2015 Week 25: Plodding on. . .

Feeling puny all week, but kept going with basic chores and one long-ignored unfinished project--the Circle Tour 2014 photos. This week was the one year anniversary of where I left off months ago dealing with each day of our trip through the Basque Country, so I have been looking back and posting the year-ago memories on Facebook each day beginning with June 18. My favorite is the team photo.

And Mike has been gone most of the time. This is the weekend of the robotics competition in Ohio.

They (mostly Michael and a few students and mentors available during summer break) have been dealing simultaneously with two projects: set up the new CNC machine (read about it here), and improve the performance of the robot. Late Tuesday they realized that there were too many steps left to accomplish the latter before the CORI Off-Season Invitational, June 20th (happening as I write).
So at their Thursday meeting they had to back-track, replace the parts as they used to be, except for one aspect--it is faster now.Then they packed the trailer and finally got home by midnight.

Wednesday I learned that Aunt Berdine passed away at age 94. She was widowed 28 years ago when Uncle Harlan died suddenly at age 71. In recent years she suffered dementia but could still play the piano.

What a grand reunion in heaven. Only three of the Hirschy family remain on earth. Aunt Berdine is on the right and was preceded in death by both sons. She is survived by three daughters, 15 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and one great great!

We did get out to the senior lunch at the Lion's Club, a special meal celebrating fathers, and an entertaining program--two local retired teachers reenacting Abbot and Costello's "Who's on First."

Dan Fuller, on the right, was our kids' English and Theater teacher at Eastbrook High School, and is now in my Writer's Bloc critique circle.

This morning I said goodbye to our student boarder off to visit his brother in Arkansas for a week.

We've hardly seen him, either off to class at Anderson University or recovering from mental overload in his room. However, during meals or right after class I heard a LOT about what he was learning in the graduate-level course for music educators--First Steps in Music taught by renowned expert in the field, John Feireabend.
I must admit he kinda scared me with statements such as:
--If a child is not properly developed musically by age 7, it's too late!
--Pop music, too complex, or with a strong beat in infancy slows down or hinders musical development.
--Non-interactive screen time puts infants in a sleep/vegetative state that is damaging.

So, I'm reading a research-based article on how to develop the music intelligence of an infant, and even bought one of Feierabends books with songs and poems. Maybe I can use these bouncy rhymes with Rebecca.

10 months old

Stephan and Karen celebrated the one-year anniversary of their move with a Big Ol' Shindig. They put leaflets on all the mailboxes on their road and several of their their neighbors showed up. Lots of friends stopped by. Come to think of it, I was the only family member that was able to attend.

While there I heard that our robot and Team 1720 made it to finals and were the runners-up! Congratulations PhyXTGears for the best competition ever!

These photos were gleaned from Facebook.
Mike just got back, so I must go and hear the stories first-hand!

Next week we will be taking a break to celebrate with friends in Colorado. You may not hear from us for two weeks.

Ciguatera

This has to be one of my favorite selfies of all time because of the friendship it represents and because it reminds me of the last hours we spent together the day before we left the Basque Country.

In honor of our Basque friend Edurne's birthday today, I am going to retell an experience they shared that day which impacted me greatly.

In 2000 Alberto and Edurne vacationed in Costa Rica with their friends. Shortly before their departure for home Edurne began to feel sick. By the time they arrived back in Hondarribia she was seriously ill. She could not move. It was total-body paralysis. Even swallowing or speaking were almost impossible.

Keep in mind they are both doctors--Edurne a family doctor and Alberto a neurologist. For days he and his colleagues researched her condition while family members took turns caring for her round the clock.

Meanwhile, one evening Alberto's network of friends from his hometown (kuadrilla) were having dinner and talking about this situation. One of them, a scuba diver, knew immediately that they were dealing with Ciguatera, a neurotoxin from eating fish or seafood contaminated with poisons obtained through the food chain. But, why did the others who enjoyed the same food not experience any of the symptoms? Perhaps because she is so tiny, like extra small. Certainly not because she ate more than them.

