Backpackjack’s Weblog

Well, I made it!  It was a whirlwind of a month and I’m glad to be home.  I counted the number planes, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and ferries I’ve been on in the last month.  Quite a list I must say.  For those of you that know me, you know I can sleep anywhere, anytime, which proved to come in handy!  Plus I decided that if I had to stare at one more beer I’d probably lose it.  Between Octoberfest and the Maloney’s…sheesh!   Not to mention backpackjack is about ready to kick that thing to the curb. 

All in all I had a wonderful trip.  There were so many different aspects crammed into one vacation.  The biking leg seems like it was forever ago.  Being on the move on my own and then with Chris was a blast.  The last week in London with my family was very special.  We did some of the sights like the London Eye (huge ferris wheel overlooking the river Thames).  Dad took us on a special tour of Lloyd’s of London.  It’s amazing the security that surrounds all these things in London now.  It’s very different than in was when I was there in 1996.  The world has changed much in that short period of time.  I arrived home Friday night and so happy to fall into my own bed. 

Now back at work with 3 workout days under my belt, I can barely walk!  It was worth every minute of it.  Thank you for reading and taking an interest in my adventure!  Call me…I’m home

Love,

Jackie

Been so long since I wrote!  The last time I wrote I was headed to Octoberfest in Stuttgart with my cousin   Well…low and behold I drank a ton of beer and had a ton of fun!  After Chris and I took a train from Stuttgart to Berlin we met up with my great family friends the Ventzkes.  I hadn’t seen them since 1994 and it was such a great runion!  We spent three days touring around the city.  I have been to Berlin 3 times before and every time I’ve been there it has been so different.  I was there in 1988 before the wall fell, 1990 just after the wall fell, and 1994 after east and west have attempted to unite.  It’s been hard on my friends the Ventzke’s for many reasons, to be explained later.  All in all we had a great time seeing the new sights as money has been dumped into east Berlin since the fall of the wall. 

Chris and I then took an overnight train from Berlin to Paris.  That was a bit of a nightmare as I had to share a sleeping car with 3 other stinky boys!  I guess 4 other stinky boys as Chris didn’t scare me too much.  The others….ewe.  Anyway, 12 hours later we made it to Paris.  We dumped our stuff off at our hotel and wandered around the city for the rest of the day.  I LOVE Paris!  I was a little on the tired side but we went up the Eiffel tower, saw Napoleon’s tomb, walked along the river Seine all in the first afternoon.  We had a great dinner in one of the famous areas of Paris, the Rue du Cler.  Day two we hit the streets hard and saw all the rest of the big sights.  Including the Louvre (Mona Lisa), the Orssay museum (impressionist), the Pantheon (Focoult’s pendulum), the Latin quarter, Luxembourg gardens, and so much more.  It was awesome!  We ended up at an Irish Pub in the Latin quarter and partied until 4:30 am on the last night in Paris.  Had to go out with a bang!  The next morning we caught a train to Calais and took a ferry across the English Channel to the White Cliffs of Dover.  It was a bit of an ordeal as I was trying to get to London to meet the rest of my family for a big family party.  Chris and I took 2 subway trains out of Paris, 2 train rides to Calais, a taxi to the ferry, a bus onto the ferry, a ferry to Dover, a bus from Dover to the train station, a train to London, and the frickin’ crowded tube (3 trains) to Uxbridge where my Uncle Pete lives.  My Dad picked us up and took us to the party.  I rallied and stayed up partying with my English family until the wee hours.  It was so great to see family I haven’t seen for years and years!  I have now been in London for a couple of days and enjoying not having to get on a train every day.  The fact that everyone speaks English is a bonus too.  I will be home in a few days but I’m enjoying the last few days of my journey with my sisters and family.  Love you all!

