48K for a 48th birthday

I decided, that in honor of my 48th Birthday, I would do some-thing that I had not done before.

For this special day, Thursday, June 10, 2010, I determined, as my challenge, to bike ride for 48 Kilometers.

And I did!

On a hill above Lörrach-Stetten on our way to Adlehausen. I am in Germany, the cows are in Switzerland.

I never tire of the wonder of being in two countries at once!

Taking a break in Adelhausen. We had just completed level 4 and 5 hills to get here. The water was a welcome addition as we had almost finished our own.

We made it down the hill to Schopfheim for a mid-morning refreshment and enjoyed some people watching. Hit a top speed of 57 kph coming down the hill ... I love speed, but I love my skin too, so I slowed down a bit ...,

Happy birthday to me ... I had fun!

now what shall I do next year?

SLOW UP.ch

On September 20, the 3rd Basel-Dreiland slowUp ride was held. It was a ride composed of three loops through the three countries here in the corner of our world. The total loop was 59.4 km divided into a West, Mitte, and East loop. Paul and I rode the western most route, 21.9km, plus the mileage of getting to the starting point and back. So it was a nice day with stops along the way for food and music. real party scene.

Here I am just after crossing from Germany into France by the World's Longest pedestrian and bike bridge in the World! (source: Guinness)

More bikers crossing the Rhine and enjoying the day.

the off ramp, weee, fun

heading towards home....

..and dogs ride for free!

kool logo shots.

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Schluchseelauf May 9, 2009

The location of our 18K occurred about an hour north of us in the Black Forest. Good thing the surrounds are beautiful and flat and that I had a great walking buddy or it would have been an extremely long afternoon around the Schluchsee. However, I knew it was going to turn out to be a good day as we left Rümmingen with plenty of time. Time enough that we stopped at a Floemarkt for about thirty minutes; which was long enough for me to pick up a small wooden hand crank coffee grinder with Schwarzwald written on it plus the fifty or so years' worth of grease to add to its "antique" value. I also picked up a cold-war era gas mask for 5 euro's...don't ask, it was for Paul. And he was thrilled!

Group warm-ups 15 minutes before start time at 2 pm

Another walking buddy of our group, red shirt and back pack.

And we are off!

A look across the lake to where we will be in about an hour.

My walking buddy Susi. We made it to the end of the See. Now we need to turn the corner and head up the far side.

Walking the end of the See.

The American flag caught my eye from across the lake! and upon looking closer I saw drums, so I thought there must be fifes there as well. And sure enough after we turned the corner to walk up the far side of the See we heard the fifes and drums playing. I even knew the tunes and it help me walk alittle faster, as they were playing a quicker march tempo.

We made it to the other end of the Schluchsee, now for a break of bananas and Iso drink.

This is at the other end of the See...

and the view behind me...breathing taking. We have 10K more to walk.

At Aha, we are almost there..about 5K left..we are getting leg tired.

The last break at Aha, before the final push....

we could have taken a sail boat around the See, but we walked....

...and finished in THREE hours! Yahoo for us!

I must add that during the last 5K my thoughts were on a verse..."I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!" and I kept walking...So thanks Jesus!

Month of Malaise, March

I am continually amazed at how it is the seemingly little things that make all the difference in the undercurrent of a culture. Take the example of attitude toward health and sickness vs school attendance. March has been our month of sickness. We have had atleast one child home, three out of the four weeks of March and as we are approaching the Easter holidays in April and I still have one in the bed and all three are finishing up their antibiotics tomorrow. So a lot of school time has been missed. I really cannot believe those words are coming from me, but I am concerned about this; I, who am a homeschooler at heart and who thinks that organized school rooms classes with 23+ plus kids is too much for sanity. But I ramble....

The point of this cultural observation:
Stryker-Ann has been sick and has missed two solid weeks of school. I have emailed one of her head teachers, and I stopped and spoke to her French teacher today. BOTH responded the same: yes she may have some work...but it is more important for her to stay quiet and to get well.
My American culture of: you must go to school or work at all cost of health peaked out and could not believe it ears. You mean really just don't worry about it and get better? What about all of those days missed? get healthy, the work will be there when you return healthy.
From Wils' teacher I recieved the same response, and I am sure if I asked Vaden's it would be the same as well.

I am really liking this attitude of: health really does mean something and the understanding that it does take time to heal some illnesses; which is a part of life. Unlike the attitude of the American culture, that illness is a form of weakness and infringes on ones independent life style. Remember in school, the kids that got an award for not missing a day of school the whole year? I have a friend who received one. I also remember a girl receiving an award for not having missed a day of school her whole high school years. On first analysis this is fantastic and it really is amazing no matter how you look at it, but underlying it is a work ethic that puts all else aside, it is one of the building blocks for future ill health. Now if the child is truely not sick then great, but it is that attitude of I must at all cost to my health and the health of others around me go to work, school, etc. What are we really saying when we do this?

The life here seems to encourage that, if you are sick you stay home and get better, there are enough sick days to cover it, you are a better worker, student if you are healthy. My home culture seems to say..hey you lazy bum, you are not really that sick, are you? It is a real inconvenience and besides you only have so many days to be sick so you better pull your self together and get in to work or school.

Please don't think that because of this attitude toward health, all is peaceful....I'll blog next about the Abitur Prufungen which are the Senior's exams.