Now and here

2012

2011-12-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

Cela fait bien longtemps que je n est pas mis mon blog a jour , depasse par la technologie,le progres et le temps qui passe,je me pemet de trouver quelques minutes pour mettre un mot maintenant ,surement l arrivee d une nouvelle annee qui m encourage a ecrire.
Beaucoup d experiences aussi intenses les unes des autres depuis la fin de ma formation a Concarneau pour avoir le Cip,que je n est d ailleur pas eu..tant pis ,cela ne m empechera pas de revenir en Norvege pour trouver du travail en tant que matelot.
la rencontre d Elodie,une femme qui m a touche,que j ais aime et avec qui j ais ammenage et vecu au sein de son appartement a Concarneau ,avec sa petite fille,Lily..tout sa trop vite peu etre,mais la vie est trop courte pour ne pas se laisse de chance de partager se que l on se devais de vivre..
La rencontre de Remi ,habitant de cette ville aussi,m as encourage a ouvrir une occupation,un squatt..pour y monter un atelier velo,nous avons occupe un lieu sur la friche industrielle du port de Concarneau,le 8 rue de thoniers ,tres exactement.
1 an, 1 procedure....et 1 expulsion...et tellement d adrenaline entre temps...
l emancipation n as pas sa place ...ils ont ferme la boite que nous avons ouvert..la loi est la loi..
J ais donc pris la decision cet ete de repartir sur la route et reflechir ,prendre le temps , ...le temps de rentrer a Toulouse pour voir ma famille..parti de concarneau...cap sur Lyon ou j ais rejoint Marie avec qui la decision de faire un voyage en auto stop a ete prise...detour par...Norvege finlande suede..a peu pres 6000kms en auto stop..en 3 semaines!!apres aetre revenu a Lyon...je me suis consacre a la montagne...et gravis quelques cols...dont le Galibier 2650m ,l iserant 2700..et le cormet de roseland...1900mts...sorti des alpes ,cap sur Toulouse par montpellier ou j ais change l axe de ma roue arriere que j avais casse quelques 200kms..en amont ,j ais donc du faire de l auto stop avec mon velo ..puis 1 bus et un train pour arriver jusqu a Montpellier ..de la j etait repartit pour Toulouse sans probleme.
Arrive courant Septembre,entame la reparation de Aurore...une revision complete s imposait en vue d un voyage qui m ammenera je l espere autour du monde...
Actif dans le meme temps ces derniers mois dans l atelier velo..Velorution a Toulouse St cyprien ,j ais profite et appris beauoup de chose aussi,la bas,ou ma piaule se trouve adjacente a l atelier ,car les voisins...sont des squatteurs,interrese par le groupe de gents qui se trouvaient la,activistes ,etudiants, j ais pu donc apres le depart d une des personnes ,investir une chambre...
L envie de voyager,travailler ailleurs aussi,m as pris ,et je suis donc repartis ,le mois prochain,le 12 janvier 2012 10h10 je vais decoller pour Oslo,et le lendemain pour Bodo et vue d aller a Ballstad,Lofoten,pour tenter ma chance encore une fois de travailler en tant que marin pecheur dans un decor geant et silencieux..ou la vie est paisible..

Je shouaite sincerement de bonnes fetes de fin d annee et une tres belle annee 2012 a tout e s et beaucoup d amour pour tout e s aussi...

merci la police

2010-08-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

1er article

2ème article

3ème article

4ème article

Godille....

2009-11-18T02:59:00.000-08:00

Still in Concarneau,where the sun appear again!!!After some rainy moments withing last week...but this is to live by the coast..wheather is for now moderated,no cold,no real bad storm yet..some rain but nothing bad.
Yesteday we learn with our formator how to use a godille,means how to sail with nothing apart of a piece of wood shaped that you moov into the water to make a certain distance ,to get another place or eventually a bigger boat and it is still interesting!!!!
Yesterday i ve for the second time run along the beach for 30 minutes and i was in pain ,my legs are no use to it anymore but what a good feeling you can get out of it,to just dive into the wind ,the waves crashing besides me..the salty air into my nose and the birds passing over,here and there and the sun going away and the darkness coming..thinking about it there was a time where i was allready in the total darkness,up there,in Norway,such amazing place full of mystery and silence...liker det!
Tides are coming up and down and life going on with in everydays,so much to learn and experience ...soon December,and i will have to go to sea to experience fishing here cause i have to for my formation ,about 21 days..but i will do my best be at the family home for xmas and will see later on about the NYE...i will probably go back hitchiking (as usual??)
We (friends from here and I) by the way check the rubbish to see if there was any luck about getting some food...and we did find the great treasure, evey wednesday and sundays rubbish are full of food ..speacialy one..that is THE one for us now,lasty time we found 3,600kl of permegiano..nearly 10liters of colza oil,few beer,bottle of wine..and i just dont want to talk about the others kind of chesses..a good amout of meat also,choclate,chips..well 5/6 or us are enjoying the society overconsuming.....and trust me..none got sick of it yet...and even more happy and free and sad/proud of theses founds!!!!
well!!!today is wednesday..and i got my free afternoon...!!!!it s sunny ..might go again..for a run later!

ON FIRE!!!

2009-10-28T04:39:00.000-07:00

Today i take course whith my mates from the formation of the CIP,courses about how to face a fire...and light it off,today we light some oil(diesel) and light off whith extingushers,last week was how to wear a surviving suit and how to pop a surviving canoe and go in,2 days theory and 1 day practice...but this week is much different it has been allready 2 days of thery and we go for 3 days practice.

Happy that all going fine,seen many boats in between also that goes for the transat jacques vabres from le Havre to the caribeian i think,and at the moment there is the Belem, a old massiv sailing boat (gremant) that is gonna stay here untill march and that i think to visit if they make some visit of it.
wheather still great...well, the temperature is not cold ,not warm but there is indeed some humidity,one day can be sunny the other cloudy all over and all day long..

my fingers are at the moment all black from the dust from the fire,a stage to pass and a good one,just to know..how to use an exthingusher..such interesting subjet!!!but we will do more and go with the fenzy later on means we will have 2 bottles of compresed air on our back and go into the smoky and hot room to discover and light off the fire..
I miss one thing tho,even if i am still on right now..i miss the bike i ve been given,i miss to live as nomad making my way the way it goes as simple as that,reading right now a book that Jibi gave me about cycling Tibet,i am wondering more and more about it..

Sunny saturday sailing on the bay

2009-09-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well,it was today,today that i hang out on the harbour of sailing boat like yesterday to try my luck to go around the bay for cuple of hours or a day trip....
And it was today that i got lucky,to me,lucky to meet Joel Garric..about 50 y.o,he was trying to get on top of the sail?(mat in french) with the help of other boats owner,when i just arrive...after that, we started to talk about,experiences,sailing,wind,when i told him i was interested to go out on sea for a bit he told me that i would have making me a tour with pleasure..but his big sailing (thing) just broke is for that he had to go up to cut a rope up there.
So it is about the end of the season for him,but he told me we could go for a ride in the bay not that far but without the big sail...so,here we go then..went on galaxy IV,9 meters long sailing boat..bought second hand in La Rochelle cuple of years ago,and it is is fifth sailing boat...we were not only 2 onboard there was Tim the dog,a setter of 5y.o, that was ennoying but ok...but he wanted to play and puch me with his legs,he probalby was on his stupid day....cause he is never like this joel said.
WEll,let s go out the harbour with the motor on pushing us...and then we put the little front sail and stop the motor,a great feeling,then we talk about wind again,gps,look at map,of the bay and around and his experience as navigation teacher,and his army on a military boat and also his last job befor retirement as ingenior on the navy industry.
Joel as much knowledge and he is also apart of the peoples that are in charge to check the boats for the Figaro(french magazine) race to make sure there is everything in the boat and nobody will cheat the race...
After like 2 hours on the boat sailing around there was almost no more wind ,but the sun was still here,gotta say the weather is just wonderfull since i came here,not a drop of rain,and it is a little fresh morning ,evening,then there is a very good temperature .
When we came back of our small small sailing session we "locked"the boat to a inflatable ball and picked up a smaller one,to get to the land,then Joel gave me a ride in his car also more to the center of Concarneau ,then i thank him again and left him my phone number ,cause i might see him again to give him a hand about his boat but the chances are small,and he might give my number to some of his sailing boat owner hopefully.
What a fullfilled Saturday also,cause i went,kind of visit my future appartement,from the windows,where i will spend about 4 months,and where all the travelers will be welcom,cs,hc peoples but also peoples that i will sponeiously realise that are in need of couch.
Living in Concarneau,by the Sea,is a great luck,and i start day by day to enjoy this little paradise.
I will be mooving in this appartement by thursday,till then i will stay in the abandonned place i found,no need to waste monney,i got the shower for 1euro 50 at the youth hostel where peoples are nice and open enought to provide soap an towel.

Here i go....again..

2009-09-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

Just arrived in town after about 2 days hitchiking France,2 kms from the city center,here was the squatt might be 150meters square no water no electricity allready open cause it is a old place to rent open up by punks i guess,some graffs and cans of beers around and very close,the shop where i bought a old holland style bike made in holland for some 30euros....old but still going very good...just one speed but what a speed.... what a fullfilled thursday also had to go today to doctor today,formation center and some administration places that are in charge of my "case" ,definitly going back into the real world for some peoples...tonns of paper to provide to make it more complicated,and i still need more forms to fill up .,i ve seen a sea doctor ,swam 50 meters to get certificate befor that,got papers here and there about monney and financing,went to the first meeting in Concarneau by train where i have seen firstable 3 peoples that found my file acceptable, got down and up again hitchiking from Toulouse...i enjoyed hospitality from french drivers and truckers and gotta say it hitchiking in france is pretty easy.
well here i am now,i am seeing the open sea everydays and in the days to come i will investigate to get in tuch with some peoples into sailing and hopefully get on sailing boat for some exploration of the Concarneau bay day trip or more some days i wish... by monday 9H00am i will go to the formation center to know what is all about and will know my timetable....
definitly happy..i have to find now an appartement......