The diagnosis made all the difference. They knew this would pass in time and that there was nothing they could do to accelerate the healing process. "Once I knew," she said, "I could just lay there content and wait."

I tried to put myself in their place and imagine what it must have been like for this very active, athletic, involved mother, wife and physician. I pondered the added dimension of empathy that must have come from being totally dependent on others for three to four weeks. Then I said, "¡Qué interesante!" They laughed. Probably not the best descriptor for such a traumatically debilitating condition. I was thinking of Jesus and the absolute empathy He gained from becoming fully human and dwelling among us. Several Bible passages talk about how we can come to Him confidently because He understands completely.

This conversation came about because I asked if her necklace, which I remembered seeing four years ago, had a special meaning. Alberto had it designed and made especially to commemorate that his beautiful wife was restored to them and to full life again.

Can you read the word CIGUATERA, and see the culprit prawn? 

I had a vague memory of Amaia trying to tell me about her mother's serious illness, but I never understood fully at that time. She was very young, only six or seven. This was extremely traumatic for the girls. The day Edurne felt able to go meet them after school was one of those to be remembered a lifetime.

Edurne recalls that when she was able to go back to work she felt overwhelmed with gratefulness to be alive.

Four years ago we visited her doctor's office in a temporary building. This time we got to see the new clinic.

The lower two photos were taken in 2010 and I wrote about it here. One thing for sure, Edurne has not aged at all!

Interestingly, as we walked around San Sebastian on that last day (June 22), we met up with the nurse that still works with Edurne. 

2010                                                                                                    2014

Again I say, "Zorionak, Edurne! We love you and are so very glad you are alive and well."

2014 Week 23: Catching up

My last weekly post was dated June 1st. Now the entire month is gone. Half the year 2014 is over.
Most of June we lived out of a suitcase. Some of you may have followed our adventures.
This post will fill in the blanks leading up to Circle Tour 2014.

Week 23 was taken up preparing to leave our home and vehicles in readiness for the family members who stayed here. Mike spent hours and days working on the Grand Prix. He had to replace the head gaskets.

Tuesday

Wednesday

 Alas, after all that, the car would not run right. He worked on it almost till the last minute. No luck.

Meanwhile, I was steadily putting together blog posts for each day of our Circle Tour that were scheduled to publish at midnight so readers could have an idea of where we'd be and what we might be doing that day.
This review of our previous trips to the Basque Country served to prepare me and also led me to contact several friends and try to arrange meeting them while in their area.

Thursday afternoon I picked up my brother Aldo who flew in from Denver and drove him from Indianapolis to Mother's place in Winona Lake.
We had a wonderful time catching up on our now numerous offspring and sharing memories from childhood or the many years we've lived far from one another. I cannot remember a time when I had such a one-on-one conversation with number three of the five Hoyt siblings.

Mother & Aldo

 The last day was packed full. Yes, some of that was actual packing. I had been setting aside items for some time, but never feel very confident about my choices. What will the weather be like? Will I have enough of this or that? Have I forgotten anything?

Saturday, 9:00 a.m., no more time to ponder.

Selfie to announce on Facebook that we're on our way 

Flying into New York

Waiting to cross the ocean

 Sunday

In the Madrid airport

"...AND EVERYWHERE I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE THAT DANCE OR PLAY"

What awaits us in the days ahead? [If you followed my blog, you already know.]

Circle Tour 2014--Day 10

Day 10, June 20—To San Sebastián

This is the day we cross over into Spain and for some of us when we come to that border area we become very nostalgic. On the Spanish side of the Bidasoa river which separates the two nations is Hondarribia, the quaint town we love for its own unique charm but mostly because our friends live there—Amaia's family and a growing number of acquaintances.

Onyarbi—this post from 2010 will make you laugh as you read about the adventures Laurie and I had on our first visit. This next one—Finding Waldo-- gives a few more glimpses and you can also see what comes next on the route to our weekend headquarters in San Sebastian. On the way out some routes take you by this chapel—La ermita.

