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Jim Cochran

Jim Cochran

📍 Englanti Lue lisää🇺🇸Iowa City
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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024
      1111

      🚴‍♀️🇫🇷Fall along the Canal🇫🇷🚴

      22. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

      4:56 / 66 miles / 2,110 ft. Lisa and I had a great ride along the Canal Latéral à la Garonne, starting from our Airbnb about 65 miles north of Agen, FR. The morning began with rain, so we relaxed with multiple breakfasts and a brunch until 11:30 AM when we checked out. Our host, thrilled to have us for two days, shared her dream of visiting the United States. As the rain eased, we snapped a picture together before hitting the road.
      We cycled through scenic hillsides (reminding us of Iowa), passing fields of drying sunflowers still holding onto a bit of their bright yellow, familiar September corn with brown leaves all most ready for harvest, and rows of plum trees, many already harvested but still adorned with a random lingering purple fruit. Eventually, we descended to Marmande, FR and the flat canal path, making great time in the sunshine with a slight tailwind. For lunch, we stopped to enjoy our packed ham sandwich , hummus, chips, beet salad, peanuts, and a slightly chilled beer. We reached Agen around 5:30 PM and relaxed at Velo Café with a drink. Just as we settled on the patio under the canvas tent, a downpour began, so we waited it out before heading to our Warmshowers host. The evening with Mathilde was relaxing as we sat around the table enjoying—black bean chili, rice, tea, chocolate, and sheep cheese, plums (fresh and slightly dried) paired with great conversation. Mathilde is a teacher of 3-5 year old children, and has a classroom of 16 children she teaches French and Occitan (a language closer to Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian than French. spoken mainly in the southern regions) After Mathilde’s grandmother’s herbal tea we were ready for bed! As the leaves begin to change and flutter to the path along the canal on this first day of fall, we’ve settled into a private room, ready for a good night's rest. More rain predicted for tomorrow morning. 😒 A short video of parts of the day: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAP4a-jMYeu/?igs…      Lue lisää

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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024

      🍇🇫🇷 A Rest Day in the Countryside 🇫🇷🌻

      21. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

      2:18 / 28 miles / 2,000ft. During our visit to the Upper Hamlet of Plum Village, we were immersed in the peaceful atmosphere Thich Nhat Hanh created. We strolled through the tranquil bamboo garden, where the golden fall leaves fluttered gently to the ground. We stopped for a few moments on the wooden benches to enjoy the peacefulness. At the lotus pond, we were captivated by the graceful koi and a curious muskrat, who seemed to enjoy our quiet presence. We also visited the giant bell tower and meditation hall, feeling a deep sense of connection to the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. I briefly helped a resident fix a flat tire on their bicycle, adding a moment of mindfulness to the day. Despite the cloudy weather, the skies were beautiful, and we could feel Thich Nhat Hanh's spirit all around us. From Upper Hamlet we set off on our bikes to Thénac, pedaling through the picturesque French countryside towards Saussignac and Sigoulès. Along the way, we soaked in the peaceful scenery of vineyards and rolling hills. In Sigoulès, we stopped to pick up groceries for a pasta dinner, and our supplies for breakfast before continuing our journey to Lower Hamlet, the nunnery of Plum Village. The visit to Lower Hamlet was serene and meaningful. We explored the grounds, appreciating the quiet beauty and the spirit of mindfulness. We bought a couple of writings featuring Thich Nhat Hanh’s quotes, a small souvenir for Sebastian, and a jar of homemade plum jam to help support the nunnery. During our visit to lower hamlet, we were lucky enough to witness one of the nuns inviting the bell. When the bell was struck, everyone stopped what they were doing, and took a moment to take some breaths and enjoy the silence. After our visit, we cycled back toward our Airbnb, and along the way we met two men from the Czech Republic, who were biking from Prague to Lisbon. Upon returning to our Airbnb we enjoyed cooking a cozy pasta dinner together, reflecting on another great day together. After dinner, we took a brief walk up the hill to enjoy the colors of the sunset. ❤️Lue lisää

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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024

      🌻Plum Village: Do you know who Thây was?

      20. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

      3:53 / 41 miles / 2,369 ft. We set off from Landline, FR at 11:00 AM (our latest start so far), riding along a canal in a light morning rain through the picturesque countryside towards Bergerac and Plum Village, a Zen monastery, founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, “Thây” pronounced “Tie”, (1926-2022). As we passed fields of golden corn and drying sunflowers, their heads heavy and ready for harvest, We saw, on the hillsides) millions of grapes ripening in nearby vineyards, soon to be harvested and transformed into wine.

