rides, and sitting around with my friends. What feels most important right now is the time I spend with my family and Dylan.

So let's play catch up: In December I was sent to Bali for work. I got to go 2 weeks early so I could research the area and learn the culture and routes. It was incredible.

It was my first time to asia and I had no idea what to expect. I was in complete shock when I first learned I was going and then the reading began. Cultural readings, leader's notes, language basics, you name it, I read it. Fortunately I had about a day and a half of flight time alone to help me with that (Portland to Seattle to Tokyo to Bangkok to Denpasar).

My first impressions were a little clouded by jet lag. Out local guide, Wayan Narta, picked me up at the airport with his beautiful wife and daughter. As we were driving to Ubud, I was almost overwhelmed by how much was going on around me. It's chaos. There are people and motor bikes and push bikes and cows.

I went to get a bike the next day so I could ride around and get used to the traffic. I soon realized it's not actually chaotic. There is a flow and order to it. It is systematic, organized chaos. They care about one another: strangers and neighbors and friends alike. It is not a selfish, me-first attitude and by looking out for others there is a natural order to it.

I woke up early in the mornings for weeks. This was my favorite time of the day. It was peaceful and still. The streets were empty and the only people out were the drivers who were washing their cars meticulously preparing for the day. Complete with blessings.

Bali is a very spiritual place. A hindu-based religion with buddhist and animist influences. They do daily rituals for everything. At least 3 a day to bless the food they are eating and because it was during holiday there were even more. I got there on Galungan (a holiday where they believe the spirits of their ancestors and all the gods return to earth to live among them for 10 days). The town was so ornate with all the holiday decorations too. Pingons are these large flag like banners that are hand woven by people in the community. Symbolic of the volcano they represent strength with bamboo shoots. The day before our trip started was Kunningan: the day these spirits return to the after life by noon (when the sun has moved into the western sky).

The unyielding dedication was impressive. So much of their daily life is determined by their spirituality. Not to mention a lot of the arts which are highly regarded and appreciated there and throughout the world.

Looking back, the thing I remember the best about Bali is the color! It is such a vibrant place and with all the "noise" (both literal and figurative) it is important to focus on the beauty that surrounds you. Instead of trying to see everything at once, zoom in and see all the beautiful little things that are taking place all around you. Soon your realize that everything, from the flowers to the rice paddies and the fabrics to the paintings, everything is bright and full of life. It makes me wonder when in the western world we got so dull. Khakis and blue collared shirts going to our grey buildings and working the same 9 to 5 routine. That is the desired plan in life, right? A good steady job to return to our white picket house in the suburbs.

I took one bazillion pictures in the time before my trip and then we had a guest who was (thankfully) the documentarian so if you would like to see more, please check it out here.

Look kids. Big Ben...Parliament!

I rounded out the end of my own European adventure with a stop in London town. My good friend Haley is completing her studies at Kings College and it was the perfect opportunity to decompress with a little bit of home away from home.

After a little connection through social media I also found out another Backroads friend was going to be there at the same time which was great. While Haley was busy getting smarter in class, Galen and I explored the city on bike with the Fat Tire Bike Tour.

The next day we found what I dubbed "mini-Portland" on Brick Lane. The grungy, alternative side of town. We even saw 2 Boy Georges. Two. Then a park block with a light up floor.

Galen had to go home and Haley and I continued to wander the city. We found some old friends in Notting Hill and ate at their fantastic new restaurant: Otto Pizza. Then they treated us to a night on the town full of dancing and all kinds of other proper shenanigans. Here's an oldie but goodie. Ah...memories.

It was the perfect end to a wonderful adventure. If you would like to see some more pictures check out that good old flickr account I have set up. Next stop HOME!!!

Yes we are those people

Pisa. Tourist mecca. How could we miss that?

Here's Ingo's cheesy picture.

And here is mine.

And here is the picture of all the other people lined up doing the same exact thing.

Enough said. To see some more from our adventures in Pisa, click here. And for other pictures from along the road to France, click here.

Next stop: Ljubijana

Meet Anze. Anze is a total goof ball and makes a funny face for every picture ever taken (this is the one serious one I have). He is also one of the kindest people I have ever met and I love the way he talks about his family. He is just brimming with love and pride. Full of excitement and laughter he is great energy to be around.

Anze dislocated his ankle playing basketball and then, post-surgery, completed training with a walking boot and crutches. Fast forward 4 months and Anze was leading trips. Another month and I saw him for the first time in full health in Spain. One week after the staff ride and Anze was running his first half marathon in Ljubijana. What a perfect excuse for us to use our second unit drive bonus day!

We walked around the entire city while he ran with his sweet wife Marijana, his daughter Zaria and his parents. His dad gave us the full and proper tour. It was great! That night we went to a movie and then bowling. Living it up in the Lube!

More pictures

Lake Plitvice

Flights only run from Barcelona to Dubrovnik on Thursdays which meant we were back 2 days earlier than we needed to be. Which meant we could start our road trip 2 days early!

I was scheduled to do a unit drive again. This time I had to drive from Croatia to France and we had 2 vans, one trailer and 45 bikes. Because there were two vans, Ingo was also on the same schedule and turned out to be a wonderful, adventurous, fun-loving travel companion. Game for anything.

