Thanks

While on the saddle, there is a lot of time to think. A lot of time. Hours and hours. Besides filling my mind with inane calculations about how efficient my pedal stroke is, trying unsuccesfully to recall song lyrics, or just looking around me, one recurrent thought for the past few days, and surely for the next many to come, is the unbridled freedom that comes from this kind of touring. I am self-sustained. I choose to go wherever I want. The freedom, however, does not go so far as to say that I respond to no one. I realize there are a few special people who are largely responsible for allowing me this freedom, and I want to take an opportunity to thank them. In one way or another, they have made this trip possible, and to each of them I owe a large debt.

Frank and Sue: When I started dreaming about this trip over a year ago, I was not sure how it was going to come together, especially funding. A great big part of how I saved up enough for this, and my trip to Colombia, has to do with them giving me housing since November 1st. But more than just a place to crash, Wellesley has been a home, a place where all the family meets, a place where I have developed an awesome relationship with Katie, and a place where I have been able to plan this trip. For all that, and more, I thank and love you guys enormous amounts that even my long-winded prose couldn´t show. I promise to finish the basement when I return.

Neal Todrys and the rest of the gang at Todson: Besides paying my salary, which is funding this, they provided me with lots of equipment for the trip, and were understanding enough to give me a hug farewell rather than a kick in the butt when I told them I was leaving. Thanks to Neal, Maryellen, Rob, Chris, Julie and Dick for your help and warm wishes.

The Redondos: The full story, for those who don´t know, is that in 1997 Ana´s younger sister, Natalia, was involved in a study-abroad program where she came to the US for the summer. Luck would have it that they placed her in a homestay with Frank and Sue. Natalia developed such a great relationship with them, that two years later Natalia returned with her sister Ana. Then two years after that, Frank and Sue spent three weeks in Burgos with Natalia, Ana, and their parents, Tina and Miguel Angel. The summer after that my mom visited with them while she was in Europe. Also, Ana has made two other trips to the US to help take care of Katie and to study, and she is the one who I had been in touch with and helped me out with planning the trip. So now the Redondos are my family, and in the 10 days that I have been here they have treated me as such, from giving me house keys to asking me to walk the dog. Mil gracias a los cinco, bueno, seis con Kiko.

Kaitlyn: In the week before I left for Colombia, and in the two weeks between returning from Colombia and leaving for Spain, Kaitlyn has been more than a girlfriend, extending her responsibilities to secretary and full-time aide. For helping me organize my thoughts and my to-do list, driving me around to do errands and sometimes doing the errands for me, helping me figure out what to pack and help with the actual packing, and for generally keeping me sane and in the right frame of mind: baby, thank you.

My mom: While I´m on the bike, sometimes the thought comes to mind of who might be thinking of me at that moment. I know that as long as she knows that I´m out riding, my mom will be worried sick about me. I have tried to pacify her letting her know that I am being very safe and careful, but you know how moms are. I just hope she´s not staying up late at night because it´s a 7-hour time difference and I will usually get going on the road at 3am EDT. For just being my mom, supporting me in this amazing adventure, and for many other things, gracias a ti tambien!