Circle Tour 13: on to San Sebastián

Pressing on, determined to continue blogging about our tour of the Basque Country to the end.
I left off a couple weeks ago with our time in Bayonne and evening outing to Biarritz.

The next morning we enjoyed the abundant hotel breakfast in crowded quarters, each doing their own thing.  Mike sat with German travelers and had a delightful conversation. They highly recommended the Gugenheim Museum in Bilbao. We tucked that away on our wish list for another time.

Dane and his mother sharing a table

 The only gathering place for our team meeting was the gazebo in the park close to where our vans were parked.

As usual, getting organized and on the road was slow.

We, the van riders took a lunch break in Hendaye, still in France, right across the river from the town where our friends live in Hondarribia.

I was feeling antsy, eager to arrive in our favorite town. (Read about a previous visit here.)
Finally we were over the border, a very unimpressive crossing.

The plan was to meet in the old part of town where the original fort has been turned into quite a luxurious hotel. Making our way up narrow winding streets was not easy for the vans.

Nor was the cobble stone climb fun for the cyclists.

However, meeting up with the cyclists in that plaza was a memorable highlight of that beautiful day.
Some went inside for coffee or into the tourist office.

I called our friend Edurne to let her know we were in town. She couldn't meet us and did not think that her neighbor Gonzalo could either. He had so wanted to join the cyclists and show them his favorite route.

  We sang a couple of our favorite songs. A lady sitting nearby thanked us.

Then it was time for the cyclists to walk their bikes back down the cobbled incline and take off for Mt. Jaizkibel. This was a change of plan, all because Gonzalo so highly recommended it. Like how could they miss such a beautiful lookout point. 

What a surprise to find Gonzalo waiting to accompany them! He probably took this picture when they reached the peak. He not only rode with the team, he also took Tate to the top of the top. And then he had to ride all the way back home!

The vans went on to San Sebastián (Donosti) to our accomodation for the next two nights--Olarian, a student residence/hotel where many interesting statues welcomed us.

And several real people as well! We were pleasantly surprised to see Brad, a fellow-Uplander, recently arrived to  check out the place where he will be bringing Taylor University students next January.

Brad Seeman; Idoia and Alazne

What a delight to see one of the Basque girls who had spent a month in our community a few years back, with her younger sister, Alazne, who came to the US last year and also traveled with us on the Circle Tour.

Many began dispersing, heading for the beach within walking distance.

 Few (or was it only me?) were there to welcome the cyclists--Arrival in Donosti (28 seconds).

Later that evening we scattered again. Mike and I walked to a nearby restaurant with a few remaining team members. It was a pleasant evening. We sat outside and learned later that it costs 1.50 euro more per person to sit outside.

Next, a whole day in San Sebastián (Donosti) and, best of all, we will get together with our friends from Hondarribia!

2013 Weeks 32 & 33: Vacation and More

Catching up after a two-week break from routine activities to take a few days away with my one-and-only, and to move the daughter into her new domicile here in town!

Sunday, the 4th, we managed to squeeze in a family time, in between two moves and Stephan's many sand-sculpture travels, to celebrate two birthdays: grandson Skye (16) and DIL Karen.

Actually, on Sunday we focused more on Skye. I had many old photos of him scattered all over our large table. After the party, I saw this happy one placed in the flower centerpiece. 

Monday night dinner at Stephan's, we focused more on Karen, and that was her actual birthday. I dug out a few old photos. This one of before they were married. She was watching her fiance run the Indy mini marathon. Now Karen runs regularly, in fact may be training for a mini herself.

Tuesday Mike and I rode to Cracker Barrel, 7 mile round trip, our first breakfast ride of the season and it is August already! Had to make sure the bike was in order and we could still do this before our annual tandem vacation.

One last summer Red Barn pottery session for Mike on Wednesday. 
Hey, that's Ellie, the young girl who went with us to Basque Country and is training to be one of the cyclists next time around!

Thursday we drove up to northern Michigan, parked the car in Indian River, loaded up the tandem for a four-day camping tour and headed to the first campsite, 20 miles, five of them unexpected gravel roads.
I confess to being scared!
"You'll get used to it," said Captain Mike.
I did. There were many lessons in trust throughout this adventure.

Neighboring campers in Petoskey State Park commented on our 'grand entrance'. No one we saw carries all they need on a bicycle. Also learned lessons on minimalizing (is that a word?).

Friday was our looooooongest ride, 55 miles, necessitating several rest stops on the way.

We stayed two nights in a campsite outside of Mackinaw City.

Saturday we took a ferry to Mackinac Island.

Leaving Mackinaw City

Arriving Mackinac Island

Riding the seven-mile coastal road around the island was a different kind of challenge--crowds of inexperienced riders!

Our view from the second floor Speed 21 Grill gives a glimpse of the crowds stopping to rent bicycles.

For those who may not know, Mackinac does not allow motorized vehicles which makes for a unique tourist experience.

I thought our bike was loaded down.

Horses, the other mode of transport

There is much more to tell about our tourist experience of the island and the same for our tour of Mackinaw City in the afternoon. Another post or two perhaps?

The famous 5-mile bridge we never crossed

The other main character, protected nightly.

Sunday we completed the circle and camped at Burt Lake State Park.

The Last Supper

Monday packing up to ride one mile from the campsite to the parked car.

The biggest lesson for me was to move from 'impending dread' to 'exhilirating expectation' of what lies ahead. I am still on that trust continuum. I should write an article about learning trust while tandeming.