Jackie

Hi to all!  Well, my stay in Italy is over.  I spent a second day there and traveled to the lovely city of Siena.  It was definitely worth the day trip, and it was way easier than Rome would have been.  It is a beautiful medevil city, quite touristy, but not as bad as Florence.  My stay with the Blowers (Dads friends) was lovely and they made me feel quite at home.  Catherine took me to the train station to catch an overnight train on Tuesday around 10:30 pm.  I told her she could just drop me off but she insisted on coming in with me.  So there we are, staring up at the departures screen and I cant find my train.  I hand Catherine my ticket and she starts swearing in four languages…”WRONG STATION!”  Ah crap, off we run (which is quite a site with a 50 pound bag on my back and a stomach jam packed with my farewell Italian meal and about a liter of red wine).  We peel into the train station across town with Catherine swearing all the way, still in four languages.  After all the fuss I did catch my train.  Catherine was such a dear, she even called me the next day just to make sure she put me on the right train!  So I transfered trains in Zurich and made my way to Constance to meet my cousin.

So great to see Chris!  He has just passed his three huge exams which would have determined whether or not he could continue his studies here or have to go back to Oregon after all this hard work.  He looks a little thin, scruffy, and has a caught in the headlights look as the reality hasnt set in that he did indeed pass.  Hes been studying so hard for so many weeks that hes not quite sure what to do with himself now.  He took me around the lovely city of Constance and gave me a little history lesson.  Constance was the farthest northern city of the Roman empire.  We climbed the stairs to the top of the cathedral just as the bells starting ringing 12:00.  It was so cool!  We had a great view from the top but to be honest the weather sucks!  I left Italy in capri pants, a tank top, and sandles.  It was pissing rain and all the Germans were staring at me because I look like I just got off the boat from  some tropical destination.  So Im pretty much freezing and borrowing all of Chris’ clothes.  Ive bought socks and a fleece jacket so far.  Aye.  I think we’re doing more of the Constance thing today and heading to Stugardt tomorrow for Octoberfest   Cheers, or as the Germans say Prost!

Love,

Jackie

Jackie

So camp is over and here I sit in a penthouse apartment overlooking the lovely city of Florence nearing sunset.  The last night of camp was great.  As predicted we recounted our many hilarious moments on the bike excursions, empathized with our broken comrades, and said fairwell to some great new friends.  Once again I was the last woman left standing with a handful of the guys and a bottle of scotch.  It was a late night and a long week of riding that by the end seemed to have flown by.  I was happy however to not have to park my cheeks on that dang saddle the following morning.  Instead we parted ways as I was dropped off at the local train station with a back pack full of what felt like cement bricks.  Sheesh!  10 minutes with that thing on my back and my fingertips start to turn blue.  So much for packing light.  I dozed on the train as it wove through the countryside of Tuscany taking me to the city of Florence.  A couple of hours later I arrive and Catherine (friends with my Dad) graciously picked me up at the depot.  Having just frequented a series of quiet hill top towns, Florence was quite a change.  Many many tourista!  Upon arriving at Gian Franco’s home (Catherines husband) I find out it’s Gians birthday and out comes a bottle of Verve champagne, followed by a lovely homemade pasta dinner a bottle of Tuscany red wine.  They are very nice people and have made me feel quite at home.  Today I pounded the streets of Florence checking out all the major sites.  The Duomo (the cities cathedral), Michaelangelo’s David, Dante’s house, Galileo’s house, and the Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno river.  The city is literally swarmed with tourists, thousands and thousands.  Low and behold I run into someone I know.  I walked smack into a couple of people from bike camp to whom I’d said fairwell to just the day before.  We had lunch together at a nice little cafe and parted ways.  I worked my way back to Gian Franco’s house having made myself lost a few times through all the winding cobblestone streets.  Gian and Catherine are on their way home from work and I’m sure I will get another exquisit Italian dinner tonight. 

 I have changed my travel plans a little as of today.  I feel too rushed to try to make a stop in Rome.  Instead I am going to take a day trip to Siena which has been recommended by a few people now.  I’m not disappointed, I’m actually relieved.  It’s just too much to try to cram in.  So tomorrow I will take a day trip to Siena, come back through Florence and take a sleeper train to Munich tomorrow which will travel overnight and I’ll meet my cousin Chris on Wednesday.  More fun to come!  Love to all.