Back to Cornwall

2009-09-22T01:22:00.000-07:00

Yes,I will be back to Cornwall,but this time not on the english coast,but the French Cornish coast or Kernev,in Finistere,Brittany..
After more than a year traveling about in Europe,visited and lived in Scandinavia,Russia,Estern Europe,Ex-Yougoslavia untill Istanbul to come back to Toulouse with my thumb,train hop toulouse to Paris,cycled the UK and Irland ,Benelux and Western Europe and Switzerland lately for 6 month,that just went so interesting,meet wonderfull peoples and had very great time ,life is beautifull...
I am felling now sea is calling me again,i realised it more when i went for surf this summer with friends,i was feeling so well on the coast,looking at the Sea,memories of Norway ,and indeed Newquay where I had wicked time learning portugueses with my brasilians friends and learn how to surf..on the english Cornish coast,all theses time I was living on the coast and going out on the sea very often (speacially in Norway)....well,i am missing all that!
So,I did apply for courses to be a qualified (sort of,haha) deckhand,fisherman on fishing boat,means i will be on land to do courses on a center based in Concarneau..and then go to Sea,i will be learning about security,navigation,fishing methods,meteo and more.
I will be 4 month in Concarneau and then 2 month on a fishing boat,coastal or high sea,I ve been lucky...i am accepted,cause i am really looking forward to go out on the Sea not only on fishing boat but sailing boat also,i will enjoy my time in concarneau to learn about sailing and talk with peoples from the sea also,sailors,fishermans..men that like to like the unique felling to be on the the sea.
It will be time for me to enjoy this luck i have to learn more again about the Sea and also make a point on my cycling tour,reorganise,try to plan the future.As i heard that the border Marroco and Algeria is close..witch was not on the supposed plan,i might now change that route for the silk road,well i have time to think about it ,and think also about crossing the Channel on a sailing boat enjoying my futures connetions and geographical situation,that could be a great first journey sailing also...indeed for the fun of it.
My summer has been a great one hot and sunny,even too hot,cause France was on dry alert..it did't rain much lately neither.
I was there for the funeral of my grand uncle ,and i was there also in the first hours of my nephew,one go,one come...and that makes me think a little more...that i was born one day...and will just go again as i came.....i got a ticket to hearth,gotta enjoy it,and is what i am doing...
I also had my first yoga courses this summer,it was exaclty viniyoga?well,it is just too good and i recommend it very much,the feeling you can get just breathing and focusing is simply amazing.
I am on the go today hitchiking,again,to Concarneau,Cornouailles,by the Sea,iode ,life,water,and i am sure is going to be something to experience !!!

Training done..

2009-08-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

Back from an about 8500/9000km journey since cuple of hours,went to see first Anne the girlfriend of my brother who is pregnant,she has now a very big belly cause my nephew is about to born!!Anyway!Made it befor him! and glad i did cause i really wish i see him on his firsts days in this world...
Seen my italian grandma also,who is worry of any mouv i do..and who is the kind ,like some peoples to think that climbing the Everest is going to reach the unusefull,well,she is not the first and not the last to think in this way...just like going around the world on a bike...why i just can't be like the others,around in my family???,think retirement points,think about my 60years old,think about reproducing myself,think about making a lot of monney ,invest,sale,make some profit by eventually making bisness with some appartement that i would buy...instead of going around the world with my bike....reach the unusefull.....

Anyways...coming back to Toulouse ,i rode along a known way since years..since the year i actually gone for my first trip on bike, this is where it all started,where all started to fuse in my head,where my first feeling about cycling the world started to grow,one dream,many paths,one life...
Riding along the canal du Midi,i also had a think to Jibi,riding actually the one that was his for so long,passing by the places known from boths of us..where we sleeped,where we had interesting conversation about the life on just a piece of grass actually.. just this 2 meters squares pieces of grass along this canal is too representative,and i had coffe on this memorial to both of us...!!
The Canal where we also rode naked,where i do remember seeing George felling down in the water cause spike tree on the right side and a hole on the way on the left side ...what a laught we had...where i also learn so much about touring,and some bike mecanic when we found the both tires on a used bike that was on the side just out of the canal but the tires where new just right when i was needed,too many memories passed throught my head riding this way...
At home,i ve seen my daddy first that was painting around the outside of the house,inside my mum was cooking...happy indeed,to see them both healthy and happy themselves,becoming soon..grandparents...35 years now of a common life,it is just so respectfull!!!
My Europeen journey went really well,now..what's next? Africa.. my route??...I guess..that i just dont know... future will tell exactly ,once again...
Anyways i will enjoy my time in Toulouse,to repair,fix,learn,think,think about too many things that are worth thinking about before a journey like this..
Might hop a train also in between and come back hitchhiking....to somewhere around cause i got a little nostalgie..well i just don t know once again...
I will surely write some more later....for now is time to sleep,in the family house,where i was born and raised...

LE JURA suisse

2009-07-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

The day I left Fribourg I cycled to Basel/Bale in Switzerland,I did pass the border where there was nobody to check my passport,i ve found on the way a house in ruffurbishment that i ve sleep in for my first night in switerland,just out of Basel city,the day after I ve made my way further south and when later in that day was about to rain,I entered a cafe bar in Courrendlin witch is not so far from Delemont in the Jura Suisse,there i ve experience a really warm hospitality,peoples from this village are really open and interesting.
I ve been welcomed by Christophe Lurashi aka Lulu for 3 days ,lulu that I ve meet in this cafe,from that moment I ve lived what is like to live..in Courrendlin,Jura suisse!!!
Meeting Lulu I ve meet a whole village really quckly,cause Lulu is one of the fireman of the village,got to know about them,jURASSIENS from swiss ,that speak french uses swiss franc,that are very polite and hospitable peoples.
theses peoples like to echange ,speak,smile, laught very hard,play card ,eat,watch the tour de france on tv,the hockey online , the ice hockey,la petanque,cycling or just have a beer at the bistrot.
It is at one of this cafe bar that I ve meet also Gerard,he is massor kinesiterapeute and working with eldery peoples,now 48y.o,he like hiking in the Himalaya,also canoe kayaking ,sking and cycling,what an extreme person ,extreme and blind....he lost his vision cause of hereditary sickness witch cause a degenerecence of the retine.
I did have te chance for the first time to ride a tandem very soon after in his compagny Gerard made me make a tour of about 65 km in the valley going up and down..going fast as well,we also went to Vellera for the finish,665 mtrs ,his native village , on a very steep road,to have a beer a the end or our ride ,I ve had a very interesting day riding this tandem in compagny of Gerard.
The day after i ve meet Lionel (again) at the Cafe de la Tour just down where Lulu is living,who is also born in Courrendlin and he is working with is FATR,(his dad) as charpenter,23 Y.O he is working for now,but in cuple of month he will be going to Australia to experience the life there,it is not his first travel,many of the young peoples there did travel,from there we speak a lot about travel and we went for a ride up a wiew point, with one of his mate that I forgot the name...Sorry COPAIN!!!
We could see from there all the valley Vicques,Delemont,Courrendlin also,at about 666meters hight.
A big thanks to the Jura suisse!!!To,the inhabitant Courrendlin!!Lulu ,laurent,Lionel,Gerard;speedy,le cafe de la tour,le cafe de la couronne,lourdes et francoise,ludovic and GF vive l Ariege,mr le charcutier du village,o irmao portugues,katia...........!!
In between I ve been relaxing at Lulu and watching some report on tv...and i ve seen 2 report into adventures,the first one about a person that attempt to across Africa West to Est by the desert with 3 camels he aboandonned in the Tenere desert and got rescued when a too powerfull sandstorm was on him.
The second one is about Andrew McAuley,a great adventureer,alpinist,navigator
,kayakist,he died while he was 30kms from the coast in New Zealand he wanted to aross from Australia to New Zealand by kayak "The tasmanian solo",1600kms throught the Tasmanian sea,betwen by the very rought 40° lat,and gone in the same time...the name of this report is Lost in the Tasmanian sea, and I recommend it to all the adventurers.
I ve lately meet Julie again ,Julie witch is florist and working in Ribauville,she wanted to cycle with me for a bit ,and we done about 250km toghether from Delemont to Annemasse we did sail over the Leman and bath in it !!!!
It was the first time that a lady came with me for some days,it was intersting ,she wanted to experience what is like to travel cycling ,I think she enjoyed it,but as she said she need more organisation when she travel,she might travel back cycling again some days....
Right now in Divonne les bains just by the border with Switzerland ,and Geneve very close ,I ve meet again the cuple of hitchikers that I have first meet in Irland ,Aurore et Thomas ,a lovely cuple ,had a great laught last time in Irland near Bushmills and the Giant Causeway with them,so I stop to pay them a visit,just arrived when there was a BBQ and friends were there,well friends here are the neighbourg here,the builing is called the Coccinelle,cause it is an old hotel,now sold in pieces,why the cocinelle??cause the first owner when open on of the first time the windows saw coccinelle,the coccinelliens are nice peoples,Aurore and Thomas own their appartement and ruffurbish it themselves,except electricity,water work and tiles,and it does look nice !!the ambience in here is like a student hostel let say...
I will enjoy my time here till monday,I have to find my route ,and I wish to see some mountains in the Alps, well,it s what I am gonna see now...

Time to..........leave Freibourg

2009-07-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

Well,today I went to shop,to get some more gears like front bag..bottle holder..2 of them...a mud guard...and few other stuffs...was great...germany makes quality and sort of cheap also...
Anyway,the hardest part is to come..when is time to say good bye...you know..when you say good bye...I got a friend that just dont wanna say good bye!!! Will remember him for ever..He is called Erlon Carlos Yukio da silva..my brazilian brother..when I left his place in Brasil..it was just a waving hand and a smile...to dont get more pain..than it allready was.
Well..I am allready too sad and i am still at Thomas place right in his room..glad,so glad i meet this person.in that workshop that day..he is so interesting so crazy and really extreme,he likes climbing,his record cycling is 17h51--540km(just to let you know),went to the top of the Mont Blanc,and done so much more..and now he is studing hard to work in the medicine,but indeed has long cycling projects in his mind with Line,his love...really do hope to meet them both in their trip in south of france!
And what about that day when i went to Felberg mount (1490m)...with Babsi,a flatmate of Thomas witch told me abut her stories about her time in India and her climbing of the Annapurna,how interesting that was,and her body and mind..so beautifull and pure, her eyes deep blues that you could easely loose yourself in them...,with her I saw the first time orkidees,wild orkidees,and 3 different kind in the same day..!
And Teresa..that speak so well French that gave me also some quick German lesson directly from french to german and land me her dictionnary..Teresa,what a smile as well!!
And well, the others peoples in that flat as well..were nice to me..but i ve meet them so quickly...unfortunatly
Now the pay back is to come..entering is sharing flat I enter a place with humans treating each others as humans..respectfull,interesting,interested.. I just love the time spend in Freibourg...in die fehrradwerkstaat (the place where is repair my bike MYSELF!),in the city..in the 9th johann von weerth....
I did got hit by much good energie...,i loved it here...,surely a place to be back...
life is taught,traveling is taught...i dont like to cry and cycle ...but it does happend..sometimes believe me...........

Just DO IT YOURSELF!

2009-07-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

Now in a very enjoyable city called Freiboug,Germany I am very very very happy about my life is going there..definitly special,definitly enjoyable as well..i did found very much intersting peoples and places!
At the moment at Thomas place,Thomas...a tourer as well..a very addicted person..that has done 22 000km on from Canada to Ushuaia,the Panamerica way...He has done also the turn of Iceland...and went lately make a tour in tandem with his girlfriend Line witch is into touring also,in Norway,that he loves..
Right now Thomas is studing hard...studing medicine..but he did surely find the time to explane to me how it goes at his place..and he told me i could stay for a bit,he also intoduced me to his flatmates and friends witch are nice peeps!...i am a lucky man to meet him,i understand him ...and he understand me as well..my needs and what i live at the moment !
I stay here to fix my bike...to fix it myself!!yes,freibourg is the heaven for a touring cyclist..so many shops,quality gears and knowledge all over the city..and so much understanding aslo..toward me...
I actually meet Thomas..while i was fixing the cable gear box of my rohloff (cause it gone of just on the way to the workshop where i did go to fix my front wheel actually.....a luck?a bad lucky bad luck?anyways an occation to learn!) in a workshop in a place called the FABRIK für Handwerk,Kultur und Ökologie!..where peoples rent the workshop for 2 euros an hour,pay for the pieces and get advises also...come and ..DO IT YOURSELF..what a great place so crawdy, where i enjoy to go meet peoples fixing their bike also talk about the problems encontered,discuss about cycling !
The fabrik is not only a workshop for cyclist but a whole place for handwork cultur and ecologie...did't really have the time to explore more than the bike workshop but i will find some time later on to see what s going on there..!
The weather is very warm in here,and it is nice,summer love it.. I definitly do!

