Our (canceled) plan / Rome to Barcelona
February 14, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ -13 °C
This was our tentative plan that was canceled near the end of March due to the coronavirus. ☹️
New playhouse lights
May 8, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Installed some blue LED solar light on the playhouse. 😀
Iowa Gravel
May 9, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Pat McKay Rode with us. We sported our buffs while riding. The I included some adventurous B-roads and cold beers in Pat’s backyard at the end.
Mother’s Day
May 11, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
We had a relaxing Mother’s day at home. Sebastian turned 17 on April 25th. We planted the Redbud tree in the background the year he was born.
Smoked Pork
May 14, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
I used my electric smoker to make some smoked pork and smoked salmon. lisa caught the salmon in the fall in Michigan while fishing with her brother Adam.
Trees and Landscaping
May 15, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We replaced the 45 year old tree that was wrongfully cut down in 2018 while we were touring in France with a Miyabe Maple. We also planted a Norwegian Weeping Spruce and did some landscaping aroundRead more
Firepit
May 17, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We enjoy having fires in the backyard, and Sebastian is at the age when he enjoys having friends over for a fire. This is one socially distancing thing he can enjoy with friends. We built a new fireRead more
Brown Cafe
May 18, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Drink our favorite U.S. beer out of some of our favorite Belgian glasses. 🇺🇸🇧🇪 Brown cafe = an establishment where the dishware and silverware may not match and your beer may or may not beRead more
Moby Dick
May 20, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
In 1931 my grandpa, Erwin Cochran read Moby Dick. I decided with so much time at home with social isolation I would try to conquer this read. I am finding my vocabulary level quite below Melville’s.Read more
German Marble in Dresden
May 24, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Last year (2019) we bought this marble at a flea market in Dresden, Germany. Today, I found you can text a picture to an expert and he’ll identify the marble for you. It’ a Germany stripedRead more
Iphone se & New App
May 25, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
I finally upgraded my iPhone 6s and was testing my new camera with a plant identification app.
Postel Abbey & Mol, Belgium
May 25, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Drinking a beer out of my favorite Belgian glass. Postel Abbey is near Mol, Belgium, one of our favorite places in the world. If you ever go, stay with Kristein & Peter at B&B Molmento! We drove outRead more
A Look Back at the 2019 Tour
May 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
I use the winter months to plan our tours extensively. I use a combination of mapping sites. Warmsowers.org, Airbnb, Couchsurfing, etc. I plan our routes and line up lodging. I then write outRead more
More LED Projects
May 26, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Lisa hung some new lights in the screened-in-porch and we both worked on getting some blue ones near the firepit.
Arrowhead Hunting
May 27, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
It had been awhile since I got out walking the fields of Iowa. I found one nice hide scraper and a bunch of flakes.
Westmalle Dubbel
May 28, 2020 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
Enjoying one of the best beers in the world on our screened in porch. We fell in love with this Trappist ale in Belgium and have been to the abbey to enjoy it locally too. A delightful taste if youRead more
Kitchen Remodel Begins
May 30, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Money saved from our canceled trip is being spent on house renovation. Starting with new countertops. What a mess! 😏
More Gravel Adventures
May 31, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Pat, Lisa, and I did a nice gravel loop through Downey, Iowa. We end with beers in our backyard.
COVID-19
June 2, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
A reminder of what is going on in the world as I ride my go-to-20 mile-loop, a “res loop. My “res loop” is a scenic 20 mile loop over the Coralville Reservoir (part of the Iowa River.)
100 Miles to See Mom
June 4, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
I left at 7am to ride mainly gravel to my hometown (Marshalltown) to visit my mom. Lisa drove over to give me a lift home ❤️. A beautiful ride which involved avoiding a thunderstorm, a “HaystackRead more
1 Year and a Day (Ingolstadt)
June 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Last year we met Meike and Herbert as the hosted us at their flat in Ingolstadt, DE. Unfortunately, they had to cut their 2019-2020 bicycle tour from Vancouver to the tip of South America short. TheRead more
Protesting / BLM / Weird Beer
June 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
George Floyd’s wrongful death has caused protesting and riots around the U.S. and world. Sebastian has joined the peaceful protesting. I enjoyed some free parking and strange beer, and am in supportRead more
Strawberry Moon
June 5, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
We drove out to the country to look at the Strawberry Moon (full moon of June) and stars with Sebastian. A very calm and enjoying evening together.
Sutliff Bridge Ride
June 6, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Pat, Lisa, and I did one of our favorite rides to Sutliff, Iowa. It is a 45 mile ride of mainly gravel, with a beer and food stop at the historic Sutliff Bridge. We met Doug at the pub and enjoyedRead more
Backyard BBQ & fun!
June 7, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
We had the McKays and their girls over for a BBQ and games and a fire in the backyard. Bummed I didn’t snap any photos. We’ll do it again soon and I’ll add photos. Pat and Lisa defeated Jim andRead more
TravelerI guess you have your plan ready for next year 😉