Better Together

We’re a week out from the trip, but for Lauren it started today – sort of. She’s on her way to Scotland right now for a week with family before we meet up in Copenhagen next week. So she’s packed, tickets purchased, itinerary finalized…as much as it can be at this point.

We spoke on the phone yesterday, and unsurprisingly, she’d thought of everything. There’s no need to say things like “don’t forget your passport” to Lauren – she’s a planner. She’s as organized and practical as anyone I’ve ever met, and that’s why even though there are lots of things that could go wrong, I’m not really worried. I know Lauren has a plan and a backup plan. A map on her phone and a paper one just in case. Ferry schedules reviewed and tickets purchased. Receipts retained. And if something unexpected happens, she’ll calmly weigh all the options and make a rational decision. She’s got the details.

I, on the other hand, have very few details. But I have ideas. More than we can do. More than we can afford. And at least half aren’t good ideas anyway. But Lauren listens to them all and considers them and works them into the itinerary where we can, and as she puts it – I make every day more complicated but also much better. As long as she keeps track of the details, I’ll keep having ideas and talking to strangers. And keeping the blog, my idea which Lauren is patiently tolerating.

Maybe this is why we’ve been friends for so long. We complement one another, in the best possible ways. The thing I’m looking forward to the most about this trip is spending two weeks with Lauren. We haven’t travelled together since the 1980s – which should scare me a little bit, but with Lauren it doesn’t. We’ve been friends for so long that when we see one another, we pick up where we left off, and as old as we are we still feel a little bit like kids. At least I do.

The last time we traveled together – 1989, from Vienna to Paris by train. I may still have that scarf.

One week to go, old friend!

And in the meantime…

Training continues. And that too is better together. Last weekend I biked 20 miles each day, with a different friend each day. There was conversation, laughter – basically a visit on wheels. Training didn’t feel like something I had to do; it was something I happened to be doing while spending time with people I like. Of course we talked a lot about the trip and there was plenty of encouragement and sharing of travel and biking trips – and I felt great after each ride.

Everyone should be lucky enough to have a former boss who becomes a friend and mentor. Bonus points if he’s also a biker!

Today I biked alone. 18 miles with 25 lbs of cargo. Let’s just say it’s a good thing today was a big news day and the radio was interesting.

Even training is better together.

Here’s a little pre-ride peek from today – and a trial run at posting video to this blog. Yes, I’ve waited until the last minute to see whether that works!