Four Hours to Luangwa

Job: Quit. Apartment: Abandoned. Road: Hit.

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The Val de Loire "after" photo.

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Reflections | Surfing

The horizon of time expands in both directions; all you’ve ever done, and all you’ll ever do, is ride this moment.

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Reflections | Camino de Santiago

It is a wonderful tired happiness one feels after a full day’s walk. Resting on the grass in the evening sun in the backyard of the crowded albergue on the outskirts of Ribedesella. The sun sets late in Spain this time of year and it is very warm and pleasant in the evening. The humidity from the ocean rests like a blanket over the rolling farmland, thick and comforting. A fresh breeze drifts in through the humidity. One feels as though they are living within an Impressionist painting.

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The cost of traveling

Things I’ve lost during my travels:

iPhone car adapter - NZ$ 55 My suitcase (later retrieved) CDN$ too much to think about—my ski stuff was in it. body wash €4 Fleece CDN$ 60 Hiking boots (later returned) CDN$ 120 iPhone cord and plug CDN$ 40 - broken Sunscreen €15 Spork NZ$ 5 - broken

That’s nothing compared to the things I’ve found… although I’m a little bitter about my fleece.

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France is the only country in the world where you get fatter on a bicycle trip.

Me

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Back in Canada

After 93 consecutive days abroad.

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Last Night in Europe!

holy! 3 months goes by fasssst!! In Paris listening to the parents snore in the smallest 3 person room of all time. That’s Paris hotel rooms I suppose. Busy night on the blog tonight: Peniche, Lisbon, Camino de Santiago, and Val de Loire photos all posted. Montreal in 12 hours. yikes!

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Moments: • the family (myself included) were all mightily distracted by these beautiful sunflower fields. • dad staring suspiciously at a bale of hay. He proved us all wrong by vigorously rolling it around like a big snowball! This is one of my favourite all time photos. • note: all the pretty photos are compliments of Mehdi. • the only two Fels Elliotts in the world striking a lil gangster pose. (Because nothing says gangster like sun flowers.) • like father like son. I have a couple other father/son photos but you’ll have to check out the ‘exclusive’ blog to see those ;) • all the lovely chateau photos are again compliments of Mehdi. Me and dad couldn’t keep up with the others’ enthusiasm for chateaus and took no photos.

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Moments: • in browsing through our family group shots, I've noticed that in most of them mom clings desperately to me or Rachael. I'm not sure if this is out of pure physical exhaustion or terror her children will leave her behind. • rope swinging into the Rivière Loire was definitely a highlight of the trip. It was good fun seeing Mehdi bike the rest of the day in his underwear too. • dinner in Tours: sometimes you just need to eat a burger. France be damned. • Val de Loire wine tasting. The wine cellar was 3km of caves. A little different than the Niagara or Okanagan regions..

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Val de Loire family cycling trip (minus Maryam).

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Lisbon with the parents!

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Camino de Santiago with Claudelle and Audrey.

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Peniche

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Encore de l'eau froid, s'il vous plait? Oh. Did I say cold. I blew that one.

Dad. Asking for more "hot" water for Mehdi's tea.

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In today’s bizarre universe, both me and my cousin Tia got into separate car accidents yesterday on different sides of the world. Pic 1 is my car and pic 2 is her car. Fortunately, no one was hurt.