Well before I arrived in Feibourg,I did paddle hard..from Anette and Paul place,I went back to Esther for a few days and another music festival...and i did again loved it,also hit the road with Francois a cyclist brother we rode from Holland to France much laught and adventures while together,we spend a week of riding laughing echanging about bikes and cycling...pass by Wallonie..in Belgium witch is beautifull area and Luxemburg where i spoke very much portuguese actually!
We crashed up in Thionville for the 21 june..where we celebrate there the Fete de la musique...(the music party if u want)..where you can go and play,express yourself in the street all over France till late..what a day and what a night also!
After that i rode myself to Ribeauville ,Alsace where i meet again after years friend of family,where i helped for Alice birthday! ALice witch is now 4Times 20 years old!definitly happy about how it went there,meeting all these peoples back after years was a strange feeling,a feeling that the time is unreachable that you cannot do anything ..just can t stop it...and there surely no way to waste any little of it...
Inside me a feeling a happy feeling ...satisfied..and still on my bike..and surely still loving it,happy to life the life the way i do......
Later on..once my bike will be fixed i will head to switzerland, and be back to France...i should be on time for the birth of my nephew...,anyway will do everything to be on time...
Many pictures...very much...too many...well they are coming later on....without doubt..!

Tomorow Amsterdam!

2009-06-03T12:18:00.000-07:00

I did recover propely by now from the scary moments under that storm,but sometimes I get a little scared of some noises or some situations..like a train passing by cause the noise of it or when there is strong winds..or might be when I just look at the sky and see black clouds...anyways I continue my way,confidently as possible..it is the past and I am still alive..and only that count isn'it!
I have been lately hosted by families with kids,first at Esther place witch is a single mum and brave to raise her kids on her own!the 2 littles monsters are called Noa the girl and Sven the boy,while at Esther place I did had much fun!! In the house of fun...great time there!Esther would give everything for you to be happy,a really kind person witch made my stay at her place one of the greatest experience throught couchsurfing!
We did also went to a festival..dunya festival witch was in Rotterdam and was a massiv free one..!!
The day after I cycled to Anette and Paul place..Annette witch I know since 20 years!and Paul nearly 20 years also...how come i know her this long???cause she was the fille au pair that was in charge of me while i was a 4 years old monster!She was in charge of us,my brother and me..and we still in tuch since,they came cuple of times in Toulouse even after Annette finishes her "contract" as au pair girl..and I did came her right about the same place as now years ago with my parents when I was still a little boy!!
Now she as 2 kids with Paul her husband!2 blonds heads!Daniel and Janik..that I know myself when they were babies!well,I am having a good time in here also,riding my bike with paul,learning dutch from kids..remembering the past and my early years with Anette,and realise that the time pass quickly..but well,what is the time once again???
Anette cooked really nice food while I came here..and everybody was taking care of me as apart of the family and I felt really comfortable in they compagny theses last few days.
Tomorow will be time to go...go to Amsterdam,wher I think to stay in a place recommended by a friend hobo hitchiker cyclist too....well it's an "organised squatt" i think,called Casarobino,hope there is room for me...and I hope is as cool and alternative as I eard about.....

stranges travels..

2009-05-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

Right now in Doredrecht in zuid holland like 10 kms from Rotterdam,i ve lived befor yesterday night between 00H00 and 6H00 one of the most scariest experiences since I've left my parents place the 3 of february 2009 at 14H00...The experience to be stuck right in the middle of a storm with thunder all over the head,the sky grey,the heavy rain and powerfull wind blowing the place with a power to make you lie on the floor,and make you feel is the end..soon...the energie concentrated above my head was just so powerfull,thunder came close,the adrenaline came up too..shaking ,thinking i ve laid on the floor for a good 5minutes and then stand on my feet but close to the ground...to be ready to lay again..cause the wind and rain came and go,the road became a river in 2 minits the flood came up and down,...cuple of times in this cuple of hours,no shelter ,I wanted at first to sleep on the beach actually...but when i saw this big black cloud over my head..and packed up only the food bag that i ve taken to eat a little...while waiting if a changing was really about to happend in the sky...2 peoples advise me of that storm but i was thinking let's wait by the beach like that if is there really something coming ,i could moov by the building,but still no proper shelter on the way..
well,from that time i saw this cloud i packed up my food bag and i was about to get ready quickly to get on the escaping road...to somewhere,near some building and a bus stop on the way too...in less than 10 seconds i was all wet..i ve lived rain in Irland ,Scotland,England on the way..but this one was the most powerfull one ever..but it wasn t cold, powerfull..simply powerfull...i have ride under this powerfull rain for a good 3 minutes befor arrving at a bus stop,where there was allready 4 french peoples ,waiting for a bus to go the center to get to Den Haag...they were lost ,looking for the center and there was no bus for long time after that anyway they made their way walking...later only a 2 bus passes 30hour betwen them probably and one guy made a stop on his moped when it was starting to get bad..about the thunder above our heads and the rain coming too..he made is way after 5 minutes..we talked to each others ,but i was allready interrogated by what was going on ,he was scared but confident, made a call,i told him what do you do when is like that??you can only pray to god..this is the only thing you can do he told me..he was the last person i meet for few hours by then..i thought it was the end ,I was going soon..i think i have travelled in a middle of a storm ..witch was powerfull one to me,it was in the zone 5410 near Shweningen..by about 5hoo or5 h30 i wanted to moov..the bad part stopped but still powerfull winds and thunder...i went by the entrance of a building..for might be 2 hours ..where the thunder was above as well...waited there and when the water of the street went away i went back to pick up my bike and went to sleep by the builing and it was late morning..like around7h00..exausted i went to sleep there..a bit later a women woke me up and told me if i wanted a cup of coffe...i said no..i was too tired to be awake yet...and so i stayed asleep for two more hours and then the police came to tell me i wasn' t aloud to sleep there ,that there is places for homeless about,and thatIi should have 60 euros with me...but i had none apart of 40pounds that i still need to change,but i did't enconter any bureau de change yet!....by that time another lady came and asked me if i wanted a cup of coffe then I said yes andI apologise to her and she was feeling sorry about me..with the coffe came a piece of cake and a sandwitch...Deutch peoples are nice..last time happend the same when i sleeped in front of a old fishermans meeting building,they offered me coffe the morning,netherland is definitly a cyclist country,cycle paths all day all the way, I am glad to be here..
At Esther place now,i enjoy to relax and to spend some little time in,watching the freight passing by,so much fret trains in this area...so easy to catch i heard...walked the dog this morning as well...netherland is a clean and tidy place even tho is crawdy....

Amsterdam - Hail, rain and strong winds battered the Netherlands on Tuesday, felling trees, creating localised flooding and causing major road and rail disruption.

The Dutch meteorological institute KNMI said wind speeds of more than 105 km/h caused trees to fall on roads and rail tracks, resulting in long delays throughout the country for commuters.

In the south-west of the country, hailstones of more than 5cm were recorded.

There were more than 300 km of traffic jams on the Dutch roads, with the A20 near Rotterdam entirely closed off in both directions due to flooding and fallen trees.

Lightning brought down the railway network's electrical systems at Leiden, neer The Hague, and several other towns

IRLAND! what a country!!!

2009-05-06T04:54:00.000-07:00

Now in Irland,I am really impressed,surprised, interogated,YES YES AND YES and happy about the experiences I am living in here...in the Repulic of Irland!!That uses euros speak in kilometers but still drink beer by pint!!!!!!
I bet you ever heard about Irish hospitality well,..there is a big gap between earing and experincing once again....
Irland!A country where everybody is greeting each others everydays everytime,polite ,on the road..in the pub..in the supermarket..in the park,beside the road..
Irish peoples are probaly the warmerst peoples of the whole Europe...might be of the World....I am getting hundreds of smiles in everydays from so many differents peoples of all ages,many chats in the street..and in the pub indeed....and just in everywhere...
I experienced so many acts of kindness lately and I must share that with you.When I left that small pub in Lifford...just going my way after I did a stop for a pint (a guiness indeed),all the peoples just when §I entered talked to me and asked me many questions about what I was doing here..well I've explane.,and when I left they were all in front of the pub..greeting and applausing me when I was gonna go my way to Sligo...why??still dont know ...just these applause make me smile and laught for all the day..even once in my sleeping bag that same night I was smiling thinking about that moment I bet....
Lately Irealise the Bob..the trailer the strong feature holding the most of my stuff on,was about to brake ..(10km of sligo,sligo where i gotta say i ve seen very beautifull waves that day!!)...stopped to make a check at the petrol station...to chek if there was anyone able to weld it...well nobody could..but it s at the same time..I meet Eamon...a rugbyman that use to play in France (Beziers and Narbonne)but he is now retired of playing ...he was apart of the organisation of a charity race that went on that same day north to south irland by motorbikes...to raise monney for blind peoples...well,there was a trailer free..and a car for me..and Eamon proposed to me to give me a lift in Galway...about to brake my trailer,my tire bumping around also...and some rain...well..had a think instead of breaking the trailer in somewhere lost...better brake (if it has to) and find a way to repair in Galway isn it??? so..it s how I came to Galway from Sligo,...I kind of hitchiked a car and trailer...but without any thumb out..and any struggling around...just amazing experience...
Well,then crashed up in Galway and I ve found a spot by the harbour to sleep the same night I did miss Celia a girl that is on Cs also, witch is touring around as well when she is on holidays!...a great but wet one,lot of wind and rain that night...but i have good memories of it by now..sleeping so close to the water ,this element..was a special night that remind me the time when i was fisherman deckhand in Norway.
Anyways...I've found the day aftet the perfect squatt..like empty bisness right in the middle of old town when I just fully brake the trailer...just had to push a door ...make my sleeping space tidy..and I had untill now 2 enjoyables nights there...well a tiny bit noisy cause is just around the pubs and venues that are around...but anyway it s a place to keep away from the rain..
in the same street ...I ve meet Liam a little pissed the night befor in front of the beerhouse ( a pub in here)...the boss of the West Irland bikeshop,very understanding and open...We,just like friend went to his mate that is a proffessional welder and so we fixed the bob up..the day after I totaly broke it...well..his friend Shaun asked for nothing when I asked how much it was!!!!ha come on....so I gave him 10euros...and when I asked Liam how much it was for the petrol and the service to make me meet shaun...he toldl me nothing.,that's nothing...well can I pay you a pint then...yes let s go for one...but while I was away putting my sleeping bag and cooking stuff for the morning in the squatt ,cause my bike and trailer stayed locked up for the night in his shop...he order and PAY..at the pub...well I told him it's for me...but he told me...just keep your monney..
Talking about monney,somehow Irland is suffering ..suffering of a very hitgh percentage of taxes ...every little thing is just so expensive...remind me Norway a packet of 20 cig/8euros 50....a pint 4...and food..let s just not talk about it...,but i did lately find some good stuffs in the rubbishs...
Irland is suffering also of really huge amount of rain..witch is ennoying...to me as a cyclist...but it s doesn't seems to affect the Irish peoples that still smily under the rain!!!!Surprising..this crappy weather seems not affecting them!!!!!Impressiv Irishs!!!!Well some how is might be for that irish pubs have this reputation we all know!!Entering a pub in here is just magic....and meet the Irish is such a great experience and what about Irish music!!So beautifull!!!..and hopefully is not finish yet..cause soon..once I will get the tire I orded from Ryans place that he sent to Celia place in Gaway and that must arrive today or tomorow I am going to the Connemara national park...and will be back in Galway for a bit and then strait line to Dublin to visit and find a way to get on a cargo to get england to across it again to get another cargo for Holland...but ..well will try it at least...then will have to pay a ferry...
Well,Irland...a place to experience for sure...worth it...full of truthfull and nice peoples....let you know more later ...indeed!!

