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Look who I found!

On her way to visiting her son in Paris, Jody came to share van life with me for several days. Totally game, she slept in my spare bedroom, and weathered the pleasures and challenges of vagabond life. AND, she completely rehabilitated my vocal chords, which were literally not working after so little use. Speak up, people. Use your voice. Use it or lose it. Literally. (Also metaphorically!)

We did all kinds of amazing things: Went to the shore in the Netherlands, paddled the Meuse River (complete with running two dams), biked the “wine route” along the Moselle (yes, with appropriate day drinking of the fabulous whites), and walked in Belgium and Luxembourg, crossing in and out of Germany as we went. We visited the Vianden Castle, first built in the 10th century, and fully reconstructed in the 20th. We explored Dinant and Luxumbourg city, and ate ice-cream everywhere.

So grateful for friendship and company, and days of talk. Everything is much more fun when you share it!

Then another touch down in my home base of Amsterdam which is now in full summer bloom of hot sunny days, lots of tourists in Centrum, glorious flowers, brimming sidewalk cafes. Such a magical place.

I returned my van. To my surprise, I felt really sad leaving my tiny house. That trip is over. It’s a marvel the way we move through time. Things anticipated, experienced in all their joys and struggles, and then, suddenly, they are over. Always reminding myself to stay with it, stay present, not run away when things feel hard.

I get to stay here through the weekend, and then I'm off to Switzerland. First stop is to meet up with old friends from when I lived there (1989). Then comes my final solo trek, which you will be hearing all about!