We could have had a nice car and a house with everything that's needed to fill up the rooms inside, along with jobs to pay for it all. But we put the American dream on hold so we could realize a different dream: adventure.
For the next six months, Bob and I will use our bikes and local transportation to follow an indirect route from France to Turkey.
We're traveling by bike because we want our journey to be open to possibility. Instead of passing through the scenery, we become a part of it. And since we're on a small budget, it's even more of an adventure.
Come along for the ride.
Follow our exploits via the links below, or find out more about us here.
Latest Article
Coming Full Circle
The sadness of their European trip ending is lessened by the prospect of Jenn and Bob planning their wedding and their future together.
Day trips in The Netherlands
Riding in the cold, wet, windy weather didn't seem so bad when Jenn knew she had a warm, dry place to go to at the end of the day.
Catch Up On The Journey
Not Just an American Tragedy
Jenn learned of the attacks on the USA in a cybercafe in Amsterdam. Even a week later, people are still lining up at the US Embassy to lay flowers and leave condolences and messages of hope.
Week 21-22: Bicycle Heaven – Life in Holland
New friends help introduce Jenn to Holland, where for once the only time she feels out of place is when she's not riding her bike. Once settled though, it's house- and job-hunting time.
Week 19-20: Romans, Romans everywhere
What do saddle-sore and travel-weary cyclists do when they need a break? Jenn and Bob decided on a 190 km hike around Mont Blanc, Europe's tallest mountain.
Week 17-18: Riding the Tour train
Jenn officially became a cycling fan after following parts of the Tour de France. There was also a quick trip to the Dali museum in Figueres, Spain for a dose of surrealism.
Week 15-16: More Port, please!
After visiting the Port wine cellars in Porto, Jenn decides to skip northern Spain to follow parts of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees.
Week 13-14: A bumpy road to Lisbon
Some rough roads mean some roadside equipment maintenance, but the scenery helped make up for the hassle.
Week 11-12: Ahhh...Andulacia
Back to Europe and the pace of the trip slowed down quite a bit. Jenn and Bob take in a bullfight and then head to the beaches of Portugal.
Week 9-10: Cycling the Route des Kasbahs
Jenn can relax a little as she and Bob ride to less populated areas. There's also a very pleasant surprise for her in Goulmima.
Week 7-8: Welcome to Morocco!
The warnings about the drug dealers, children and dogs in Morocco proved to be well founded. The constant ups and downs were exhausting.
Week 5-6: Police Escorts
Jenn gets a ride in a police car after her pack was stolen and after getting caught in a nasty storm, decides to leave Europe for the warmth of Africa.
Week 3-4: Which Way to Spain?
The rain and cold weather encouraged Jenn and Bob to get to the coast as fast as possible for some much-needed sun and some surfing time.
Week 1-2: April in Paris
Jenn runs the Paris Marathon, with an injury, and then the cycling trip begins (even if they took the train on the first day).
Bike Touring Gear List
When you're biking for six months around Europe on a budget, what you pack becomes very important. Here's what Jenn and Bob are taking.