Wet but happy

2009-04-30T03:24:00.000-07:00

Gotta say that Scotland is a really beautifull country,where i did enjoy riding,much of nature many phesants around here and there in the north,mountain and water everywhere...a bit tought tho cause almost everydays up and down hill,but i like it anyways..after i left Inverness i went down the loch Ness to check if Nessie was up to say hello to me...but nothing..
after that i went on Skye island witch is jus amazing place at that time i had like 7 days of folowing sun...and 10 punctures in between due to my back tire going real bad....it literraly open itself and the inner tube is actually going out and tuch the ground then,witch is bad real bad.I did follow the caledonian canal for some time as well,i really enjoyed riding along the water..seeing the fishermans using it to pass one side to another.After skye i went to Fort William to head south,i saw Ben Nevis the highest mountain of UK,1344meters(no pictures of it..cause no more batteries at that time) and that same day..a marathon went on..so as i stop on a parking place beside the road a van did stop same time as well and started to prepare water and energie drink for the runner ,so i did help them spontaneiously as well to serv water and drink for the runners...and the same day i took the road down south...full of energie to see theses peoples giving themselves till the limit that was a great experience...
I have meet Desmont on the way back from skye as well a irish person that live on skye since cuple of years...he shower me around,the gaelic college where he use to study and where all the courses are in gaelic...!good to meet him..and what a breakfast we had..befor i took the ferry to the main island...he showed me almadera castle witch is the castle of the MacDonald clan..after i took that ferry i went on a amazing road...the coastal road from mallaig to fort william ..it was just unbeliveble and very beautifull..
randomly meet as well Roy and Rose as i was going to pitch up my tent beside a loch,the let me know if i wanted a coffe i was welcom so i did came back to see them after i pitched me tent up,nice chat ,nice food..thanks to them again!
Now in N.Irland..I took a ferry like a week ago,from Troon..100km down south there was a ferry also...like 2 pounds cheaper...so i did take the one from Troon..cause 2pounds...difference make 100kms to save 2 pounds.no point to me..then i started to follow the coastal route by a sunny day,and for the first time i paid a camping..10pounds cause a shower was really needed and some electricity for my phone and camera was needed too..then i went by Torr head scenic route witch is really up and down...very steep,but enjoyable..Along the road i meet surfers as well irish surfer witch offered me breakfast and good chat...then i started to feel what i the irish hospitality...but it just started...
making my way to the giant causeway i had great timethere looking at that stones formations..and looking at the tourists...a bit upset cause i could't take a picture unspoiled let s say..so i came back the day after like 8pm..to do my own photo session and then...it was just SO great...
Meet randomly 2 french walkers as well as Aurore and Thomas witch are living and working by the border with switzerland near the Alps,a sunday...like an irish sunday that we spend in the bush house in bushmills...having pints..all the day....and at some point decided to visit the distillery..old bushmills distllery but did not really succed cause we were 5 minutes lates...!!!so we did came back to the bush house...what a laught we had...gotta say i am really pleased i meet them!aqnd hopefully meet them back on my way south home...
i am now in the Maiden city...stroke city..the walled city...where Ryan a Cs connection welcomed me...in his project house that is working out,he is working most of the daytime..but befor yesterday we went to have a drink in town..Ryan that i might contact again cause he runs a volontary asocitation in ghana...and i might go there...to do some vonlontary work for the communtities...i really wish but only the road knows really...,anyways he helped me really much letting me ordering a tyre..to his place..cause now i am bored of repairing..i need to change but no shop on the way had the tire i wanted...cause it is a bit speacial...it contain kevlar..to avoid puntures and last long as well...thanks to Ryan about that!!
Yesterday i had my part of history about the bloody sunday and all that went on in here for centuries,it was interesting,and sad....
i will put pictures of all that later on .....

Here Inverness,and finally a bike fully repaired!

2009-04-11T02:06:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thanks firstable Jibi,(witch I hope to catch on the road to somewhere somedays again) to let me take care of Cat and Bob,witch are now fully fixed(Handlebar,brake set,brakes pads,cables,Rohloff cleaned and oil changed,new saddle,due to that,Cat changes her name for Aurora,in memories of the Northernlights so beautifull that they appear and deseapper in the silence just as they came,leaving a smile and interogations on most of the faces of the peoples looking at them..
From Now,riding around such a bike is pure plaisure in everyday,can go everywhere even the most trickyest places due to shape of Aurora and Bob..a strong girl and boy,that they have many kilometers to go around the world with me still!The noise she making when we are flying is just amazing the way the penetration in the air is made...let's say like a plane going mac 1 to my ears....hahahaha

I'd like to thanks also all these peoples that welcomed spontaneiously to their place while in England! featuring...
Chris the crazy guy!Witch I found on a bench in Lincoln and almost as I sat...told me that I could come over,we went along pretty well and same night...party!!!!with one of his transvestite friend who is 50y.o and look like Iggy Pop and a funny biker also...unforgettable!!..Ex,extreme vegetarian he is really concern by the nature and our world,and the issues for a better future!
Andrea a CS connection that I meet for the second time in Bawtry(We first meet in Rodez,France cuple of months ago!) and that welcomed me for 2 days in her house and made me visit her area,and it did was really enjoyable to relax at her place,she did just treat me like one of sons!
Stavros from CS,that knowing I was on tour spontaneiously welcome me (sending me a mail through CS) to echange about alternative way of consuming,traveling,living,and he is now in charge to take care of my first bike that brong me till Preston, hope he is gonna have good time!!...and as vegetarian we did had really good veggie food as the choco smoothie! and talk about it(maca,goji beerie,spiruline..do you know all these plants???)...cause we all know ..We are what we eat..isn it?
Thanks to Jimmy...Jimmy that I first meet on my way in the Lake Distric to go to Keswick while he was doing a trainning race with his dogs and by the evening meet again randomly on the road and welcomed me at his place ,showed me his dogs and explane about dogs race and I did like the time spend at his place,interesting and open minded guy that believe we all were black once a time,anti racist forever!!
Martyn and Alison,a cuple of cycle tourer(that do tamdem when they go on tour!) that do not have car since 20years,Martyn is now retired but use to work on cargo boat and sailed the world this way and after that he came back to study to become psycologie teacher,Alison retired now aslo use to be filmaker and worked for the BBC..,well now they occupy their time living,painting and riding her bike for Alison and much more!! Welcoming random cycle tourer( me) lost and upset cause a bad repair was made the same day in Carlise(broke cable after 3kilometers and wrong crap cable replaced and my back wheel badly put back witch could have cause me a bigbig injury me=upset more than ever),and Martyn is volontary ranger in charge to post route number for the National Cycle Network and he does have a lot of work..too many years now passed and English peoples did forgot about cycles..cause the CAR the HOLY CAR is the only way to go for too many peoples and it is really a pity!(thanks for that bed...dinner and breakfast!!!that was great!)
Thanks to the peoples of Sustrans as well,this charity asssociation that work with the NCN
to make the ways for cyclist and walking peoples somehow much better,these peoples are not only working for their country...but for the future of our world!!much respect...without them and their routes negotiations thought the country it would be simply impossible and I' d say suicidary to ride or walk in peace.....(even tho they got me lost more than once....)
The polish gentlements squatters,and rastafaris,that they showed up when I was asleep in "their" squatts and that makes me really freakin around.....(Bedford and befor)
And I was forgetting about this evening in Barton le Clay at the Royal Oak pub,where I went to "socialise"myself and where I meet Dan,Collin and Gordon..that offered a rain of pints of Ales(witch i love!) and nice chat around that!!!
All this peoples that simply give me water...and even brekfast some time to time.....

And ALL the peoples that i forgot!

Well made it then!!!Acrossed England south to north,got to Preston where I picked up Cat and Bob repaired them100% (tires are tired but will be changed soon) and left my darling in safe hands...I do hate riding in England,too many cars,very much let's say...but I did meet many interesting different and open minded peoples!
Now in Inverness,passed by Edimburgh where I'd like to thanks Katoto and Chris for they hospitality also!I will go after tomorow down the Loch Ness(thanks to Michal from Slovakia to host me in here!!!A hitchiker that did many time Inverness-Slovakia to get home!)...Hoping I could see Nessie hahaha then Sky island and Fort William in theorie befor getting Irland,Scotland is beautifull a place!! As I like,space,Nature,wild....where you can face 4 seasons in one day...
Befor yesterday I rode my bike for 160km,rainy the morning and I was really wet and pretty sunny the afternoon...160kms....I beat my record..due to a nice back wind a good mood and much food.. and good breathing session relaxation when I was getting dowhill by 67kms an hour!
Well I do hate maths...but I let you know the statistic untill now....(if that interest anyone)

I left the 3 february...14H from Aussonne.....and we are the 11 april 11H35....here are the kilometers I ve done..
Aussonne(13kms from Toulouse)-Inverness(Scotland)...with a training period of about 600kms if i remember propely...

4016km-259hours.......(yesterday---3h30 riding,53kms,15km/h average speed,67km/h Max speed)

From Now...I am really on a proper world departure,I do belive I will start a new routine with a proper touring bike,waited for this moment for so long...now I am going to ride more once i will be in my routine but I need some little time still......

Well..sunny in Inverness...time to visit the city .....!!!!!!!!!

Changes

2009-03-26T05:58:00.000-07:00

I made it to Preston yesterday,by the evening I was at Brookhouse Farm,where Cat and bob stayed for a while,me darling has found a new boyfriend on the way.He is from Greece but living in Manchester and he is called Stavros,hope he is gonna take care of her..and will have much joy going away with her...

Today I am about to fix and changes some part of Cat and bob,my new friends,that they traveled the world with Jibi!!!!Much more than me,a strange feeling inside...I am now nothing than a simple walker...bikeless,pointless..( I am listening Changes from bowie and wanna ride my bicycle of queen..too much nostalgie!!1), it is just for hours,I know,but it is disturbing...
So ,here I am in Leyland today the 26 March 2009...a big change happend in my life...,sun and showers sometime to time outside..it s England...wind and cold rain..but the temperature is quit ok..yesterday I've sleeped in my tent in the garden of the peopls that the bike was ,I had a good night but still much cars on the road by.

