The Last Goodbyes

Three months for a trip is a length that can sometimes seem very long, and sometimes very short, depending on circumstances. Three months in people's general home lives, I think, goes by fairly quickly. At one point it can be Christmas, and then shazam, it's early Spring - no big deal. But on the road, after two weeks have gone by, all thoughts of home seems to evaporate, and we are just pedalling somewhere, seemingly forever. In truth, though, while we are pedaling time at home is in fact passing. We know this because when we get back we'll see that the daffodils did in fact emerge, flower, and die - and for that matter, so did the tulips!

All in all, it's long enough that it warrants getting together with friends and family, for a bit of a goodbye. Of course, we are not the only ones taking off, usually for somewhere warmer. Even now, some cycling friends with whom we would have organized a farewell meetup are already in Mexico, and others are in Australia.

We did manage to snag a rendezvous with the Classens, of Poking Around Europe fame. We found that this time they are debating between going to Quebec in the spring, and going to France. Just in case, we brought them the Quebec Route Verte book, in its rare English version.

Some other cyclists we met up with also happen to be our family, daughter Laurie, grandkids Avi and Violet, plus their friend Sonora. Avi and Violet were, we thought, really brave in hills and traffic on the Willamette route, and Laurie did the Trail of the Hiawatha with us. Although we did bring Avi a bike to try out, this was just a great family gathering and not a cycling jamboree.

This was at Victoria's Shine Cafe. I was negligent in not recording their innovative breakfast offerings.

Yikes, Avi and Violet have grown a bit, since their first time on the Hiawatha. Laurie, of course, looks the same.

Next up, we have the "new kid on the block", baby Ferdinand. Baby Ferdinand appeared to Marius and Sandra (or came from wherever babies come from!) while we were on our last tour. He doesn't quite know how to wave hello and goodbye, as yet:

Marius and Sandra claim a long history with Grampies goodbyes, dropping us off or picking up at airports and ferry terminals, over 15 years! Now they have brought in reinforcements, in the person of baby Ferdinand!

We think Ferdinand has his doubts about this trip.

James and Anna are some older kids on the block - or actually, they are our closest neighbours. Their dad, Travis will be shuttling us to the airport this time.

The Paxman's cycled with us in Netherlands, and took off on their own in Germany. We reeled them in for some belated Christmas turkey, here in February. Their blog was appropriately titled Planned Spontaneity.

Threads intertwine, as Dodie reconnected with old friend Lisa Newman, who runs a daycare. Ferdinand will be in the market for this soon enough, so Dodie introduced Sandra to Lisa. Dodie and Lisa got together at Cowichan Bay. Our readers by now know all about Cowichan Bay.

This just in, Ken Nicholson (of Kamloops) - soon to leave with Judy for Morocco to Frankfurt - illustrates what it's like to encounter the Grampies on the trail:

Our human friends are nice, but we have also grown attached to all the birds that frequent our deck. We think they need some "last goodbye" photos as well. We will be able to look back to all of these when we are on the road:

The Flicker is one of at least four woodpecker types around our place.

Pine Siskins appeared by the hundreds this year.

The Varied Thrush is a bright bird that we have only seen for the first time this year.

These birds are among the 74 we have logged from around home so far this year. New ones are really hard to find now, and we would have to wait for migrants to return in the Spring to make much progress. But we have high hopes for Spain, especially with our plans to cycle by some well known birding spots. We have even "cheated" by booking a one day bird tour in the Donana national park, near El Rocio, not far from Sevilla. Ooh, and Dodie points out that we will be riding through the Monfrague Park (known as a hotspot for viewing raptors) on our way south towards Seville.

Bonus Topic:

As we are ready now to set off on yet another journey into the wider world, we find that the "world order" is undergoing something of an upheaval. It stems from the U.S. taking a sharper turn toward isolationism and protectionism, not to mention autocracy, and probably a bunch of other dangerous "isms". Post World War II, the U.S. had adopted a position as the world's policeman, protecting an international rule of law, fostering free trade, and promoting democracy (except for those times when it felt like invading a variety of smaller countries, installing or propping up dictators, taking monopolistic control of industries, grabbing oil supplies, and suchlike - hey nobody's perfect!).