Tuesday, after a good night's sleep in our own bed, we welcomed a young family traveling through. Kristin, was one of the babies on the ship Doulos. We've been friends with her family for over 30 years.
Sam, Kristie and young'uns joined us as well. We ordered Ivanhoes' food and had a delightful visit.

The rest of the afternoon was spent helping Leah make the BIG move from Marion back to Upland--several truck loads and some cleaning of the old place.

Wednesday, Mike took his sister Diane for her long-awaited visit to the State Fair. Kayla went along, one last outing before her busy semester at Ball State.

Diane

I stayed back and continued cleaning at Leah's, and again all day Thursday.

This souvenir from Mackinac (Big Turtle) island, only 2 to 3 inches in diameter and very light weight, speaks to me of looking ahead expectantly and always moving forward even if slowly.

Made in Indonesia from some kind of wood.

Friday, son Stephan finished a five-day sand-sculpturing event somewhere in Ohio. I am borrowing from his FB page.

Coral Reef

Today, Saturday, we are looking forward to a reunion of the Circle Tour team at some half-way point between Upland and Normal, IL. (Photos to come later) 

2013 Week 31: August already?

Monday was Skye's 16th birthday. We went to visit his other grandma and had a fun time together.
Tomorrow we will have a family celebration.

I think he always liked wearing hats.

As usual Monday evening we went to Stephan and Karen's for their weekly open meal. The food now very much follows the paleo diet concept (except for the freshly-baked bread) and is superb, even including a special dessert--sweet potato pies with almond crust. 

As always happens, the evening is much more than a meal, it is about enjoying the people. The crowd expanded beyond the dining table to the sunny porch. Groups lingered on the way out with the porch people--a pleasent evening for all.

Tuesday I was able to help daughter Leah clean out one of their rooms. They started moving boxes into their new home the next day.

Enjoyed a visit from my lovely granddaughter Wednesday after tap class. She is a great teacher. Class is fun and challenging. 

Kayla just finished teaching a couple two-week classes at Cornerstone Center for the Arts  and will be teaching four different classes during the fall semester.

Look what new blooms showed up this week.

Friday we attended the convention of our church fellowship held in Fort Wayne. The sessions were excellent and meeting up with some of the friends from Illinois who were on the Circle Tour of the Basque Country was very special. It was so good to meet Dave Berry's wife Sue. 

Circle Tour 13 mini reunion

Saturday, today,  we rose very early, picked up Dane, and headed back up to Fort Wayne in time for the men's breakfast.

The women's luncheon was Friday noon. I had taken my laptop to get some work done while the men were at their event.

I posted two favorite photos from the week on Facebook and got many Likes and Comments from all over. Both girls were on the Circle Tour team. 

Ellie, from our town wants to be a cyclist on next year's tour and has been training with Mike.

Chelsea was a rider this year. Notice her earrings. 

Ellie and Chelsea

The cyclists present at the FEC Convention enjoyed a ride together this afternoon and then hung out at a coffee shop. Mike and Dane then rode the 52 miles on home. It was a beautiful day, even got a little sun tan.

Yesterday, on the other hand, was very rainy. We went through heavy downpours on the way home last night.

Circle Tour 13: on to Bayonne

Another cloudy day.
We bad farewell to our hotel hostess, Natasha.
Walked around the town of Mauleon again for a bit after the cyclists left.
I took some pictures I had missed the day before, like the Café where we ate lunch.

 Then we were on the road again...

....praying for each village and church.

We stopped in a couple towns. In the first one, St. Palais, we wandered the streets and tested our limited French in a couple shops. Bought some fruit in one and a snack in a wonderful bakery.

Interesting looking tomatoes. Une tartelette pommes

In another town, Hasperras, we had lunch.
Barb and I ordered the Enfants Menu. Does that look like a child's portion to you?
I learned the Basque word for bathroom/restroom/toilet (whatever you want to call it in English): komunak.
The poem on the painting was difficult for even Basque speakers to translate--poetic, old-literary language. Can you see the Basque flag and the wind?

In the restaurant we initially had a communication problem. We were struggling to speak French with the waitress, until we realized that, of course, she spoke Basque and Alazne could be our interpreter!

We discovered a very interesting church in that town and spent some time there. All inscriptions were in Basque, or perhaps Latin.

Mother of Sorrows statue on right

Wish I could understand all the words.

Warrior Archangel Michael, demon under foot (on right)

All around the walls were covered with intricate and colorful paintings of saints, angels, religious figures, probably a very interesting church history lesson.

We hoped the cyclists would discover this fascinating church as well, but found out later that they entered another one, different yet equally amazing, and spent a long time there singing and praising.

Eventually we arrived at our destination--Bayonne (Baiona) and the Best Western hotel downtown very close to all the important buildings such as the cathedral, Tourist Office, and their famous chocolate shops.

We walked around, explored the neighborhood, watching and waiting for the cyclists.
Suddenly they were there and we weren't. We ran to meet, greet and take pictures.

Arrival of the cyclists and their van with luggage.

Now picture the cyclists taking their bikes up to their rooms on the third floor.
"Hmmm...Should I take the elevator or the stairs?"

Can you see the bicycle standing on end?

After they showered (thankfully!) we all loaded up in the vans and set out for the famous Atlantic Coast.
Dane was eager for us to enjoy the beach and the fantastic views. However, he and Charlie look like all they wanted to do was rest and watch everyone else having fun.

When it was appropriately late we headed to one of the beach front cafés which happened to be Mexican.

Tate and Chelsea Gaines; Petite Quesadilla; heading back to the vans

One last night to enjoy the French-style double beds ;-).

Bonne nuit.
Bihar arte.("until tomorrow" in Basque)