Anybody Out There?

Curlylox and Kris, did you make it OK? 

WE MADE IT!!!!!

Sorry it has been so long since an entry but we had been biking like crazy through the heat of Portugal...

WE MADE IT TO LISBON! For all those of you who thought we could not do it... ha! For all those of you that believed in us... you are amazing.

I am now back in the United States; the journey is not over for the Kristoffers, they must make it to Faro, another 500km or so, and I wish them well along their journey. I am sure they are enjoying having a tent with one less guy in it!

Thank you everyone for your contributions thus far, but do not think for a second that it is over if you wish to contribute a little something to Opportunity! There are still a few days left.

I will upload a ton more pictures on the blog from the entire trip, as well as a full review of our daily journal entry when it is done - Kris has been taking a great record of daily events.

Thank you all,

Scott

Congratulations Marte!!!!!!!! Congratulations... Salamanca!

Marte (Kristoffer´s sister) gave birth to a baby girl - Yay!

Salamanca... we are here! Do you know what that means? There is a possibility we will reach Portugal tomorrow!

Hot, Hot, Hot, Hot! Some like it Hot, Not I Says the Bicylist

Spain is hot. Could you tell that by the title of this post? Ok so I think it´s about time for a ¨this is really not as fun as it looks on the blog¨ post...

1) We have biked at least 100 kilometers a day in 35 degree heat (95 F)
2) Spain is so dry that our throats feel like they have infections by the end of the day
3) We have eaten more bugs than food in Spain. Why? Simple answer, there is NOTHING to eat in Spain before 9:00 at night, and there are more bugs here than stars in the sky.
4) I (Scott) have a pulled groin - needless to say it hurts.
5) We slept under a shack roof last night, where we had little sleep and woke up realizing an ant farm was nestled between my head and Curlylox´s - we literally did have ants in our pants for our journey today.
6) The water you get from tap (which is gross) or even mineral water becomes bathwater in lets say 15 minutes? Nothing like sweating yourself to death and cooling yourself off after with a nice warm bottle of water.. mmmmmmmmm
7) Roads -Let´s just say that Spain does not have a copious amount of roads to choose from; we took the highway for a while which was scary enough, until the police told us to take another road, which in turn led us into the middle of nowhere, death valley California anyone?

PYRA - KANEES!

If you figure out what that title means you are a saint. I except postings on this subject.

We crossed the mountains! We are now writing from a hostel in Vitoria Gasteiz, where the hot dry arid climate of spain is beginning to be quite palpable to us.

Yeah, in case you are wondering, the mountains were great fun! Up, Up, Up, ... and Up... and... wait... is it over? Nope... Up some more... yay.

We are on our way to Burgos, and then valladolid, and puis Salamanca, and then Portugal!!!!!

It´s a Spanish keyboard this time, so i´d like to take time out of this blog posting to do this: ¿ Ñ Ç ¬ ª º ... yeah, I think thats about all the cool things you can do on this keyboard.

Pictures of the mountains and the absolutely beautiful coast of Southern France and Spain are on their way, just as soon as we can get to a computer where cameras are allowed.

Thats all for now, we will continue to ride on into the desert, until sundown, singing ¨can you feel the love tonight¨until our voices are lost and are love has sweated itself dry.

Love to you all, amigos

Yeah Were Tough... Real Tough... No I Swear...

Spain: Here We Come

Yes yes, for all of you who thought we would not make it this far, we have made it to the border of Spain! Take that society. We are now staying at the lovely apartment of Kris's aunt in Anglet, right next to Biarritz. We had a pretty rough last few days: woke up in pouring rain at a disgusting campsite, Curlylox lost his wallet, all our clothes were wet, etc. Yes I've come to realize after speaking to my father that this blog has looked like we have had such an easy time of all this, but that is more because I thought we would spare you of some of the less romantic aspects of this trip and instead paint it as a lovely trip across Europe. No no, we will not tell you (yet) of the physical ailments, or the rain the does not cease, or the dirty dirty clothes that at points I swear have created new organisms never discovered, or the intense heat that makes you want to lose your mind, or the 200 km bike rides that make you want to never get on a bike again, or the money you see drain from your bank account just in order to eat enough not to fall over on your bike and kiss the road, or the flat tires, or the untrue tires, or the brake failures, or the honking of horns, be them bad or good, that play with your nerves, or the highways with cars whizzing past you that make you realize you are going way slower than you could, or the pot holes, or the road kill, or the intense smells of cow and horse and goat, oh and just biking at least 80 miles per day ...no no, we will not tell you of these things...

Instead, here are some lovely pictures of the beach and smiles! YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Thank You Turid and Marte!

While in Paris we all received beautiful care packages with a new shirt, boxers, socks, and headband, courtesy of Gronlie`s sister and mom. You made our day with those care packages, and we thank thank thank you!

Dont think - Just Swim

Though we were depressed to leave Paris, we quickly made all kinds of progress, yesterday we biked around 170k to Alex`s place right outside of tours, where we are currently enjoying the sun and his lovely pool after a great breakfast.

With the help of a French friend we met along the way, we made it here; he took us halfway from Blois. Thanks!

Here are some pictures, enjoy!

Dont Think - Just Bike

Well ladies and gents, it's time to "partir." We are about to leave the beautiful city of Paris and get back into the rhythm of sore butts and uphill battles.

Thanks so much again to Alicia for having three smelly guys (but good looking I must say) stay with her for the weekend. Thanks for all of our friends who saw us this weekend, and yes, we will cry today on the road for you!

Here are some pictures of our last night here, can you tell which one is when Kris realized we have to leave tomorrow and I have to console him?