      In Bergerac, we took a leisurely tour of the historical city, marveling at the half-timbered houses and winding medieval streets. We stopped at a small kebab shop, and to our pleasure, they served a version of “tacos” we had tried on our previous tour, and we were excited to sample them again. Enjoying our unconventional lunch of tortillas, folded around kebab meat and french fries, including lettuce and tomatoes, we discussed our route to Plum Village and Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on mindfulness and his lifelong work promoting peace. I read “Being Peace” one of his 100+ books he has written, over 30 years ago. Today, his philosophy of living in the present moment felt especially poignant as we pedaled on this serene part of the world where he spent many of his days after being exiled from Vietnam. The rolling hills, farms, and other scenery reminded us a bit of Northeast Iowa and parts of Wisconsin. Later, we passed by the Château de Barradius, its stone towers standing proudly over the rolling hills that we could see for nearly 2 miles as we climbed towards them. We couldn’t resist buying a bottle of their famed red wine to enjoy later with our planned cheesy potato dinner. As we continued toward Plum Village, I reflected on Thich Nhat Hanh’s belief that true peace begins within. As pedals continued to make the harmonic revolution to push me forward through the quiet countryside and under the clear sky, his message seemed as relevant as ever, a reminder of harmony in a world often filled with conflict. We stopped by upper Hamlet and explored a little bit, and I did ask one of the monks if we could come back and walk around the grounds tomorrow. He said that that would not be a problem. We rode the last couple of miles to our Airbnb, cooked dinner together, enjoyed the bottle of wine, caught up with a few friends through text messaging, and FaceTimed our moms. ❤️ If you have never heard of Thich Nhat Hanh I recommend you watch this 27 minute video sometime https://youtu.be/DRObW9noiVk?si=cvfCN7RZcLicys4I. Good news FindPenguins has changed their policy and now I can upload 20 images. Also, I created a little video about the ride yesterday. Maybe you can watch it here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAJTCB6MR6T/?igs…

      Tomorrow is a rest day, and we will explore the area around Plum Village.🌻      Lue lisää

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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024
      11

      🇪🇸🇫🇷Some Various Churches🇮🇹🇨🇭

      20. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

      We never get tired of seeing the beautiful churches of Europe. 😀

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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024

      🇫🇷☀️Corrèze & Dordogne Districts ☀️🇫🇷

      19. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

      5:51 / 71 miles / 4,352 Riding 70 miles through the scenic Corrèze district of France is an unforgettable experience. The day began with mist rising from the hills, and as we pedaled through the rolling countryside, we passed charming stone villages, thick forests, and quiet, winding rivers. The terrain was a mix of gentle inclines and exhilarating descents, offering stunning views of the green valleys below. Small roads led us past fields of sunflowers and cows grazing peacefully. We stopped at local bakeries and cafés along the way, refueling with fresh croissants and strong coffee. As the miles passed, the challenge of the ride became more rewarding, with each hill climb revealing a new breathtaking vista. The tranquility of the countryside, with its old stone cottages and medieval churches, made the journey feel like a step back in time. By the time we arrived in Lalinde, in the Dordogne region, we were tired but satisfied. Our Airbnb, a cozy, rustic home, was a perfect retreat for the evening. We topped off the day with a well-earned pizza dinner, savoring the simple joy of good food after a long, beautiful ride. It was the perfect end to a day spent exploring the picturesque French countryside on two wheels.Lue lisää

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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024

      😀🚴🇫🇷Finally Some Warmth!🇫🇷🚴☀️

      18. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

      6:21 / 78 miles / 6,600 ft. This was one of our longer days in mileage, and also one of our tougher days of climbing. The sunshine and warmer weather, along with the beautiful scenery of the Cantal District would help the miles go by quickly. After nine days in legwarmers, I finally took them off because the temperature is warm enough! The Cantal area of France is absolutely fantastic. “The Cantal district of France is a hidden gem, boasting stunning volcanic landscapes, rolling green hills, and charming medieval villages. Its serene valleys, craggy peaks, and tranquil lakes create a captivating blend of rugged beauty and pastoral tranquility, perfect for nature lovers seeking unspoiled, picturesque scenery. The cows of Cantal, primarily of the Salers breed, are renowned for their rich milk, which is essential for producing the famous Cantal cheese. With their striking mahogany coats and sweeping horns, they graze the lush volcanic pastures of the region. Their hardy nature and deep connection to the land reflect Cantal's agricultural heritage.”(Thanks ChatGPT) We got to our airbnb about 5:30 PM, and I took a quick dip in the saltwater swimming pool as Lisa watched me with goosebumps. Our Airbnb was a cute little renovated stone cottage. We had a microwavable lasagna, some other cheeses, olives, and bread. For dessert, we devoured a large chocolate bar. Tomorrow will be another long day of about 70 miles, but the weather is predicted to be very nice.Lue lisää

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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024