Ciao!

Hello all!  Well, over 300 miles under my belt here in Tuscany and I survived!  I did GREAT on the bike.  What was everyone worried about?  Just kidding.  I could go into detail of each ride, but you’d think I was officially nuts.  Yesterday was a huge ride, 70 miles with 5,000 feet of elevation gain.  I was SO excited cuz I was one of the first to the top!  I thought I was going to need CPR.  Fortunately there is a cardiologist on the trip, I was looking for him!  We also have a radiologist on the trip, fortunately I was NOT looking for him.  I managed to survive w/ only one minor wipe out, and of course it was yesterday in the parking lot.  That was special.  I have met some of the nicest people and everyone is very encouraging on those long ass hills!  Why is every town around here straight up?  Anyway, I made it through.  However, the stairs at the hotel seem to be a bit challenging today.  So, many a story to tell about the rides, but for now I’m focusing on the next leg of my journey.  Tonight is our big fairwell dinner.  There will be no riding tomorrow so I’m sure the wine will be flowing!  Thanks to a racing coach guy here he’s helped me figure out a way to get my bike back to the states so I don’t have to go through round two of schleping that thing through 9 airports etc.  I will catch the train from here tomorrow and head to Florence.  I will stay w/ friends of my Dad’s for a day or two.  I have been told I MUST see Siena so that will be a stop on the road from Florence to Rome.  I have found a place to stay in Rome as a recommendation from one of the ex pats who now lives in Italy and is good friends w/ Tim Kilgallon.  He has not steered me wrong yet as everyday he has led me straight to a gelato or coffee stop after every ride  

 I have really enjoyed reading your guy’s posts   I haven’t had much of a chance to get online but when I do I definitely read those first!  I’ve talked to my mom a couple of times and my sis once.  Sounds like fall is in full swing in Seattle!  In the meantime I’m sitting here in a sundress w/ a glass of wine   The weather was ify the first couple of days but the last half of the week has been spectacular.  Some of the clearest days the locals have ever seen!  Hits 80 something degrees every day   As I head south to Rome I’m sure it will be more of the same.  Then it will be time to bust out the jeans by the time I meet up w/ my cuz in Germany. 

 I think of you all often and can’t wait to share more of my adventures!  Love to everyone!

Jackie

So it’s day 3 of bike camp!  We rode 25 miles Sunday, 45 Monday, 70 today.  Legs are a little tired but holding up.  Tuscany is frickin’ hilly!  We’ve already had 3 people end up in ER w/ bike crashes.  2 broken collar bones and one broken femur!  I avoided one of the crashes by meer inches!  Lots of terrain and tired bodies.  Having so much fun though.  Have met some very nice people.  Today we visited a world renound winery   Food and wine have been incredible.  The scenery is unlike anything I’ve ever seen… right out of a painting.  Haven’t had much time to write, plus computer is down so I have to borrow someone’s laptop.  Miss everyone but having a ball!  Will write more details soon.  Love…Jack