Hopefully we will be able to pause, reminisce, and perhaps even see a few known faces.

Actually last year, we did go up to the medieval center, and stopped to delight in the surroundings, the views, and the people. One of our friends, Gonzalo the radiologist, surprised our cyclists by meeting up with them and leading them to one of his favorite places, a ridge on the way out called Jaizkibel. Some of that day is pictured here--on to San Sebastian. And the next day here-- in San Sebastian.

If you are up to it, you could also go to The Hospital and see where Alberto and Gonzalo work.

As I re-read the post I question whether you caught that they do not need more advanced heart health facilities and procedures due to a healthier life-style—Mediterranean diet and exercise, a lot of walking!

Edurne, Amaia's mother, is also a doctor, a general practitioner—Zorionak, Edurne!

What will the final weekend be like? Who will we meet? Any last minute shopping (if you need to or enjoy that sort of thing)? Will it look anything like The last day in Donosti last year?

One difference is that we will already have met with our friends in Hondarribia the weekend before. I am grateful because I remember how spent I was by that time and even sick.

Thank you for following along. See you soon! ¡Hasta pronto!

P.S.: The above post, meant to give you an idea what we might be seeing and experiencing, has more live links than usual. Now I will try to tell you what our Friday, the last biking day, was like.

The cyclists were concerned about the amount of traffic they would encounter on that coastal route, but they found a two-lane bicycle path through the city. Even after a stop at yet another old church, where the organist happened to be practicing beautiful music, they arrived before us in Hondarribia.

Those of us in the van took a longer route stopping in Senpere by a beautiful lake. It is where every May tens of thousands come from all over the Basque Country to a festival called Herri Hurrats

to celebrate, promote the Basque language, and help out the schools where it is taught.


To walk/jog around the lake it took me 30 minutes.

We wound our way through a very Basque region on a narrow road, surrounded by forests, negotiating unending hair pin curves, and finally arrived in Hondarribia. Laurie and I hurried to find Edurne's clinic because we knew she'd be leaving work at 3:00 pm. We got there maybe a minute after. She had left. When we called her she was home already, but turned right around and came to meet us. We walked up to the old fort and met up with the rest of our team! The riders took off right away so they could meet up with Gonzalo who again led them to Jaizkibel. This time, however, they all made it up to the hightest point, quite a climb from la Ermita.

The van beat the cyclists to our weekend home base, Olarain. I had to smile when I opened the curtain in our new room.

When the cyclists finally arrived there was still a lot to do to prepare the rental bikes for shipping.

The beautiful weather 'accompanied us' (the Spanish expression) both weeks. The rain finally let loose last evening while we were having dinner nearby. I finally got to use my new umbrella, considered essential equipment every time you go out in the Basque Country.

Circle Tour 2014--Day 9

Day 9, June 19—To Bayonne, France

Baiona is another of the large cities in the historical Basque Country.

We left Mauleon and rode on to Bayonne, the brave by bicycle and the rest by van.

I don't have much to add to what you can read and see in the blog post, if you click on the highlighted link. (I hope you have realized by now that the bulk or meat of these posts is in those links.)

P.S.: 
Another beautiful sunny day!

Three stops on the way:

St. Palais where we went into a church with a variety of exquisite art. The cyclists arrived shortly after. And then a pilgrim on the Camino walked in. Meanwhile, outside someone nearly rode off with one of the bikes!

In Hasparren we at lunch in the same restaurant as last year and the owner remembered us! 
I remembered sharing a child menu with Barb. This time she was not there to help me out.

Espelette is famous for a type of pepper. See some hanging all over the building?

We arrived at the hotel in Bayonne (a different one from 2013) only a little before the cyclists.

Later we all headed for the beach in Biarritz, enjoyed the weather, the sunset and one another. 

Oh, and ate at the same place as last year, thanks to Sara who remembers everything and was craving Mexican.

Taco Salad

 

One more riding day. What will the morrow hold?

