In many ways long distance cycling is, for us, almost a form of meditation. And no, the roadies just rode.. No waving, it slows you down!

Great picture. I THRIVE in such loneliness. I feel sorry for the roadies because they don't know what they're missing while they concentrate on how close their front wheel is to the back wheel ahead of them. (Did they even take their hands off the bars long enough to wave to Dodie?)

I sure like your idea of impersonating a monk by pulling the hoodie hood over your head. I wish there was a photo of your impersonation. Even better, would have been a video of you with the hood while vocalizing those Gregorian Chants, most of which were written by ME and Pope Gregory.

Yeah, it is not really for us either. BUT this meal was really quite wonderful, although both felt overstuffed and it took until midday to feel "unstuffed".

The Feeshko and I have tried fine dining. On both occasions, based on a cost-to-deliciousness ratio, we were quite disappointed.

Nice time warp loneliness caption. Memory trigger.

I never read the book, but it came out when I was running all by myself. Just me circling the school grounds and a couple times a week my coach would come out for a while and time me at various distances.

Looks perfect!

And Padre Junipero Serra also founded the mission here in Santa Cruz, CA. :)

Still raining in this Santa Cruz, too. We are all “in this together”..

How interesting! They’re two different places, obviously associated, both currently in business and only a few blocks from each other. No wonder some of the photos didn’t quite seem familiar. When we were there the one you’re at wasn’t in business yet.

Hmm, you have the same photo as us, but this is definitely called Monastery San Francisco not Convento Santa Clara. Some kind of name change? One a branch of the other?

I’m glad you found this place. We loved it when we stayed here 11 years ago, and it’s nice to see that some good things don’t change. Here’s hoping you get a break from the rains soon! https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/andalucia2004/day-10-palma-del-rio/#57144_gkbo4scf7ugcaqlloyx02p3bs4z

ONCE! Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles. They sponsored one of the top bike racing teams back in the 90s. I have two different versions of their cycling caps.

Magura makes both hydraulic disc brakes and hydraulic rim brakes. Our bikes can only use rim brakes, and Magura's are some of the few hydraulic ones on the market. Maybe hydraulic rim brakes are fiddly, no matter who makes them? We have heard of but never seen any other brand that is both hydraulic and rim. Cable rim brakes are of course very traditional and easy to work on, but they lack power. Maybe when our bikes get back to their native Germany, we can see what alternatives might be around. Thanks for getting us thinking about it.

Boy! You sure are having to deal with lots of challenges on this tour. I applaud you! Have you ever considered replacing your Magura brakes with a different type of brake? We did that on our original tandem before we started doing long tours. Don figured that it would be hard to find parts or bike shops that could deal with them in the many small US towns. He had rim brakes installed.