I MADE IT!  It has been the longest 36 hours!  So the adventure has begun and in uncharacteristic Jackie style it has been quite uneventful.  Mom dropped me off at Seatac Friday night and the pangs of lonliness and anxiety started to set in.  Before those pangs however came the pangs of schleping all my crap from the curb to the check in desk.  Upon weighing my multitude of parcels I thought the plane was going to turn me away.  My back pack weighs 20 kilos, my bike weights 23 kilos and is in the convenient shape of a coffin, and my “small” carry on is the straw that just about broke backpackjacks back.  In pounds this all weighs approx “heavier than hell”.  Seriously, my mom took one look at me and said, “how exactly are you going to do this?”   Didn’t know at that point.  Anyway, left Seattle at 9:10 pm, dozed on and off (yes Dad, the booze is free on BA…YES).  The real nightmare began at Heathrow.  Good news is the bike made it.  Walking through the airport I receive many looks.  Mostly of pity and “what the hell is that?”.  I fought my way through customs (1 hour) and got to the curb.  A very nice English bus driver saw me and stopped.  (He was stopping anyway).  His bus said Gatwick.  Just the man I was looking for.  I asked if he was going to Gatwick and he met me with a blank stare.  I said, you dont want me do you.  He said “its not you dear, its all that stuff thats following you”.  He helped me get my ticket for the bus and off to Gatwick we go.  The weather in London was beautiful, the ride relaxing, which I needed after the schlep through Heathrow.  At Gatwick I found my way through yet another line to recheck my bike and stuff for Pisa.  The flight was delayed by an hour so I had plenty of time.  I landed in Pisa at 10:30pm Italy time.  I dreaded the fact that I had to go pick up that damn bike again, let alone the the pack.  Walking out into the humid yet lovely night in Pisa I thought, now what.  My cell phone I rented for the trip is refusing to work so I was unable to call the hotel to let them know I was on my way.  I stood in the longest taxi line ever and met a nice couple from Vancouver BC, my birth town.  After 30 mins the next taxi driver pulled up and I got the same look Id been getting all day, what the hell is that thing and where am I going to put it.  It translates in every language apparently.  My driver was very nice and he sped through the busy streets of Pisa to get me to my hotel.  For the first time in 24 hours I couldnt wipe the smile off my face.  I had finally made it!  We crossed the Arno river and the city was a buzz with activity.  He dropped me as close as he could to the hotel.  My mom would freak out, but I had to once again schlep all my crap down this dark cobble stone alley to the Hotel Leonardo.  The hotel is small and quaint.  I checked in and the very nice man at the counter showed me to my room.  Of course not without the look of “what the hell is that and where are we going to put it”.  The 2 of us barely fit in the “shrimpy” elevator with my bike, pack, carry on, and last but not least my weary body.  My room is the smallest thing Ive ever seen.  I opened the little fridge and inside sit 2 Italian beers with my name on them.  I looked out my window into the alley and thought, if I can get through carrying all that crap across 3 countries and 3 airports, the biking leg of this journey will be a breeze!  So I came back down to the lobby to email my Dad and let him know Im alive and well, maybe 2 inches shorter from the 100lbs Ive had on my back for 24 hours, but well none the less.  So, I sit here in my quaint hotel lobby listening to Cindy Lauper on the local radio staion (what the heck is that all about?).  My VERY friendly hotel owner busts out a bottle of cianti that I sip as I “speak”.  Im about ready to call it a day and see what tomorrow brings!  Love to all!

Jackie

So 10 days ’til take off.  For those of you that want to follow along my adventure this is a quick overview of my itinerary.  I arrive in Pisa Saturday September 15th and meet my cycling group the next morning.  For the first 7 days of my trip I will bike over 300 miles with a group of 22 other cyclists in the countryside of Tuscany.  This will be a physical challenge to be sure, but I’m looking forward to the scenery.  On September 23rd I will activate my Eurail pass and travel to Florence, then Rome staying in each city for a couple of days.  I will then make my way north to meet up with my cousin Chris who is attending university in Constance Germany.  We will travel around together and make our way to Berlin to visit some family friends.  From there I will head to Paris and Calais.  By October 6th I will have made my way to Calais on the English Channel and ride the Hovercraft boat across to the White Cliffs of Dover where my Dad will pick me up on the other side.  My Dad, stepmom, and sisters (hopefully Chris too) will attend a big family birthday party/family reunion that day.  I will spend the next 6 days enjoying England with my family and fly back to the states on October 12th.  It is a month long trip which I’m sure will go fast!  I aim to cram in as much as I can into that time and hope to see many things I haven’t seen before.  I hope to have internet access along the way and update my friends and family on my many adventures!