Befor,getting to Cat and Bob I went to see my spiritual daddy...Jibi that is in Leeds, and that had to face much hard situations lately,and I was thinking much on my side been with him,a legend of our century to me... a true person,adventurous,challenging,full of joy...what about if I live till 60???ever wonder about that????travelling is an addiction,the road is a school everydays is different and all the experiences I can face are so uniques...I just simply can t do without..it s my life now..just right now....
When the drug is delivered and enter my blood ...I feel well...very well, I d say ALIVE..simply ALIVE...you know...the addiction....

I ll put pictures of all that when i will have more time

London calling

2009-03-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Many kilometers since my last update many surprises and good and interesting meets,hitchiking a boat did not sucessed but I did across the Chanel at least "priceless",due to a connection that Clo has at the Transmanche ferries(thanks CLo!!),frustrated,yes indeed...but gotta give up sometimes..tried hard tho>>

__more to come later on too tired right now ,hope pictures and videos are around on youtube and picasa_

I left La Rochelle leaving Theo with who I had really good time,partying ,chatting about boats and sailing..I, then cycled to Les Sables d'Olonne and the day before spend a night in the Marais Poitevin where it was a cold and silent night..frost in my tent but I was well covered!!!Flatness ,water and beautifull bird around also,the weather was really nice daytime but freezing morning and evening..making my way the day after to Les sables I arrived 1hour before Dee Caffari ,challenger of the Vendee Globe 2009 ,she is physical education teacher and started sailing like 10 years ago.She is by the way the first women that done the turn around the world cicumsailing BOTH ways!
I was really tuched to be there for her arrival,this freedom that make her alive is simply great,I saw her from far..but did not suceed to speak to her....anyway I could still check her rubbish up!Manuka honey,very good and tasty(not suitable for children under 1 y.o!!),spirunlina,alimentation complementary pills, mix seeds with dryed cranberries,flapjacks with seeds (even with cannabis seeds!!! houlala)m'n'ms,dry bags,stove,all that as a strong smell,let s say exotic smell due to the round world travel....to know that all that stuff traveled around the world is so reprensentative,I am very happy that i found it was just the perfect usefull stuff for me!!!and for FREE!(I bet this stuff is worth a lot of monney)
The 17 february ,I had the occasion to access to the ponton where the boats stay,I even had the occasion to meet briefly Marc Guillemot that circumsail the world also but finishes without his quille(under the boat) and done many miles without it,he lost his quille due to a shock with a animal from the sea apparently..I even had the right of a dedicace and shakehand.
Went to see the revue de presse,and "WE" was in live chat with a guy other side of the world alone on his boat!!!
My time in Les Sables d Olonne has been intense and interesting,these sailors ,mens and womens inspires me a lot ,they are free,free like the wind,100%!! these crazy adventurers are so uniques,what a feeling to approch them and their boats ,just to imagine what they lived makes me shaking!!
Then I went to Pornic and there police check my I.D cause I was dumpster diving around(again!)..well nothing bad..they were respectfull.
Went to have a beer and write on my notebook in the Bar du port and Michelle the owner offered me her round..knowing that i was on world tour ,officily in Britanny then...Breitz!I am very happy I went through Brittany cause my roots comes from there also,and I am really happy I could know more about my own blood,I was really surprised by the warm welcoming!Had interesting evening in Pornic,I went to another bar..witch was a irish pub,there the lady that own it was interested and question me about my tour,much humidity in Pornic that evening ,my darling is all wet and did't even tuched her for a while...how bizarre...
By 21H30 that same evening a old guy came in,it was Rene Dubois born in Le Havre the 02/06/1937 from a doctor dad dead in 1941,blue eyes,oldish face,white hairs and all his head!!His daddy wanted him to be a doctor and her mum at least veterinary,and they were very rich for this time...He lived in Paris(Decourcel,Porte Menceau)in a private appartement, and put his thumb out for the first time by the age of 16 in La Porte d Orleans,to go explore the World, Marocco,Spain,Gibraltar,Algeria,Tunisa,Egypt,Israel where in work in kiboutz while he was in holidays at this time he had 3 months holidays from school!
He went also exploring the Est same way..gone fishing cod in ALsaka on Kodiak Island(in 56) where he saw Polar bears and meet Inuits peoples also,+ 7 the summer there and he lived also under the midnight sun...gone to USA to study but his english wasn't enought so he did doors to doors to find a job and it's like that he started to drive heavy weight truck without licence!!
He has now the project to go in Guinea Bisao with his camper van,"When I will be african,It will be might be different",and want to check South America and Amazonia befor all the world blow it away he told me,73y.o and still wanna learn,he has a joy of living the life ,has also the nostagie of the past.He had aslo his own ULM,witch he use to land in his farm where he had goats to make cheese 280 of them in Aude(place in south of France)..Son of a rich family,he is broke now why no heritage???Cause he told me he did the mistake of getting married..what a magic meet in Pornic!...He could't welcom me but wanted to...but neighbourg and landlord around,he wasn t sure that would be great for him..anyway I did find a spot to sleep in the rubbish local of a restaurant in Pornic ..30meters from that irish pub!!
Cycled to redon the morning after ..once there I saw a homeless person in bad state...cold and drunk..I called the social services and he went to spend the night in a warm place,I was really feeling in pain seeing him in this state..then I echange and drunk few beer with Julien and Lorie 2 punks that I got along with for an hour then I went to the train station to speak to a train controller ,I spoke about freight indeed...and he told me a lot,well, he told me at first to take off my bike cause I was cycling in the train station..but it was almost empty but all went ok,this night was redon public toilets..on some carton boxes...
The 20 February I rode along the Vilaine..sunny and enjoyable,then I meet JB or Jean Nene in Renne with who I got along really well as surefer we did talk about waves and surfing in Brittanny!!He his funny and easy going and chill,he his somehow a breton rastafari,I did enjoy my time to the fullest ,got drunk a certain friday night and chill 100%all saturday to party again on the evening..I meet his friends who were interesting,doctors,and air hostess,goodness what a chat we had..traveled into the humans body were really great just speaking with them!!
Then I rode with Pierre Damien (P.D)meet the evening before ,done a good session of dumspter diving on the way,chat about spirulina and energie,sleept at Emmeus,a social organisatiopn that welcom people homeless lost and poor,I usually don't go to this kind of place cause I do like my independence..in that room 4 guys..snoring around...could't really sleep...I much prefer pitching my tent wherever I want..anyway it went that way this evening.
The 23 february...I rode 86 kms, arrived in St malo I went stait to the fishing harbour beforeall to know about any eventual departure for Jersey and Guernesey or England...but no..departure for all these directions,but I,then entered 2 cargos ,1 french,had a nice quick chat with the crew on this huge boat with many infos takens on the way..checked the capitainerie,with not much new's after that'but on another cargo..Stephan Russian sailor that is working on a boat with Danish owner told me to come back same evening witch I did to talk to the capiatain,well the capitain told me to be back the day after by middday...I was hopping for the best all the night..but...I had a negative response...TOO BAD HEY!
Then tryed to catch a car..with a person by the ferries desk...the thing is: if one person go on the ferry with her car..on her own...a person more OR not ..still the same price,so I tryed waited ..asked..nothing came..too bad once again went to see on sailing boats harbour also,but nothing too bad once again!.
St Malo is a really nice city medieval with big walls all around it,a pirat city I wish I lived in medieval time to see how it was at this time...speacially..in la Rue de la soif...(the thirty steeet)
I,then rode St malo to St micheal Mount..76kms..along the coastal road.was just really beautifull,I meet herve there,a traveler and cyclist also,a great guy that was my guide for 20 sunny kilometers ,St michel..beautifull place impressiv how the tide goes up there...but the Mere Poulard thing is everywhere..St michel is owned apprently by 2 peoples and it smeel the fucking monney everywhere and that makes me sick.
I rode on a railway route that was very enjoyable,even slleept along there between 4 walls ,good enought but not carton boxes around so leaves from mister the tree were cool also at the kilometer 75 of that day..I was imagining myself like I was on that train from Toulouse to Paris, the air...the landscape...was a great one,many field ,sheeps ,caws,looked at me when I passed around.
105km on 6hours 32 the day after arrived to Vire , where I paid myself a restaurant..16 euros and a wonderfull meal.. a beer.(leffe 33cl)pizza with andouille de Vire (speciality from there) quarter of wine ,desert, coffe,and took the road..slowy slowly and easy after that to tell you true it was very good ,up and down all day that day and a big downhill to get Caen.Once in Caen I meet a guy,that is student and he told me about a spot at the university,well,had a tea with him and nice chat then he gone and I went to sleep.
The day after I went tree climbing for a bit of exercice ..even failed to broke my knee...lesson for the next time..and cycled to Ouistriam where there was only one cargo ,and many sailing boat..but I am NOT in the "season" ..and not many sailing boats acrross the chanel,too bad once again!Continued my way to Deauville where I did find THE spot,in the famous cabins to change befor going to have a swim,tryed many doors..and at some time..here it was..and the sea once again was in my head all night,the day after was sunny and I passed le pont de Normandie that was simply insane..much cars...a noise and much wind also.
I crashed up at Clotilde in Rouen who I meet during a hitchiking trip cuple of months ago..what a crazy girl also..she went to the lost forest of south america to experience what is like been alone in front of yourself and the nature ,she had a diet,and just a little shelter for 2 months..she showed me pictures,gotta say..what an experience!
Then I cycled to Momo's place (Rouen -Dieppe 65kms) who I meet in the same hitchiking seession trought connection of connections anyway he is about to open a fast food restaurant,with special burger as St jaques burger and confit de canard burger that they are very good and many sorf of food in the kind, I helped him with his cleaning and stayed at his granma place ..Huguette..what a women!!
Well then I took the decision to give up about hitchiking a boat for this chanel crossing,I paid my ferry 20 euros,instead of 25 Euros...due to a connection of Clotilde(mwa),I thank her about it again!!
Dieppe is by the way charged of a deep past..a certain 19 August 1943 this day in this part of this territory many peoples got killed due to a uncessfull "debarquement"...and the walls of the city still have the maks of this date....
heyhey !!acrossed it then!The nostalgie drove me to London in a raw...from Newhaven...112kms...in london in last minute couchsurfed at John's place who his teacher very kind (to accept me last mintue also) and communicative person..short meet but intersting chat with him,he came pick me up by 23H20!!!what a kindness cause I was so lost and a bit exhausted after 112kms,in his place there was allready Scott that is working on sailing boats in Cardiff,Wales,he his doing the wood work..interesting!
I left London and rode 40 kilometers 3 drops of rain on the way,found a house not so far from Luton airport that was apprently empty...but not as empty as that went a rastafari came same way as me ..(kitchen window) then i was freaking myself...but it was cool..I could sleep in and he even offered me water the day after...that rasta traveled also so he was understanding.
Much traffic,not enought cycling paths in England cycling in here..untill now is like cycling in the hell..well I say that...but i am sure it will be much worst in other country later on..
Well..,In bedford i found a squatt that was apparently occupied,but you never know ??do you??untill someone shows up...I exepcted a polish person due to english/polish dictionnary and well he did show up 2 meters dude might be 100kilos..and a pittbull came in when I was sleeping again...quiet impressiv...isn it? But he understood that I was travelling and needed some rests and then we was hanging around like friends from long...no picture of all that due to no more batteries ,ho still too much to tell....but for now..I said very much...anyway..I dont really enjoy cycling on english road till now..is going to be better up north I bet..but i enjoy my time and brits peoples and till now..most of my days in here were SUNNY!!