Circle Tour 2014--Day 8

Day 8, June 18—To Mauleon, France

Ha! The route map (linked above) indicates it should take 50 minutes by car. I wonder how long it will take the riders over that hilly terrain.

It is beautiful countryside, sheep abound! The view somewhat hindered by fog, haze and rain.

In this blog post from last year you will see us leaving our accommodation in St Jean and moving on to Mauleon.

P.S.: The ride today from St. Jean Pied de Port to Mauleon did indeed take longer than 50 minutes but definitely was our shortest ride so far. The cyclists took a longer route to avoid the climbs. I think they were deferring to Chelsea on her last day. The van took the high road with the breath-taking scenery, though for Laurie heights are quite scary.

 

 
 As we drove into Mauleon, so much was familiar (all the places in the above-linked post), and yet there is always something new to see. 
We went up to the old fort to look over the whole city. I had not been up there before. Amazing view.
Last year I did not notice the fronton--the wall for the Basque ball game, one in every town. When we went out for a walk later, we saw children there playing pelota or jai alai.

 The cyclists arrived mid-afternoon. 

 Not too long after, we said goodbye to Tate and Chelsea who fly back to the US tomorrow. The Rush family left to spend a couple days in Paris. Our group has shrunk and that is sad, but we are so grateful for the days we've had together.

Circle Tour 2014--Day 7

Day 7, June 17—To Saint Jean Pied de Port, France

The last half of this blog post shows us arriving in St. Jean Pied-de-Port after our coldest, rainiest day. Our accommodation was in a small village a few miles from the town. This year we will be right in town.

A memory from last year was when I accidentally broke some small souvenir glasses in a tourist shop. I paid for them and tried to leave a gift with the shop attendant. That's when the French word for 'gift' came back to me, after decades since high school French--cadeau! 

P.S.:

We are now in this charming town that swells and swarms with tourists and pilgrims of el Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James).

We have come across many today. On a touristy stop to see a medieval bridge, I talked to a peregrino, sitting at the top of the bridge eating his lunch (in the red t-shirt). He had been on the road 45 days already, all the way from Aachen, Germany. He walks an average of 35 km per day. He says he has 20 days left to his destination, Finisterre. According to him, and the myth he is following, it is the true burial spot of St. James. He was inspired by the story or legend that says St. James' bones were carried from Aachen to Finisterre, a little beyond Santiago de Compostela. That route is called el Camino de las Estrellas.

Nearby there was a star in the sidewalk. Can you see it? Could it be related in any way?

The countryside we drove through was incredibly beautiful. There is no way to do it justice with a random snapshot as we are driving.

At lunch time we happened upon an eatery by the road and were delightfully surprised by the variety of cold cuts, all local pork products. One was called Jesus PaysBasque. I wonder why?

The cyclists took a different route and stopped at the same inn as we did last year in Roncesvalles--La Posada. This time there was room at the inn, no crowds trying to come in from the rain and warm up and they were able to get a bite to eat.

And soon we were all together at the Ramuntxo in Donibane Garazi (Basque for St. Jean Pied de Port).

Circle Tour 2014--Day 6

Day 6, June 16—To Pamplona

On Monday of that second week, we will spend one night in Pamplona, the capital of Nafarroa autonomous region and the historical "high water mark" for the "Basque Country". The majority of them would say that it should be called the "Nafarroan Country," says Jeff Shadowen who lives in the Basque Country and will be leading us and helping us understand and learn about this ancient culture.

As mentioned earlier, Pamplona is one of the oldest cities in the Basque region, built by the Romans.

You can relive our last year's experience of Pamplona in the last half of this blog post: on to Pamplona.

In the first part, however, we were at a lovely campground, 7 Robles/Zazpi Haritzak (Seven Oaks Camp), where we had spent the night. This year it is not on our route. Interestingly these past months I have been reading the autobiography of the man who played a major role in starting the camp. 

P.S: We have arrived at our Tuesday destination, in France, and now at last have the opportunity to update past blog posts.
 
