So where are those Branhams, anyway?

October 25, 2023

This tour has been outstanding overall, but a disappointment meetup-wise. We did manage to cross paths with our friends Ken and Judy in Tudela; but the Fenwicks were too late getting to Bilbao as were the Grampies in Valencia. Fortunately the Branhams came through for us on the very last day, rolling off the ferry from Palma late yesterday afternoon.

We’ve seen this meet-up coming for quite a while, and a few days ago Janice and I settled on a rendezvous at 4:30 at the Turia Fountain in the Plaça de la Verge adjacent to the cathedral. There was some confusion about the timing though this morning when Rachael asked when we were meeting so we could plan out the day. I told her 5:30, misremembering the agreement we had with Janice. Fortunately she went through our emails and found the one establishing the meeting time. It’s 4:30, she corrects me with a rather chastising tone to her voice. Phew, that was a narrow miss! We could easily have been an hour late for our meet-up, which would be horrible.

Turia Fountain is almost two miles from our hotel room. My knees have been bothering me - I think the effect of the cortisone shot are starting to wear off - so I leave earlier than Rachael to allow me time to walk more slowly; and, of course, to stop for photos of all the remarkable architecture I pass along the way.

The PTT building. I’m always amazed by how elegant some of these often are.

I was intrigued by this civic building, with the backside of its shades mirroring off its windows.

I keep a reasonable pace, and it’s not quite four when I approach the cathedral. After taking a few shots en passant I come to Turia Fountain, our meeting point. With a half hour to kill, I find a good spot to sit off on the edge of the plaza and wait for folks to arrive. I’m keeping a careful eye out for the Branhams who I rather expect to arrive early, so I can get a candid shot of them arriving at the fountain and then looking around for Rachael and me.

I’m happy to wait. It’s a very pleasant afternoon, much balmier than I expect we’ll be experiencing soon in Portland, and it’s a great spot for people watching.

The cathedral, from the Plaza de la Reina.

The opposite side of the cathedral, from the Plaza de la Verge.

Rachael arrives and joins me. While we wait we discuss possible places to eat. I find an actual Italian place, La Terazza, just around the corner off the plaza and Rachael agrees it will be fine if the Branhams agree when they arrive. When they finally arrive, that is. At 4:45 we consider calling, but we failed to get a phone number from them; so Rachael fires off an email.

At 4:55 we still haven’t heard and decide something must have gone wrong. We’re just about to grab a table at La Terazza and send them a note, when we finally hear back. They’re about a mile away, walking as fast as they can, and are late because they thought the meeting was at 5:30.

And they thought right. I omitted a minor detail earlier. This morning I sent a confirmation email to Janice to confirm they’d arrived in Valencia last night but by mistake said we’d meet them at 5:30, having misremembered the prior agreement. My bad, as Rocky quickly agreed when I passed this on to her.

It’s a good thing the Branhams are good sports, and fast walkers. We haven’t been seated long and I’m just sipping my wine when they hustle up and join us. Good friends! It’s pretty remarkable that we met them for the first time just over a year ago when we saw their Bike Fridays parked with ours at our hotel’s garage in Sarlat; and this is the fourth time now that we’ve gotten together. First Sarlat, then last winter in Tucson, then this summer in Portland at the end of their previous bike tour; and now here. And next, in Tucson again this winter, from the sounds of it. They’re practically family!

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Patrick O'HaraThanks for sharing your adventures once again, and again, and again......Hope all goes well returning to Portland. And, good luck on your upcoming surgery as well!
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6 months ago

Janice BranhamWe are so happy it all worked out and we could keep the streak going. We've learned so much about cycle touring abroad since that lucky meeting with you in Sarlat. Great fun seeing you again. Adiós, hasta la próxima amigos!
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6 months ago

Gregory GarceauI fell for "Falling Through Spain." I'm glad the Caribou shirt fell into your hands. It's still fall, and I know you have that ablation thing coming up. The Feeshko and I hope everything falls into place after that, and you & Rocky fall into more fine adventures. I feel like I used the words "fell" and "fall" too much in this message.
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6 months ago

Gregory GarceauTo Gregory GarceauOh yeah, and I'm glad your meet-up with the Branhams fell into place.
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6 months ago

Keith AdamsMy sense of time, and memory for scheduled events, has seemingly become unreliable. I'm glad to see it's evidently not limited to me.
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6 months ago

Jen RahnHappy to be checking in here on a meet-up day!

Andersons and Branhams!

What a way to wrap up the tour.

I love seeing these connections in the cycle touring community and am so glad we'll be seeing you two in the near future.

¡Hasta pronto!
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6 months ago