Bordeaux,La Rochelle (and steps back on board)

2009-02-14T08:32:00.000-08:00

After I left Bordeaux,I cycled to Blaye,I have passed the Garonne and Dordogne the same day to get along the Gironde witch is so large,and I realise how big is the Bordelais French vignoble (and I saw just a little part of it).,took me 4hoo to make 63kms.I am so glad of the relations between my bike and me..my darling and I,a deep relation....we are going toghether so well..the air ,the tires tuching the ground making a certain noise.. when we fly toghether is just amazing..the melody that my bike is offering me,is the best melody I can eard..but we know both..we will have to take our paths..on our sides ..and I will go,and hope she will too..I better don't want to think about it yet ...
The flu I got still a bit here, but I am getting much better..is going back where he came from..day by day..
I am sitting now on a matress made of cloth,my future bed.. other matress there and over-there around me..dusty,..but not on my matress that had a good position,..in term of dustness till now..my nose still dropping,the road is 20 meters away not far from there garden..there is a kind of public discharge in most of the place ,all and nothing ,washing machines,tires,pieces of wood...just like in the house,I cooked merguez and eat pate that I found in the rubbish of a butcher few kilometers away,a warm mint the,...cloth up myself for the night.. and go sleeping.
The 9th february.. looking for a shelter for the night 7kms about before Royan..I went to check camping and holidays places,open mainly the summer,but close in February, I did have the choice..wooden little house in the forest.., a caravan a empty building... ,it is at one of this building that I meet Martine..the wife of the director of the place .,I did meet her at a moment really unspected..she never goes there she told me(the winter..).this buiding down the forest..near the beach...
Well,she invited me for a tea, and the same day there was wind of 140km_hour..and this area was on orange alert ..,so she decided with her husband to let me sleep in the house beside theyr house..just the same..but empty..had a shower, and a dinner with Martine Henri and son..,lovely and open peoples ,that they traveled too..and I thank them again for theyr kindness.
The day after Ii went to Oleron Island,passed a huge bridge,all that with big cloud above my head..few drops some time to time..under really uncertain weather and my progression was really slow due to some front wind,about 12km-hour,one side ,I had much time to enjoy the lanscape that was really beautifull and camp there...on a beach near la Cotiniere.. only beach and forest around..and no actually,2 bunkers from the second world war..to remind history..
It was rainy a part of the night and quiet windy.. and I sleeped so well listening to all this music,and I did call my mum that got one year older that day!!...I sleeped like a baby an expression said in french....the day after I visit and had a coffe and breakfast in the bunkers that got smatch more and more by the sea...and is for that lately there was many peoples around and even the police to mark a perimeter of security..
I ve meet also ,Oyster producers,that go seel theyr oysters in markets in Paris,a family bisness,brave peoples,that would change for nothing theyr job..not even to go fishing in Northern Norway they told me...In my thoughtIi wanted to allready hitchike a boat(or try to)
from Oleron( Boyardville) to La Rochelle , I was all wrong...nothing came out really not the season..not the feeling...
The 12 february I rode 5h10 and did 63kms..by a sunny day...humid and cold morning and evening..I sleeped in my tent and it was like an aquarium the morning,all wet...so strange...how wet that was...the same day I found some more treasure in the rubbish....big quantity of good food..I meet also Gonzalo on the way..walking from Vendee to the pyreenes, a brave guy..walking this much..for me personaly I could't walk this much but ,well for the challenge I dont exclude any possibility.
Well, hope I resume me time riding my bike consequantly....
So right now,I am in La Rochelle,beautifull La Rochelle...charming and interesting city if we like sailing boats ,nature..freedom,I like city I can say I would live here..why not!!! so attractive city to me.Woke up yesterday morning in my tent near the train stationand well hided by bushes near a roundabout too;..like a hobo..exacly, feeling the ground mooving when train passed by..and running to watch what was passing by and unfortunaly did 't see any fret train...
After a coffeIi went visiting the city and passed by the old harbour..where boats are out of the water and got repaired.. around a piece of boat...(le mat in french..dunno in english) I started to speak to the guy that was working on it..and from there another person noticied me on my charged bike.."Hey..hello...travelling cycling?...me too..where to??around the world hitchiking boat..how interesting...got a boat too and cycled myself around France....it is how it all started when I meet Mathieu,..a traveler,sailor,cyclist,nurse..We got along really well and so quickly, he invited me on his boat for a coffe, there was his friend Natalia also,the first time I go officialy on a sailing boat,punch coco...what a day!!!Simply spontaneious,I'd say magic,feeling again the moovement of the water has been a real satisfaction..
From there Matheiu and I talked about travels,he showed lme his pictures,interesting and interested ,he likes challenge and the adventures..talking about his futures travels sailing with so much love was a real plaisure to echange ideas with him..
A part of it really open about my world tour cycling and hitchiking boat,he did talk about a probable possibility to do toghether La Rochelle,France - La Coruna _Spain.. That would change my itinerary ,but has I got none really...I let the wind tell the future...
Around 16H I left Mathieu happy has can be,echanging few last word on the bridge of the boat....shake his hand ..and left..probably smiling still.
Then I contacted Theo, almost afro aircut,smile over the face, a contact from the Couchsurfing,interested by photography and french music and also ..boats and boats conception...was his work actually but he got fired due to the economic problems in the enterprise his working for..the owner(Mr Gamelin) of the entereprise suicide due to too much trubles, and peoples without work what a story...well,he got time to welcom me, and I am enjoying very much staying at his place.,wash some clothes in his infernal washing machine that is about to fly in the air on drying mode ,like 20y.o old washing machine but soo charming...tryed to process pictures but did not sucessed..but was so interesting anyway
We went to party of his friends friends...well it was just great, like 6peoples playing in a room of the flat,3guitars,,1saxo,1trombone..1 accoredeon...peoples enjoying ,listening,speaking drinking smoking , I meet many interesting peoples that evening,artist, and peoples that make this city live...sailors too,as Jules that use to work for a rent sailing boat compagny, and Anne witch is actually the daughter of the owner that create the compagny of boat rent like 20 year ago..nice chat with them 2 about the sea and the sail,La rochelle is beautifull and interesting from my point of view, I really enjoy much the place and the peoples that are living here too..

It's official....

2009-02-07T05:04:00.000-08:00

By now in Bordeaux,It s has been interesting and peacefull all the way ,I ve learned a lot since my first cycling trip ,I start to have "my routine",organised and consciencious of what I do for me and the repercutions it can have on my body and mind.

I ve left *Tuesday 3 february 2009 by 14H00 leaving my parents in family home where I grew up...my feeling was strange so happy and so sad too...about to reborn...I saw my mama crying once again...
I arrived after about 5hours after at Jean Pierre home that live in a really typical countrysideold farm(but renewed),now close to the city has it got build all around ..and had a puncture to do on the way..and realise 2 more once in Montauban,on the way much mud and trees all over due to the storm Claus that pass by less than 2 weeks ago..had to jump over them and few acacias that got spicky bits in eveywhere..
I had a warm welcoming from Jean Pierre and Jackie,I am happy I know them more and undertand a little more about my past myslef meeting my uncle and wife.

After my adventures all along the canal lateral to the Garonne, I wanted to avoid it..witch I did for a while and passing across I saw that it was actually largely ridable so i took it back,had a good back wind and I made 74kms in 3hours 42..witch is a 20km an hour under a enjoyable weather,pure plaisure ..Once around Agen I went to check some rubbish bins full of treasure as bananas,apples,tomatoes...!!!well had dinner and went sleeping in abandonned caravan that I found beside the cyclable way...

Then I rode to Marmande ..70kms..a sunny day too...and I meet Emma witch is a CS member that is welcoming peoples in her accomodation in Marmande..a really sweet girl..she cooked a so good dinner has pastas and spinatch...and she offered me a little present has some biskits figues and nuts..so good cookies that came from her imagination and I thank her again cause it was really enjoyable to eat them on the way..I meet her flat mate too kat from Usa that is languistic assitant also in a college in Marmande,where iI actually sleept but dunnot remember the name...
I arrived yesterday in Bordeaux where I meet back Marie that I meet for the first time a month ago while we was in Cauteret the day we went snowboarding with the crew that I spend my NYE...yesterday we eat and drink nice wine ...speak about adrenaline and nature.After that we had a visit by night of Bordeaux that was fast and exiciting along the Garonne,Marie is adrenaline seeker also,snowboaring the winter and riding bike downhill the summer and I wish I meet her back when i will be around with my new bike to have a ride downhill witch I never done
Bordeaux is a big and pretty city..all shiny and clean...and somehow posh..but there is great wiew on the Garonne and much old builing that got a lot to tell..
I ve meet recently some graffers ..and oberv them painting in the center,exchange few words about the graff,the travels, the life...
I had studied some maps allready but got some more about cycling paths around Gironde..I have to take a depper look later on ..and I hope my sour trought and licky nose will
will stop dropping ,I got sick..I am sick...but I'ts just nothing ,I took one paracetamol pill...

well... it s tomorow (actually)!!

2009-02-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

I believe it's tomorow that I go..I go get lost in this huge small world,facing the unknown in everydays,to go further and further...to experience and discover not only the world,but humans living in this world too...

I spend the last few days sorting last needs and logisitcs about my world trip,went to spend time with family and friends ,visit my brother that welcomed me in his place from there he had visit of his friends that I know and appreciate too ,my grandma and hunt that live in the same building were there and Fabrice my cousin!!...is for that i could't go on january i did't wan t to miss chance to say good bye to my family...but better a litte later than never...!!!
I had a think about the route too...tomorow I will be 60km aways about...in Montauban,the native city of my dad , and there live also my uncle Jean Pierre..that i know since a month(and i meet him so briefly) and my daddy know him since 3 years i think.....long story..anyway Jean pierre is the half brother of my dad(and look like strongly like my grandpa)..and so I am his nefew..and I am very glad that I will discover one more person with whom i share the same blood so closely...
I will be leaving home tomorow by 14Hoo I guess...I am so happy and feeling so strange ...that I go cycling the world..hitchiking boats...

Hobos and train hopping.....

