Category: Epic Adventures

The Rain In Spain Falls Mainly On My Brain

hey kids! i would not believe this story was true if jack keroaucçs ghost had not picked my soul up off the side of the road in Taos… New Mexico?

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wait a minute, scratch that! it has been so long since writing i ended up beginning another story in another country?

jack kerouack´s ghost? driving a new vw van emblazoned with an ón the road ´ logo? in Zahara , Spain? This story has happened so quickly i have no time to get new phone i lost in madrid, yikes

our hero , ´billy the kid´ , didn´t make it home last month. what?!? yeah man, he took that midnight train to georgia all the way to spain. and we believe the god´s were in fact and deed, on his side

why do you say that?

impossible events, application for passport in a state other than his own, the passport agency must a been happy to get rid of us. a record turn around time of 10 days, including weekends. they mailed us the book to the general delivery address that was expressly discouraged by the postmaster in general and in theory.

just in time for us to get the plane tickets and drive to airport and boot on out of that dusty, used to be two horse town of Taos, New Mexico.

On The Trail To Santiago

Getting back to walking North towards Milaga today. Rested too long and muscles atrophied. Forgetting the journey is the destination and sitting still and sitting in Stillness are separate entities. Each step brings me closer to the goal of becoming, transforming, evolving, metamorphasis! Knowing each end never ends. Only another footstep on a journey I make my own each day. A pilgram on the path to understanding what is important cannot be carried in your pockets. Many walk much faster and never take the first step. (choose your own path of the saints)

Malaga, Key Largo, Torremolinos

Which of these is fictional? The trail to Santiago may be a metaphoracal state but the country of Spain takes up a lot of real, Real Estate! This Place is as beautiful as it is huge! I am in another library, Centro Cultural Pablo Ruiz Picasso. My intuition led me here with the thought of computer access but this building is a work of art. Forgive me for not writing. I need to explore!

Highway Robbery

Some times it is necessary to laugh at your own life because you cannot make this stuff up unless you are writing a Hollywood Blockbuster.

Trip on this, right. I was speaking with my friend Ani who possesses great wisdom behind her young eyes. We were comparing times we asked for something and the Universe answered by giving us exactly what we asked.

Her words stick with me until this day. Be careful not to ask for more than you need and you may be surprised by how little you actually need.

The weird part, (you know there is always a weird part; right?) is I did a spirit guide meditation on the beach right before she appeared! South of Valencia, Spain and the beach is empty. A figure appeared and I joke to myself; it is my guide: Closer and closer slowly I am becoming more and more sure it is Ani walking towards me! Da Faq!?!

The week I found myself (pun intended) while walking to Valencia to keep my appointment with the United States Consulate in Valencia, Spain for a replacement passport.

I walked many days over the mountain ridges and peaks to reach my destination. I was again struck by the fact that I am able to use a phone in the city for a full day on one charge. Often using several apps at the same time. Google Maps , web browsers, email clients, text messaging and even telephone calls.

The Hand That Feeds

This speaks to the great advancements in cell phone battery technology over the years. I am speaking about _ hours of heavy use on one charge and my phone was the entry level device. But one thing vexes me and I will repeat the question here.

Why does the same battery and same phone quickly die when you leave the confines of the city and roam into nature. I have tested this many times to find even with all apps turned off and cell phone in airplane mode I can watch the battery drain quicker than corn through a goose.

I believe the cell phone and the system needs your eyeballs and if you are not staring at your phone for hours a day the phone will call for your attention by malfunctioning or inexplicably draining the battery. Causing you to be a good little consumer and racing back to the wifi and plugs and wires and using your phone to research how to extend battery life or whatever! I know the battery works for eight hours at full use on single charge until I stop looking at my phone.

Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

After complaining how the phone was messing with me in the mountains I once again found myself in Babylon (Valencia) and my phone, thankfully holding a charge no problem. I sat down in the park near the Rainbow benches (links open in new tabs)to relax with one hour before my consulate appointment to find the Universe had an answer for my complaints!

The thug was wearing an orange reflective vest which made me think he worked in the park. I would soon find out he indeed did not work in the park.

He slammed his hand onto the bench to grab my phone and yelled and pointed that I could not sit in this section. His friend also yelled for me to go and I stuffed my papers into my bag to leave and said, oh crap! My phone!

Choose Your Own Adventure

I saw the man in orange and yelled for him to come back while knowing if I chase him I may not get the phone but definitely will miss the passport appointment.

The man took a strange turn and start heading in my direction on the other side of the street. I know he does not see me but if I run he can run. I faded behind the dumpster and popped out behind him and he can not get away.

I see from his split lips he has taken many beatings over time and if I hit him as I really wish to do I may still not get phone but may get arrested on busy downtown street!

He swore he does not have my phone and my appointment with the consular is coming quickly . To boot, now I must find the consular with no GPS in Valencia (Babylon).

I let the pillaging villager go and made it to the consular on time that day. I am happy to say the passport replacement meeting was the best part of my day. The people who work there make losing your passport seem fun. Almost…

The only thing you need to change your life is to change your life

Be careful because this man was dressed in old Repsol uniform and in my face I think he is wearing orange of the park department.

This is common in cities visited by many tourists.

The day of my crash will live in infamy. If not in my memory. I do remember being very excited to be pedaling my butt over the loveliest mountain countryside road on the home stretch in the North coast of Spain!

Thems The Brakes Kid

The weather was cooperating with crisp clean air filling my lungs as I had the words of a trail hiker in the White Mountains of New Hampshire ringing in my ears.