Yesterday, Monday, we traveled from San Sebastian to Pamplona.

 We wound up through dense forests and sheep grazing hills and stopped at a famous sanctuary.

San Miguel de Aralar

 As soon as we arrived at our hotel we phoned Fatima, a friend of one of last year's teammate Suzi. She and her friend, Juan, came to meet us immediately at our hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening showing us the sights. We saw and experienced far more of the famous city than last year thanks to our great tour guide, Juan. I hope I can make sense of the many photos later.

Another wonderful day! But, oh, my feet hurt!!!
Another day when we were not around to cheer the cyclists on their return. Instead they met us downtown after putting the bikes away and showering.

Circle Tour 2014--First Weekend

June 13 & 14

Donostia is our home base. A beautiful city with a wonderful beach and a view often referred to as El marco incomparable, like it has no equal. The beauty of God's creation is so evident everywhere we go in the Basque Country. If you have had the time to open the links I include as a travelogue of our past trips, you will enjoy a glimpse of what we experience every day.

These two days are a good time for team members to connect with their Basque families.

Our friends, Amaia's father and neighbor are planning an extra bicycle tour of some areas otherwise missed. They are putting great effort and heart into this. Hopefully most of the riders will be up to it. 

A meal at their Sociedad is in the works for 12 of us, riders and walkers. Our Last day in Donosti 2013 will help you visualize some of this.

In 2013 three guys from Hondarribia--Alberto (Amaia's father), Gonzalo, and Imanol—joined the riders on a rainy and very cold Saturday mountain pass ride. In this 2013 blog post you can read about that day and see us huddled with our friends in an inn, the one featured in the movie The Way.

Sunday is our opportunity to join our friends at Amara in San Sebastian or go to Tolosa.

Charlie García with his family (lower left) is the young man who drove the van that accompanied the cyclists last year and plans to help out again this year. 

Dave Berry, our chaplain, pictured with Jaime Ardiaca (lower right).

P.S.: Four locals and four of our guys just took off on an 80 mile ride through the valley.

Alberto, Imanol, Tate, Vance, Dane, Danny, Gonzalo, Mike

Ondo ibili!

P.S.1: Sunday a surprise awaited us in the morning--our van had been towed away! Though it was parked in a spot oft used, on this occasion they decided to impound it. Our leaders spent the whole morning bailing it out of 'van jail!

Mary: "What's happening with the van?"

Our change of plans was nothing compared to what happened to the Berrys on their way from Germany with their daughter and little ones. Just ask Dave sometime, he's a great story teller!

Circle Tour 2014--Day 5

Day 5, June 13—To San Sebastián

This is a beautiful route along the coast of the Bay of Biscay. We go through two towns where we hope to meet up with two couples we know.

On this route we will also go through Zumaia, where other friends hope to relocate in the near future. They just recently found an apartment.

Davenports and Kochs toured the area with Alberto in 2010: Zarautz and Getaria; Basque Farm Countryside; Pelota vasca (here you can watch Dane attempt Basque handball!)

We are certain to encounter many pilgrims making their way by different means to Santiago de Compostela, on the north-west corner of Spain, to where St. James is said to be buried--Los peregrinos.

Last year we met people from Australia, Austria and other countries. 

Our destination this day is also our home base for the weekends. It is the same venue that the January Taylor University team used. Brad Seeman and his group of students accompanied by Steve and Kari were treated wonderfully by the staff at Olarain. 

P.S.: So, yes, here we are at 'home base' after another wonderful day.

It was sad to leave our favorite town after such a brief stay.

We lingered in one coastal town where much of the blockbuster Ocho apellidos vascos was filmed.

The mealtime ritual takes a lot longer here. We, the van riders ate here at noon, a place our guide knew. Otherwise it can be quite time consuming to find the right food at the right time.

The earliest you can eat dinner is 8:30 p.m. and then ordering, waiting, and enjoying several courses and the sobremesa (to linger and converse) all takes times. We stay up late, but it is all quite enjoyable.

¡Hasta mañana! (yawn)