      🇧🇪 Hugo 🇫🇷 Les Fadas de Puy Mary

      17. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

      Hugo! Passion, kindness, generosity, love, enthusiasm, friendship, sharing, friend, and love of cycling only begin to explain this expat Belgian living in the Cantal district of France. Hugo fell in love with the Cantal area years ago,and with the beautiful scenery, kind people, and awesome cycling we could easily see why this was his choice for retirement. He has become the organizer of a cycling challenge (not a race!) called the “Les Fadas de Puy Mary” (the fools of the Puy Mary) http://lesfadasdupuymary.eu/html/English/LinksE… it is a challenge to do some of the steep passes (Cols) of the area near Saignes, FR. I highly recommend if you are one of our Warmshower hosts in France. You look this up and try the challenge! I want to remember everything about our experience with Hugo. He is so passionate about his fountain pen writing, his history in the sport of cycling, promoting cycling touring, and sharing his passion for life… oh yeah, he has a shoe invention he is trying to develop, but I have to keep this top-secret. We had an awesome dinner while listening to music. Green soup and the famous dish from the Cantal area called “aligot,” I dare you to look it up and try to make it. It was absolutely delicious mashed potatoes mixed with some special cheese. We had to cut it to eat it! The night was topped off in our own private bedroom with a private bathroom for us with snoopy pillowcases. Ha ha ha! In the morning, we shared more stories, ate bread on our Cantal placemats, and enjoyed some delicious coffee. After breakfast, Hugo led us out of the village along our path toward Jugeals-Nazareth, FR (our next Airbnb.) There are definitely more stories to come about Hugo and we hope to visit him again someday soon! 😀❤️Lue lisää

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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024
      1

      🇫🇷🚴🥶Cold➡️Climbs➡️Cantal 🥶🚴‍♀️🇫🇷

      17. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

      5:25 / 64 miles / 6,542 ft. Saignes, France (The Cantal District) The 9th day of cold, mist, fog, and not the stunning blue skies we were expecting for September in France. Left our Warmshower host at about 9 AM. We knew we had a tough day ahead of us and the cold and misty weather was not going to make it any easier.
      A traditional breakfast of toast and various spreads along with a bowl of coffee to dip it in, got a little warmth in our bellies before we left. Right out of the driveway without any warm-up, we had a 9.6 mile climb of an average gradient of 5.4%. At least finishing this climb would knock off about 1/3 of our climbing for the day. We battled with staying warm, and not getting too sweaty. At one time I was wearing six layers of clothing as we were coming down from the pass and I could still feel the cold air cutting through them. Again, we took refuge in a cathedral from the elements, as we ate a couple of bananas and sipped on a Coke. This was to be one of our more beautiful days as far as scenery goes, but the foggy weather blocked out the stunning views we were hoping for. We did not see the Puy de Mary (an inactive volcano) today, which is the highest point in the Cantal district. Although we did not have the stunning views of the mountains and valleys, we still enjoyed the historical churches, the stone houses, and the fresh air of the mountains. The romanesque basilica of Orcival was amazing, and we chatted with another bicycle tourist as we enjoyed the historical village. With all of the difficult riding, we were worried that we would not make it to our Warmshower host before 7 PM. Luckily, we had tailwinds that pushed us along and we reached Saignes, FR at about 5:15 PM. We found a place near the center of the village next to the centrally located church and had a beer. We reached out to Hugo, our Warmshower host, and within one minute he was joining us. We had an absolutely wonderful night at Hugo’s house. See the post titled “Hugo.”      Lue lisää

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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024

      Signs near Signes, FR

      16. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      I decided to show a few pictures of some signs that we see frequently, or ones that we like. I’m a little bit behind on posting about our days, but going to try to catch up tonight.

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    • Europe 🚴🚴‍♀️ 2024
      1

      Ruins and Clermont-Ferrand

      16. syyskuuta 2024, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

      4:57 / 53 miles / 4,300 ft. Off to Clermont-Ferrand ( pop. ~150,000 ) This is one city that we could name all along our trip that people would recognize .We were excited to reach the city as we always are, but then the craziness of rush-hour and road construction made us wish for the countryside again. We did find our way to the center of the city near the Cathedral, which was built with lava rock, so it has a black dirty limestone look. Again, the weather was not cooperative and we have been using most of our cold weather cycling gear. We try to snap pictures when the sky is blue, although we are often shivering to keep our bodies warm. We did find our way to Château de Mauzun, we took a nice hike together and enjoyed the view of the valley through the archway of the ruins. These are some of our favorite times. We enjoyed the small alleyways of Billom, FR, and again enjoyed the evening again with our Warmshower hosts Florence and Pierre. We had lesson on cheese, and home a cooked dinner. Florence and Pierre did a very long bicycle trip with their three boys many years ago in South America and Florence wrote a very nice book about the adventure. Another highlight of the day was when Lisa got on the wheel of a SDWorks pro rider, and stay with her until the top of the climb! 😀🚴‍♀️⛰️Lue lisää

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