Stop 1: Lake Plitvice (I'm pretty sure they did not spell it this way in Croatian). This lake is actually a series of smaller lakes at different elevations. They all pour into one another making beautiful waterfalls. Being one of Croatia's larger National Parks, they also built a series of boardwalks that go around or between the lakes giving you better viewing points. I sincerely wish I had a few more hours and a tripod, but it was more than worth the extra driving to get there. It was the first time I really felt fall. Spain was a little too cold or a little too warm. Lake Plitvice- that was my goldilocks moment of fall, when it feels just right and I can't help but live in the moment, reveling in all the things I love. The crisp air, the bright colors the smells. It was just beautiful.

More pictures

Una aventura epica!

Dylan has this rule that you can only use the word epic 3 times in a year. I'm not really sure where it came from, but it does make you think a little before just throwing explatives around all willy nilly.

But the day has come and I officially cashed in my second epic of the year last for the 2010 Backroads Staff Ride in Spain. I wish I could narrow it down to a more specific event, but it was really just the whole shibang! I had a hard time taking pictures because I was a little too in the moment, enjoying the rides and time with friends (new and old). I didn't want to stop or slow down to set up a shot, I just wanted to go go go!

Here is a little taste of how it went down:

Day 1- meet at the bus station and bus 2 hours to high up in the Pyrenes. Bust out km with breathtaking views of the mountains, a couple good climbs and a great windy descent back to camp for a staff meeting (complete with beverages), a cookout and dance party hosted by one of our regional managers, DJ Tanya. Things are just getting started.

Day 2- The jet lag wore off for most of the US leaders and the trip kicks it up a notch with a 22km climb up and over the mountains. I was clicking along when I passed a kid pumping some tunes. Screeeetch! Hold up. I'm riding with this kid. Turns out he's from Portland! Not surprising. Music and Portland go hand in hand. Temperature at the summit: 3 degrees celsius. Why didn't I bring booties?! Followed by a 26km descent to a picnic lunch with warm "blue" wine by a small waterfall. Back on the bikes we head to the hotel (with several breaks for swinging) and discover that our hotel is actually paradise, overlooking a medieval bridge with sunny balconies and connecting rooms. We took a horse-drawn carriage ride to dinner (I'm not joking) and enjoyed a meat-filled (classic Spanish style) dinner at a local restaurant that opened just for us. I soon found out that the leaders were not joking when they said they had warned the owner that people may be dancing on tables as Dire Straits got the party started. Ridiculous. After deciding that we may have to re-varnish the floors and tables the leaders herded us all into vans and shuttled us to the proper disco. Again...open just for us. My partner in crime, Jessie, and I danced well into the morning before walking back across the street to our hotel. How did that get there? Magic! [I would also like to point out that Jessie happened to be at my first "epic" of the year as well, Chamonix. Where she goes, cool things follow.]

Day 3- I think this was my favorite ride! Not just from the trip, but pretty much my entire life! We went uphill for 6 km then downhill for over 20. I don't know how that adds up, but I like it! It was perfect asphalt and graceful turns with two perfect white lines painted on either side of the single-lane road. It looked like a bike race track and we could see our friends further down the line while we coasted along. Eoin behind me making race car noises...pushing me into high gear. No way I'll let an irishman beat me! Awaiting at the bottom: cappuccinos on cobblestone streets. Unbelievable. Back on the bikes, climbing again...6km up then 15 down to lunch. Great company and delicious food with prompt service. Finish the 100km and roll into . Next stop Salvador Dali Museum! So surreal. Ha! It was incredible. I could have spent all day there, but still enjoyed the treat. Dinner: tapas. More laughing and sneaking away for an earlier bed-time.

Day 4- Last day. Already! We had some big rollers in the morning and ate our lunch in (another) medieval village then rolled the rest of the way to the beach. Picture it, two days earlier I was at 1800m freezing in the pyrenes and now I'm at the beach, sweating in the sand! Amazing. I chose to do the long option despite the discouraging hills and ominous warnings from the leaders (the ride was actually called, ")and it was worth it! Gorgeous views and Alex waiting at the top with juice and potato chips! Raced the boys down the big hill and onto the dirt bike path for a cyclocross style 8km finish! Our final night hotel is overlooking the water with a little beach party going on out front. Food, food and more food. Oh...and massages! Followed by a nice(r) dinner in the hotel restaurant then a quick superman change to get ready for the send off...our private foam party at the local club. It was soapy, slippery and silly and the manager of Europe was dancing on the bar in a swim cap. How does this happen?

Dear Backroads,

I love you. You rock my world.

Sincerely,

Erin

You couldn't wipe this smile off if you tried. Pictures are slow coming as I compile my friends' photos together, but this should get you started. They might be a little backwards chronologically.

Bar(th)elona

It is a regional thing: they have a lisp. It is completely noticeable and very fun/funny.

We had one whole afternoon in Barcelona before the start of our grand adventure with the rest of the party people so Ingo and I enjoyed lunch with Lynny, Joel and Becca then hit the streets trying to cram in a little intro to Spain.

After that we commandeered a hostel. 16 Backroads leaders in one place, unplanned. The unsuspecting regular guests were a little scared.

Now it's off to the festivities! "Cause there ain't no party like a Backroads partay...hey...ho."