MY 2 WEEKS IN KENABEEK CANADA

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I’VE KNOWN DAVID (AKA: CHOPS) FOR 25 YEARS +?, FROM PORTLAND.

Chops visited me in Slovenia in 2018 and now it’s my turn to visit them in the Great White North, Kenebeek, Ontario, Canada. I wanted to come in July, but he said the swarms of mosquitoes form clouds at that time of year. He suggested September, no bugs and nice weather, he knows. It’s beautiful here, I joked about asking where the real estate office was. Then they said it can be 40 below (at -40 Fahrenheit or -40 Celsius is the same). I immediately skipped the real estate idea.

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MY 6 WEEKS IN PORTLAND, OREGON, USA. IS AMERICA REALLY THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD OR IS IT REALLY BROKEN?

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This blog is mostly dedicated to the freedoms of bicycle touring, but occasionally serves as a personal journal of my life off the bicycle. I recently got my permanent residency in Slovenia. So I needed to go to Portland and prepare my house for sale. I had to find accommodation for my 6 weeks in Portland. I found an apartment with my own bathroom, $1700. It felt and sounded boring and lonely. I posted an email to some old friends, “Host a Slovenian”! I had more offers than nights there, that was a warm, fuzzy feeling.

DUE TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS, I AVOID PLANES. THIS IS MY FIRST FLIGHT IN 7 YEARS. THE FLIGHT HAD 2 MOVIES I’D BEEN DYING TO WATCH, BOB DYLAN & LED ZEPPELIN.

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FIRST TOUR OF 2025, 5 days LJUBLJANA to IDRIJA, AJDOVSCINA, PIRAN

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I had a bad case of cabin fever and needed to get out. I read about The Carnival Festival in Idrija. I put together a route to Piran with hotels. Traveling during the off season has many advantages. It’s easy to get discounted reservations and at the last minute. I was the only guest at every hotel I stayed at.

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GIVING BACK WHEN OFF THE BIKE: THE BEACH CLEAN-UP

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A few years ago, I was going to rent a bicycle in Izola, Slovenia, and ride to Piran. The guy told me “You know you can walk to Piran?” “You Can?” and so I did. I kept seeing plastic on the beach, found a bag, and started cleaning the beach. Someone was yelling behind me “Hey, Hey” Up runs a woman and asked if I was cleaning the beach? “yes” “I want to say thanks”, she’s nude (& super hot!). I’m thinking (“No, I want to thank you!”). Giving back has its rewards.
I don’t bike tour & camp in the winter. I still wanted to be outdoors. I watched the weather and checked the tide charts, perfect time. Public transportation is discounted on the weekends in Slovenia. I took the bus from Ljubljana to Izola round-trip for 4.50 euro.

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3 CAR-FREE WEEKEND GETAWAYS FROM LJUBLJANA, WITH TRAIN AND BIKE.

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I’ve lived car-free here in Slovenia for 11 years. Living across from the train station makes the whole country easily accessible without a car. Climate Change is real and we all need to do what we can to lower our carbon footprints. Here are a few suggested rides I’ve done this winter, all were awesome. People always ask me how I can ride in the winter, then I ask if they wear shorts and a T-shirt while skiing. Just dress warm and have some fun being outdoors.

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WE vs ME ECONOMIES
WHO’S THE HAPPIEST?

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I’m an expat from Portland, Oregon, USA, and living in Slovenia since 2014. After my first five years here, I considered moving back to the USA. So I packed up my belongings and put them in storage and went back to America. I bicycled down the Oregon & California coasts giving me an up-close view of America. After that, I couldn’t envision living back in America, especially after living in Slovenia. I decided to move back to Slovenia and make a life for myself.
Why is Finland the happiest country? Why America is 23 on the happiest list & falling. Slovenia comes in at number 9.

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WHO’S THE HAPPIEST?” →

BIKE TOURING THE NETHERLANDS AND BELGIUM

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I’ve been to the Netherlands 5 times over the past 30 years, mostly in Amsterdam. I’ve never done any bike touring/camping. It’s September, so I figured with Climate Change I might catch some nice late fall weather. Being the biking capital of the world, I was looking forward to seeing it for myself.

IT’S REALLY LIKE THIS, EVERYWHERE.
AND IT’S REALLY LIKE THIS TOO, EVERYWHERE

The Netherlands did the right thing by investing in bike infrastructure. Without an alternative to cars, the whole country would be one giant gridlock of cars.

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