Today seems like a great day to push yourself to see how far you can go. I remember dragging ass that day thinking I could not make the peak. He must have read my mind but that one sentence was all it took to put some pep back in my step.

The same was true that day in New Hampshire and this day in Spain! I felt unstoppable and unfortunately it turned out to be true! ALMOST.

The Harder They Come

My rear brake pad was non existant and I was controlling my rapid descent with only a wing and a prayer and a front brake pad that was heating up the front aluminum rim so much it was warped.

I saw the road signs for Palamos and knew I could ride wide on the banks of the curves and only needed ten more kilometers to sit and eat my lunch.

Things were going great until the last bend and I was skidding on the sand covered highway. I remembered my training to brake on the straight way heading into the turn and set your line but I was picking up too much speed!

The last thing I remember is tapping the brake and thinking, I got it, I got it, I got it! Then feeling the bicyle slip out from beneath me and the rock wall heading my way with terrific centrifugal force!

The Harder They Fall

I woke up in the Emergency Room with blood soaking my clothes and the hospital staff yelling at me and pointing.

What do you mean you do not have a phone?!? You need a phone!!! I felt like Donald Sutherland in Invasion of the Body Snatchers except it was Invasion of the Brain Snatchers. I have met too many people recently who tell me their phone got them through college. (ChatGPT did their homework) I realize they struggle with simple concepts and basic math skills.

I was in extreme pain and did some deep abdominal breathing exercises (links will open in new tabs) to allow my body to go into healing state and brain to release some acetylcholine, dopamine and endorphins while the nurses attempted to throw some sutures in my skull.

One nurse left the room and left the other nurse to do the job. Assisted by yours truly. She was shaking so hard she could not hold the line and had ask me to put my finger on the stitch while she tied the knot in seven sutures.

Does God Take American Express?

I wish to thank the police, ambulance and medical staff and the two dudes from France who first found me after the crash as I needed medical attention fast! Thank you

Contrary to popular belief, I was not hot dogging it down the mountain; I just could not get my brakes fixed due to TD Bank randomly silencing my debit card due to losing my phone. I was feeling safe and did not notice the front rim warping more and more as the day grew longer. Still I am happy to be alive and kicking it old school now on the coast of France!

-We researched and American Express does indeed offer travelers insurance. That is great to know as we are living on our 7 of 9 lives§

Please Remember To Live Your Dream Today

Bicycling Europe was my dream 30 years ago and I thank tha lawd awmighty i kin still do it today! I am greedy for my next breath and I understand life is precious and if you catch me complaining about something that does not add up to a hill of beans in the Grand Scheme of things. Please remind me to close my mouth and open my eyes so I can see the beauty all around me!

Remind me I am really living the dream and I never want to wake up! in turn I will remind you to start living your dream today! If you are waking up to the same BS, different day; Ask yourSelf how long do you want to be in the BS business? Do you know what I am saying?

The Only Thing You Need To Change Your Life Is To Change Your Life

Continuing the journey into France I realize bicycle shops are a great place to rest your mind, body and soul as well as fix those little ghosts in the machine. La Petit Vitesse in Pays D APT Luberon</a> is where I met a true Spirit Guide in the flesh who also seems to be embarking on his second life on the trail. Stop and say hello to Greg.

From Naughty to Nice, and Back Again

Our Trekking Bicycle adventure through France took a month to cover more than 1,200 kilometers over, under, around, and straight freaking through the French Alps! (Human Powered! Batteries not included.)

This journey is definitely more than one destination, if you know what we mean. Covering Alpine regions, river valleys, lakes, temperate deciduous and coniferous forest zones often all in the same day and on the same trail!

We roughly followed the Verdon River and the Mediterranean Routes. (links will open in new tabs, check out these great maps§) Both of which are remarkably well marked and maintained in France. We wish to say thank you and remind any other walkers and riders who follow the route to say thank you to every worker who gives their time to these gorgeous trails!

William has learned to learn from his mistakes and keep his bicycle between the lines painted on the road. After surviving a horrific bicycle crash in Spain earlier this year.

Be Sure To Keep Your Bicycle Well Maintained

A small problem such as a pin hole sized leak in an inner tube on your bike can quickly become a large and dangerous problem with the rapidly changing climate conditions and altitude changes in the French Alps.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure said Ben Franklin. After we passed through,Nice, we took some precious time to watch the sun go to bed behind the harbor in Menton, France.. This is where we were surprised to find the biggest little bicycle company in France. R Bike of Menton, France. We were treated to fantastic scenery while the owner treated our bicycle and ourselves with the respect we deserve! Thank you!

Be Sure To Keep Your Body Well Maintained

William had a difficult time minding his mindfulness on this soul crushing journey through the French country-side. As newfound dietary restrictions messed with his concentration but did not keep him from taking care of business every day!

He did not find the usual intestinal distress that many people with food allergies experience but he did go through anaphylactic reactions several times as a result of hidden lactose, gluten, in foods found in the usually suspected places.

William knows to look for allergens on the labels and thank you to the EU regulations to highlight them in Bold letters. It was the rapidly changing languages and the blurred vision associated with the allergic response that kept him on his toes throughout this journey.

Be Ready For All Types Of Weather

The weather and road or camping conditions can change within minutes as a weather system can be hiding over the next beautiful mountain peak.

Temperatures in the Alpine zone can plummet as as quickly as the sun sets below the horizon at night and you will find yourself hoping you can find those gloves and thick socks your partner reminded you to pack.

Update June 04, 2026: William has reached Nice, France and beyond! Resting up in Menton, France he was overheard saying, “Today France, Tomorrow the world!”