2009-01-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

Train hopping or Freight hopping is the act of surrepetitiously hitch a ride a on railroad freightcar.
By the year 1930,the great depression tuched so many peoples due to the economic crash untill 1930' s to 1940's for different countries..
It was the largest and most important economic depression in modern hitory ,and it did push poor peoples to moov aruond in quest of a better life...might be...
When the poor farmers had no more work and no more monney,they had a think to moov around watching a freight train I guess...They becames hobos...can be traduce by homeless bohemian...
A lifestyle..a risque lifestyle..,but when you have nothing more to loose......train hopping is a free way to travel and discover and propably getting lucky about getting a job..or a better job in somewhere else.
Freight hopping is still popular in U.S.A,probably less peoples do it compare to the great depression time,freighopping is surely popular in others places of the world..where there is possibilyties to do...and I ve discover myself that can be easely possible in France !
Since long I wanted to try this way of travelling ,and I did it....2 months ago about,in compagny of Andrew that is a ..let s say...modern hobo,adrenaline seeker,angaged 100% into freight hopping and alternatives way to moov ,free and ecologic..
After about 7 hours of observations night time and daytime in a field (Gare de triage)naerby my parents home (St Jory)...we went closer to the mooving trains.. we hopp that train while it was mooving....still slow..but quick enought!!!thought my bag first...and myself in second!!after ...a chek with Andrew..to make sure we was going to hopp...that gondola. that is for conteiners...but theses ones had none...
We rode 10 hours thought center of France...adrenaline rush strait away, the noise of the machinery,the cars other side of the barrier that the crosses with the roads.the stars and big cables dancing when i was looking at the sky,enjoying lanscapes,feeling the air in my face...and that makes me cry once again....just like riding my bike..... but 110km-hours...and still free as the wind..thinking at all the peoples that mooved that way,overthere in U.S.A and others parts of the world...
Glad i know this feeling...glad I ve done it...now...I got a new addiction ,is it bad is it wrong...don 't know..all I know...it 's REAL.

96 kms

2009-01-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

I rode 96 km today...I ve sleeped in Bram yesterday and woke up this morning in a stable,very much space in there,it was a stable for caws I'd say..just beside the railway..where very much trains passed throught all night and much fret too mainly oil I guess going from Est to West was a plaisure to have this spot to watch how the fret goes by there :D... ;there was old bikes with missing pieces but still some very good pieces on them too ..waching machines in bad state...all in a corner of it..well i ve found this place by 22H00 somthing..the same day I arrived from Sete .and it was ..101 kms if I trust my new counter...that I have bought in Sete like a week ago and as at the moment 400km...and I had very nice sleep in there

This journey to Montpellier as been very interesting..full of surprises..and funny.why funny ?? cause George after riding his bike for 47 000km..has the notion of the space ..in disorder...or in order let's say (for a cycling tourer)...To be beside George while he was driving this huge car was impressive...how your vision of the city can be so different for everywhere you go..Montpellier is full of little street in one way...we had to ask a pizza delivering guy that if he could drive us with his moped made it much easyer after a while turning and turning in the streets of Montpellier I belive it was the best to do.....
The day after it was Vanessa birthday and Serenpendious alias Roger meet trhought CS missed his plane from Netherlands to party in Motpellier in this occation..he missed his plane..but drove to Montpllier instead..what a crazy guy!!!!Roger as been sailing and hitciking too in his life..was great to echanges ideas with him about sailin, he owned a boat at some point too!!I still remember jibi talking and pointing with his finger places of the world that he has done cycling and roger sailing..,such a good ambience in this appretment..the kindness of Vanessa.the happyness of Mathis .the smile of DD thanks again for this malaysian dish that was soooo good ans SO spicy too!!...
I carrefully listen to the lasts recommendation of my spiritual daddy...and I do believe I am ready for my long journey.
After we went in a meeting au Bar vert anglais or something, I had the chance to meet randomly Anastacia and miguel. and more peoples from a same student house...so welcoming peoples they invited me to pass a night at theyr place..We ate a Tartifleette there was a bunch of peoples ?open and traveling ..too well was a good evening too...I meet there also joseph .. witch travel lately in Gerogia just befor the conflict ..just when i was in Russia...hehe..strange ....good to talk about travels with him..cause we had same interesrest in ways of traveling such as train hopping cycling hitchiking... all alternatives way to moov..
I have few thing to do at the moment befre the great departure like get my bag.camelback mule...copys..mail...sort out paper..meet some peoples...is going to taker between a week or 10 days ..still no real date for the moment..but soon...the day D is gonna come

Snow in Montpellier!!!!

2009-01-10T17:13:00.000-08:00

I arrived apparently in the coldest days (only -2) of this area for years i think...it even snowed..and it was so enjoyable to ride under snow...on my (fast) way to get Montpellier by the canal du midi that i cut for some parts i did meet great peoples as Jean..a cycle tourer or 73 y.o only touring in south of france by now but did cycle all over europe...he invited me for a coffe when i passed by loking at him..the second dqy i hqve done like castelnaudary Bezier..a big and fast day ..i was feeling like the TGV on the water...a good back wind...going on the way to sea so it s going down and down...and a good mood ...at the end of the day i asked the responsable of a changing room of a football field in Bezier ,that person let me stay ,and i thankshim again!!had a warm shower and a good sleep..wonderfull
Bezier_montpellier i woke up by 6h10 the guard mate woke me up cause i had to leave...early like that nodbody could see me...cause nobody new about me staying in the chaging rooms actually....I rided all the day to arrive by 7h00 in Montpellier....there i meet back Vanessa and son and later on went looking for jibi...that got SOOO lost...driving his rented car in co,pagny of DD!!!!dd a sweetheart...a lovely person...always smiling..and up to try new things...and quiet of a traveler too..she went in many places in Europe allready.the dqy qfter we celebrated Vanessa birthday in co,pagny of another person thought couchsurfing..Roger alias serenpendious
Well....it has been a loads of fun..coming back here and meeting again this peoples that i love!
by now i am at Elisa Miguel,Renans place....meet while a Cs meet in Montpellier yeterday ..we had tartiflette and wine...such a good ambiance in here..got my bed...tomorow i go to sete or around probalby...but for now is itime to sleep...hopffully is going to be sunny tomorow!!

Happy New Year 2009

2009-01-04T17:04:00.000-08:00

I'd like to wish you all reader of these lines a wonderfull new year 2009,full of joy,happiness,peace, good health...and experiences...and the best wishes come true!.....

I spend my new year eve with some of my childhood mates with whom I use to be at school and pensionary when I was younger,and friends relatives to these friends by now....
We celebrate the 31-1...at a mate place called Maurin(mix of Maurice et Romain...his parents did t know witch name to chooose so they mixed up ...not that common name actually),Maurin is a funny and natural guy glad I meet him!!
After the new year eve party we woke up feed the chickens,walk into the garigue (bush) around his home and ride Maurin's poney....Sancho..., so little cute poney...all dusty and so nice to let each of us have a ride on his back!
We had great laught allready....But it was only the start ...of many more funny and enjoyable moments..
Then we had a great meal all toghether with product from the countryside or that Maurin's made ,like honey!...and there was a lot of good and natural food!!!After that, we packed up to go to the mountains snowboarding for most of us...we went there 4 of us...and other 4 joinded us the day after...in a place called Cauterets in the Pyrennes,there is a ski resord there and we rented a place,12 bed in dormitory!!just like at the time we was toghether in the pensionary...when we was 15-16 y.o for 3 of us but the ambiance between all of us was so great! hahaha great laught old jokes ,memories coming back..(talking about today..the 4thjanuary ,we celebrated my daddy birthday I finalised to packed up few things and went visit and eat dinner at a friend whith whom we watch a moovie called BABYLONE A.D that i simply enjoyed very much!!!!!not a big fan of vin diesel..i am surprised about this actor in this movie directed by Mathieu Kassovitz)...Glad I spend this Nye 2009,with my friends in here..I will keep really nice memories of it...thanks Maurin!

Hitchiking Boat....how?

2008-12-31T06:40:00.000-08:00

As easy as hitchiking a car or hopp a train, first,you must want it and give all the good vibes inside to get it!!! ...Hitchiking boat is pretty common in our world...Probably working to pass the seas or simply getting lucky,enjoying personal connection,observations,untill getting the Capitain and explane myself ...

It is all about trust and confidance...timing...experience (can be helpfull) ,I think....

Once the contact is made with the Capitain..or a responsible person that knows about getting a person onboard from the crew..to across the seas,there might be few papers to sort out ,if I am going far...acrossing a Sea or an Ocean I might land in a country that I need a visa too and customs papers...!,the capitain as to add me in the crew list (for such a ride) in theory....

I will indeed focuse my efforts,on cargo and ferry boats,..fishing boats..might be sailing boats..... but I know that I have few chances to get on sailing boat....unless the space will be big enought..to fit the bike and the equipement too...

Or I might just...hitchike a car....just before it get in the ferry boat!!!!

Many possibilities to work out....I will give it ago...anytime I will need and take my time if I have too...before going on a basic ride.

Living alternatively for most of the society....I enjoy challenges..,just paying to take a plane or a boat ,became too easy...I wanna sort thing out myself and check by myself..possibities and probably enjoy many rides across seas,and cause as well...the Sea call me everytime I am on land...

Toulouse-Preston... and Europe!

2008-12-31T06:32:00.000-08:00

Time passing...thinking....,I start to see few routes shaping themselves in my mind.....
I reported years ago a cycling trip to Irland..,the turn of Irland..with a mate from Toulouse,I will surely enjoy my georaphical position once in Preston to go and cycle in Irland ,as I will be close to the heart of Europe too,I will go there...Benelux and Germany...passe throught my mind first..
I went there when I was young boy but not much of memories...so is for that I am going to see what's going on in this northern western europe..as I will be in the area.

Merci.

2008-12-30T16:44:00.000-08:00

I d'like to thanks the Nature ,My Family,that as been beside me when I was needed,anywhere in the world,my mother ,my dad,my brother,my brother girlfriend,my childhood friends from Toulouse( you know who you are) .So many hospitable and open peoples while making my way..hitchiking ,cycling...living...
Obrigado pra galera brasiliera!
The Cs and hopitalyclub communities.
All the peoples that trust,believe and support me untill now....The happy,the deprest,the believers,the engaged,the homeless,musicians,writers,poetes,travelers,nomads,explorer...that inspired me..all the peoples that believe in them and what they do................

MERCI,Obrigado,Spaciba,Djenkioulle,Takk,Shoukrane,Gracias,Grazie,Hvala,Techecular,
Kiitos,Falemendieri,Afkaristo,Denke,................

Almost Now....

2008-12-30T15:19:00.000-08:00

The official departure of my Turn Around the WORLD ,European part cycling and hitchiking boats will be a day of January 2009...(is all I know myself for the moment!!)
Anxious?a bit yes..of course!Happy???..AS CAN BE!!!The start of a very long journey....throught Universe I'd say!(From my cycling point of view!)
I was waiting fot this moment years and years!!!No rush,No plan As THE PLAN,I will enjoy to the fullest....Delight every moment if I need more time here or there I will surely take it......
Settle a bit in somewhere to enjoy more the view..the smell...the peoples...,work here or there..wonder and live with mother Nature when I will feel it...

I don't fix any "returning date" as it will take the time it will take I let the future decide about sorting theses things out...
I might die too cycling around...for many reasons,well,will be my destiny..that's it,what is done is done.....end of the story...

As I will cycle soon ( 5 january) to Montpellier passing by the Canal du Midi, it will be my third time!!!..enjoyable path beside the water..peacefull(NO cars!),birds, lot of history.. a link :http://www.canalmidi.com/ ... I go to Montpellier to meet back..gues who'??? Jibi!!!!..that is going to stay at Vanessa and Mathis (her son)Sani the cat,(Vanessa host both of usearlyer on like... a month ago!when we was riding togheter) George will leave this time Cat and Bob home..he exchange both for DD..his girlfriend!!! from Malaysia that he meet several months ago while he was overthere,she came to meet him back and he wanna make her discover Europe and great football match!!.hehe DD loves football...guess what!George too!I will enjoy this occation to spend and echange more with Jibi..meet DD,meet back Vanessa and son and take more time to enjoy and echanges ideas cause last time I meet Vanessa 4 hours and stay at her place 2days!!!!