Canada finds itself in an uncomfortable position as this shift occurs, as we share what used to be touted as the world's longest undefended border with these folks. And much as Ukraine had been with Russia, we have deep cultural and family ties across that border. But now Canadians are getting really peeved with American pressure tactics, and we are wondering if, as in 1814, we will need to go burn the White House down again.

In 1814, though the war was with "Canada", Canada was a part of Britain, so it was actually a British admiral, Sir Alexander Cochrane, that lit the match in Washington. This time around, though, we see no sign of King Charles mounting his polo horse and coming to help out.

But Canadians, in their "Canadian" way are taking action. We are boycotting Florida oranges- take that Mar-a- Lago! And businesses are declaring their Canadian roots. Like one day recently when we went for a burger at A&W:

Or see the red banner atop our local paper:

And people are cancelling their trips to Disney World: (Take that, Mickey Mouse!).

But in all seriousness, this does affect us. We will no longer consider cycle trips to Florida, or Hawaii, or to Tucson - to see all our cycling friends. We will no longer book any flight that stops in the US. And it affects us because we love our American friends (not to mention relatives), and we wish their country would butt out of those friendships.

Hands off our cute P.M. (photo credit: Vancouver Sun)

As we travel now to western Europe, we do not really expect to encounter much in terms of a changing world order. But with populist parties gaining strength, we may one day have to withdraw to Canada, and pull the beaver robes over our heads. And then, should populism come to Canada, Trisha Graham - hold a place for us down in New Zealand!

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Jacquie GaudetI read this morning (in the Vancouver Sun) that Trump has begun firing “hundreds of FAA workers”. Yet another reason to not fly through US airports (for those of us who have a choice).
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4 days ago

Tricia GrahamYes we are saving a spot down here for you 💕🇳🇿
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4 days ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Tricia GrahamWe are bringing a lot of Canadian flags. But we hear Americans are bringing these to Europe as well. We may need a supply of NZ flags!
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3 days ago

Andrea BrownWe totally support Canada in this stout rebuke to US shenanigans. Washington and Oregon would probably agree to join British Columbia, for that matter. When the idiots who voted for that idiot find out that Canada isn't going to buy their corn or oil or whatever, maybe that will pry open their tiny eyelids a bit. We are finding that only pocketbook issues are going to mayyyyyybbeeee move the needle on the insane spell that's been cast on millions of Americans.
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3 days ago

Bob KoreisTo Andrea BrownThe parts of WA and OR west of the Cascade crest would be amenable. (Channeling my best Br'er Rabbit) Please, please Mr. President, don't let them force universal healthcare on me.

I'm quite happy to spend $$$ in Canada. Idaho? Probably not in my lifetime.
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3 days ago

Bill ShaneyfeltCareful!

Moderators might take umbrage to politics... I'd hate to see this disappear!
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3 days ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesHa! The moderator agrees with us. But seriously anything related to the cycle tour is traditionally fair game. The cyclist may see evidence of history, religion, poverty, food, traffic, etc etc A changing world order is interesting and relevant, we think.
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3 days ago

Kelly IniguezIs Maison des Vautours on your route? I thought I had found another castle to stay at - mansion equals Maison in French, right? But it's a birding spot for Vultures (Vautours).
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3 days ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Kelly IniguezWe are detouring slightly by Monfrague on the Via Plata - it's famous for vultures. Don't know Maison des Vautours - where is it?

Maison in French anyway is just a house. Don't know how to say mansion, except maybe chateau.
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3 days ago

Rob VincentTo Bill ShaneyfeltHere, Here, Bill.
Here for Bike Travels, not PPO! (Personnel Political Opinions)
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2 days ago