update in short

A lot has happened in the last almost two months. I have pages of notes, and many meg of photos to put up... one day, think it will have to wait until I'm back home in NZ.

In short
Flew to LA, where I had eight hours, so went to Santa Monica.
Then overnight flight arriving Nashville early in the morning. David picked me up. When we got to his place I realised I had left my phone plugged in at the airport recharging - phone call to the airport and driving back ment I got it back. Far to little time in Tennessee. It was me and his sons, his daughters weren't home.

Then New York for a few days. I couldn't get a place to stay with WarmShowers, but a member was able to help me find a hostel - thank you.

I was great weather, sunshine, and it started to rain as I was on the train to the airport.

On to Amsterdam, Helêne picked me up at Shiphol. The next few days was with extended family, and we met a man (Henk) who researhed the death of two of my uncles in WWII.

My father was with them both times, and Tonny, who we met.

Thanks to cousins, uncles and aunts.

1st October  began our trip to Spain, seems a long time ago now. Drove through France, spent one night there arriving San Sebastián in the evening, we had dinner on the beach, than to Pamplona, where spent our first two nights.
Since then we slept in many hostels, hotels, even a bungalow in a campground. With hosts from Couch Surfing and WarmShowers. We even spent a couple of nights in a Refugio on a mountain with no showers and candle light at night. A one night in a castle.

We have seen many things: mountains, forests, castles, museums, autovia, cathedrals. Met many people.

And now. Yesterday I separated from Helêne, she is in Barcelona where she had volunteered to work on a farm for just over a week, and I have gone to Almería, where I am posting this.

Tomorrow I go to Quesada, to stay with a WarmShowers host. Then (God willing) sort of following my sisters footsteps, but providing conversational English. The last big stop will be Barcelona.

Till the next post.
Jos

2012 Sep 20

2012 Sep 20

Last minute running around.
I need a new phone that will work overseas, especially as my old Panasonic's battery now barely lasts a day. So I got a Nokia 710, windows 7. I needed a new new sim, as this phone needs a micro sim, couldn't get the numbers off my old phone, so when I return to NZ will have to manually add them. Once U got the sim in, found the phone was sent up in German. German is not close enough to English and Dutch for me to recognise the words. After 10 minutes I managed to get it changed to English - the greeting when you start the voice mail is still in German, I'll need help with that when I fly back.

My parents are coming down to help with packing (a few weeks later I find that some things I put ready still got left behind :( never mind, too late now.

late posts

It has been ackward getting some posts to my blog. Both because a 'smart' phone is not the best thing to use for posting, and limited WiFi.
So will slowly drip feed as I get the chance.
Currently we are Avila, tomorrow we go to Madrid.

Leaving my bicycle behind

2012 September 20

Here my lovely bicycle sits, and there it will stay for the next two months as I go overseas for the first time in years. (My flatmates my move it if in the way)

My plan is to go first to the US if A, to meet a penpal in Tennesse I have never met, then a few days in New York, week with my sister catching up with family in the Netherlands, then to Spain by car.

So to all those I contact through warmshowers, I know it is for cycle touris.ts, but travelling with my sister that is not going to work out, you can check out my cool bicycle here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtbNth29e8w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z0HPvnNV9o

Next time I hope to take it with my.

(As I type this I sit in Santiago de Compostela, and it has been raining the last couple of days, so I am pleased to have a roof over my head.)