From there I will cycle back to Toulouse (expected arriving 14/15 january). ...not much of leaving party I dont feel i .....sort last things out at home...and then....push the gas up..and TAKE OFF! for England ...going first to Bordeaux folowing the Canal still and then go North..folowing the coastal line cycling with the view on the infinite horizon line!!!! that will be my route..!!

Equipement..

2008-12-29T16:23:00.000-08:00

The equipement that I have as been collected throught the years and the travels,throught the rubbish and imagination too....
Got a bit from everywhere and tryed to do the perfect mix actually with all that stuff.
A sample of my equipement my bike is from England (Dawes,Discovery_bought it while I was working there 4 years ago!!),sleeping bag(mamouth till -5 bought it in Svalbard),stove MSR(Svalbard),russian tea cup in iron (present from russians seamans),foldable plastic glass with measure(xmas present,thanks to my brother and girlfriend) Victorinox multitool knife,(thanks to my brother and girlfriend),some Decathlon(crappy shop) equipement bought it years ago for my first trip in Corsica.
I did buy lately ,the last "big needs" as waterproof and breatheable pants..jacket...a winter cyclist pant,gas for MSR,)... for a good safe departure (around Europe for the moment)
In complicated situation about space on my bike ,I am still confuse about getting a tent right now,I actually prefer to get Preston befor buying such material as tent..and few others compementary needs(sleeping mat,some more clothes,tools....)..cause i will see..things on another point of view when i will be will Cat and Bob!
Actually gotta see if the tent I am might be about to buy...fit on the bike..if it does...it could be great ..but I do not think so..i will found a solution later on..to chek in a shop on the road..when i will be..with my bike with me..i think i will check it actually when i will got to the shop..on my bike,when i will go to get my future bag(camelback MULE)that I ordered in this shop ...a really good one...le vieux campeur ,quality, salsperson listening to your need (never ever had bad experience there)

My equipement will indeed broke, mute..change through the kilometers,the weathers,the specific need of lands...I will surely find ,exchange or buy (and might be loose...hopefully not)here and there along the road,....road provide road takes...like my new tyres found by the canal du midi on a bike that was beside pretty broken but brand new tyres on it..same sizes as mine!!! What a found!!!..and great laught with Jibi when we took them off!!....just at a time when my tires starting to get really slick and really used..

IF the tent I am about to buy do no fit..on the bike I am going to with...I will manage without and find shelter for most of the nights....until Preston

Jibi!!Cat,Bob...(And Me !!)

2008-12-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

I have since my early age a certain admiration for nomads and travelling peoples,everytime seeing peoples on bike,horse,hitchiking..boat...All i was doing was to run,cycle faster ..to meet them ..echange..to know what they did pass throught...what they lived ..mooving everydays..dreaming of one day that I could travel same peacefull way...

I had the chance a month ago to meet Jibi (the wonderfing spirit,called by the american indians)
a magic and clever person,always ready to discover what is along the road riding his bike!!!
As retired from the Navy,George(for the papers) need action and adrenaline even by 60 (fakes)y.old...
He contacted me thougt the couchsurfing community and I had the pleasure to welcome him home and travelling along the Canal du Midi with him was also just incredible.....SO much,I ve learn..so much travelling with him(in this short week spend togheter) ,is for that I am deeply glad I meet a traveler as Jibi!!!!!
Travelling since his adolescence he hitchiked earlyer on and cycle in most of his travels..
Lately jibi "finished" a world trip that lasted 3 years ,and 47 000kilometers done,passing so many countries,meeting so many peoples..enjoyed amazing lanscapes...
He has done it with Cat and Bob...2 simples machines to most of us,but the best friends of George for the last 3 years, what a friendship!....completing each others...they traveled the WORLD!!!
Knowing that I was going around the world,and I was currently looking for a touring bike
Jibi..offered me to take his friends for a turn...but what a turn....a TURN AROUND THE WORLD!!!!How can I say no!!!
He told me that a like 2 week before chrismas.....What a happyness,what a luck that I meet and host Jibi (throught Csurfing)...
Giving me his bike,jibi is giving me freedom,the chance to get a wider vision of this world...thanks you jibi!!!
From Now..I know a little more myself ..where I am going...Preston,England

How......

2008-12-27T13:48:00.000-08:00

On my bike I feel like flying.....a wonderfull sensation...getting the air on my face,going downhill ..makes me cry....so much,makes me cry of happiness..been free,enjoying the present....Nature,a bike...and a men..I found it logical..a human travelling humanly...coming in peace..without noise and pollution...

Living in a world....full of technologie..of progress....where everything is going too fast...I decided to experiment to be nomad(once again)...travelling like before the first plane got created...
Travelling this way,I will have to across the seas sailing,hitchiking boats on every harbour where there seems a chance to go on for a ride across the Seas and Oceans.
As (apprenctice) fisherman myself while in Norway,seeing the sea...sailing,feeling the mooves in my stomach of the Nature make me feel alive more than ever..after this experience,sailing has been an addiction.

While I will be on the road cycling....I will camp,sleep where seems good for me to do,the beach,the forest..and so many funny places(boats,strow,caravan,might be ice hotel,refuges,trees...) on the road....I will enjoy also of spontaneious hospitality, and I will surely contact active members of couchsurfing and hospitalityclub....

Susteining myself,I will need food(and a lot) while I will be in the nature I will harvest and get wild fruits,fish too,get everyting that I know can be eaten..at least ... While in the city I will prefer to check in the rubbish(shop,restaurant,food market....)before going to buy at the shop or the restaurant cause I do believe we are consuming too much and there is much good food in many hidden places of the city....(talking about Europe and such places) then I will be purchasing my food supplies... simply where I can..cause i do believe in Africa there is no food in the rubbish as we can experience here........

And I do believe too_Nothing comes easy,nothing comes fast..

why?

2008-12-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

Why there should be a reason for anything?

Cause I am adrenaline adiccted???Cause I am probably dreaming of it since so long.... cause it make me live since my first hairs grown,cause it's my destiny...I still don't know myself... might be cause I am lost in a strange world made of machines controling everyone...where everything seems so fake...

Waking up everydays and getting the day to his fullest,cause it's HERE cause it's NOW...cause there will be no other...uniqueness of the place,of the peoples,I have nothing to miss on my bike....my time as another value ..another value than monetary...A precious value that I would exchange for nothing in the world..

After so many nights dreaming of it ,here I am ,facing the truth observating and experiencing...ready to live...my life...my dream,the experience of been a men in this world....
I do have this chance right here right now,so I will not miss a thing......

Couchsurfing and Hospitality.

2008-12-24T05:08:00.001-08:00

Hospitality...what a world!!
Hopitality has been the word of many travelers helping them in very long journeys since so long...All along the road..anywhere anytime,hospitality,a feeling,a natural heat,making peoples help and know each others getting in tuch with locals and discover their culture,traditions,sharing,learning,experiencing,with peoples Wwhp wanna share and discover,opening their heart and houses to unknown peoples..passing by...travelling.
Now that the technologie is everywhwere..internet in most of houses....meeting and hosting or staying at some hospitable peoples place became mutch easyer...
I am,myself,glad to host peoples when I can...for sure,but not only people from the holy net....is for that I am apart of a wonderfull community witch is connecting the travelers and such called couchsurfing.com and I am apart also of Hospitalityclub.org not much of difference between this 2 websites..only the way it's manage and organise.
The possibility to find peoples that are travelling and on the road is also easyer,to then,might be travel toghether..to satify our addiction to the Road in common...

Wanna know more???...

Just click on the link to the couchsurfing http://www.couchsurfing.com/
My profile on Cs:http://www.couchsurfing.com/people/xav
Hc:http://www.hospitalityclub.org/
My profile on Hc:http://secure.hospitalityclub.org/hc/travel.php?cid=xav84

A year ago.....

2008-12-11T23:56:00.000-08:00

From the LEEMITI

A year ago I was in the total darkness, in Bugøynes,a fishing community 100kilometers from Kirkenes (the main city in Finnmark.) Surrounded by water on both sides and fjords you can see and observ on kilometers just unspoiled nature,so pure,so silent.It is after 2 hours(by bus) about that you can reach Bugøynes ,after the last turn and a way down, you can start to see the lights and getting closer of this little fishing community of 250peoples lost in the wild nature...Cold,dark....beautifull, it is in peace and harmony that peoples live there....
Most of the incomes comes from fishing that make live this village, fishermans ,processing plan workers,transporter and many more peoples....
There is also a reendeer processing plan...a school,a church,a shop, a pub open some time to time and smaller shop witch is post office also and few more instalations...
The winter the fishing is based on Red king crab..,this crab has been imported by the russians scientists from the Kamtchatka to the Barents Sea about 30 years ago, peoples started fishing it in Norway 8 years ago.
I was in charge of cooking splitting,cleaning and many more tasks while i was at work and it was interesting, I did learn a lot working there. (http://www.redkingcrab.com )
Working and trying to save some monney...dreaming every night..and day of my future journey...the Turn around the world on bicycle...that is obessing me...a dream that is about to become true, and I don t realise yet what s happening to me...but here I am...

Polar circle,Magic place

2008-09-29T17:11:00.000-07:00

The Polar circle is to me ..another world,wild,powerfull..a strange and magic place where I enjoyed to stay for this long cause this beauty,where nature is everywhere you look,everywhere you walk,anytime you think you are dreaming,when the Auroras lights up this dark sky full of stars,dancing and going from green to red passing by pink and purple above my head ,going mad and faster and faster ......and deseaper in a deep silence and freezing temperatures...just as it came,the Nature showed me her power many times and glad I was there!!!
By mid january the sun comes back and it is like to reborn....a unique feeling..untill that there is no more night,a time...when everything get confuse just like in the Polar night...when should i get some sleep???and dream? wait... am I allready in some kind of fantastic dream?

The Trifon.

2008-09-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

The Trifon is a boat of 10meters on 4 that went as far as the lofotens Island for a season or two cuple of years ago.
The capitain..Sir Yngve Pedersen is fishing only around the Varanger fjord when it is the crab season and going a little further on the way to the Barents sea when it's the cod fishing season.
I use to work on this boat for 10 weeks....,I was so glad ,to take off the rops..everydays..to ...sail...go on.,on the sea...breath pure air...and observ the Nature...
Picking up the nets..by 2H00 the morning and seeing the sun rising, this is probably an image that will stay in my head for ever.....

Back "home"....

2008-09-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

After 15 months spend in the Polar Circle,I came back home,where I was born and raised near Toulouse..where my parents still living, hitchiking for 5 months throught Scandinavia,and Estern Europe until Istanbul and I am currently preparing my turn around the world on bicycle....

My polar circle experience was one of the most powerfull and interesting experience ever had,the purity, the beauty,the silence ...

I went there without knowing about anything almost...just reading a book about work and travel...and that there was possiblities of work also....,fishing was in my mind at first cause I do love to be on a boat and work too ,and why not there,challenge is all I love....

It did t went this way at first I worked in processing crab factory,Bugøynes kongerkrabbe,hey what is the kongerkrabbe? how many peoples lives in Bugøynes???