Almost 2 weeks ago I left the Netherlands. I wanted to say for a new roadtrip, but it is actually still the same roadtrip. In the 'system' I am homeless, but I live in my tiny home on wheels. Following the sun, or where ever life takes me. Constant adventures, good and bad ones. Ups and downs. Peaking and being in deep trouble. No constant factors...it's a way of life that I prefer. Sometimes I am waiting patiently for better times and take action when necessary. Like waiting for the right wave to catch in the water. I sometimes like flat calm water, but rippling sucks. I prefer big waves!
Last Monday I went to one of my favorite places in Portugal; Nazaré. The place with the highest waves in the world. It was one of the first days of the big wave season. Adventurous surfers and their jetski buddies trying to catch waves of the around 20 meters. I parked Vin Diesel on the dirtroad close to the lighthouse. Even getting there was a bumpy ride with deep slopes and holes in the muddy road. Waking up before sunrise and quite some people were already choosing their viewing point. During last season I went to several spots, today I choose the wall in front of the lighthouse. At 7am when the jetski's and their surf buddies come out of the harbor, the place was already packed. Early morning was the best chance for huge waves. At some point around 25 surfers were trying to take the best wave. It was good to be there again. Enjoying the rough forces of nature, feeling the energy and hear the waves clash. I spent 4 hours of making pictures and video's....and left when the memory card said "Full". 2500 shots taken...there might be a few good ones 😂
The same day I had to visit my other 'favorite' stopover here in Portugal; the dentist. Getting an implant here was supposed to be just a tick in the box. Not many times thing go as smooth as drinking a cinnamon flavored Cappuccino with Amaretto in the morning. The DDD (Dutch Dentil Drama) is complete, they fucked up with the tooth extract earlier this summer...what a bummer. So more surgery needed, not enough bone. I am screwed, but not with an implant. Another 600 Euro extra, I am happy many of the important thing in Portugal are cheap (Wine, Coffee, Sweet Stuff and you might guess by now why I need new teeth). The good thing about all this, I have to stay in Portugal now a bit longer. So I will see it as being lucky.
Viva La France
My new dentist friend Filipe asked me if I could speak French. I should start practicing this, because I love to hang out with the French. Their hospitality is unbeatable. Compared to the common Dutch opinion that French are arrogant and rude, I have the opposite experiences during all my travels. If you want to lose weight or drink less alcohol, this country is not the place to visit. I spend some time on my own in Brittany and although there was a huge storm, I loved it! Grey, wet and windy. I was blown away, I got the message... "It's BRITTANY, Bitch!"
First stop in France was Le Mont Saint Michel, or should I call it 'Le Mont du Garbage'. It was a medieval castle town on a tiny mountain in the sea. If you get there before sunrise, it is not as romantic as the tourist trap pictures online. Garbage trucks at the entrance, the sound of empty glas bottles all over the place, smelly garbage bags everywhere and several forklifts in the small alleys driving around crates full of garbage. I might be just the wrong time of day, before the huge load of tourists start taking over the rock. Back at the road and at some point I saw signs of 'Route du Rhum', I was excited! I followed the signs and ended up at a sailing competition in St. Malo. There was a lot, but no rum.
Camaret-Sur-Mer was a next stop. People told me it was not the right time to be there. Well, it was Halloween and I stayed in a creepy dark ghosttown. Storm, stuff flying through the air, even Vin Diesel wanted to hide. In the morning I discovered some ghost ships not far from my van and walked on the cliffs in the storm. Strolling through the bunkers. I realized at some point I might need a shower. Well, I got what I asked for, foam from the ocean blown in my face and a quick natural shower just before I jumped in my van. Be careful what you wish for. At night I arrived at a Park4Night camperspot in the middle of the salt flats. Maybe this was not like the white salt flats of Uyuni. At least the temperature was not -25 degrees celsius. In the early morning I realized that parking in the dark is not always the best time. It seems that I was in the middle of roadwork and big trucks were waiting for a pig pile of dirt behind Vin Diesel. A quickly, within 2 minutes after waking up I was riding. Not a German girlfriend this time, but a green machine.
Meeting old fiends
Although I know these people from last year. I call the 'old' friends. Finally I got my rum and also played some Rummikub. A perfect place for a short break. Kelly 'the smelly dog' probably get's the same food, because after all the French paté I smelled the same during the windy days in the South of France. I realize that I have met quite a lot of nice friends during my travels. But it was time to move on, heading to Spain...although after 13 hours with a roaring engine I realized I skipped Spain 🙈
GoogleMaps was fooling me again at night, sending me over endless mountain passes and I ended up in an area I recognized, even in pitch black. In the first days in Portugal it was like a constant meetup with friends. Happy to see all of them. I also met my other favorite friend after a while; the Sun. Sorry 
Hive Break?
It was quiet from my side for many reasons. My laptop is fixed, I have a new working smartphone and I can switch easy between all my accounts and apps now. More time for writing and making pictures. It's good to be back!
Riding waves without being in the ocean
With everything I do, it's all about catching waves. Although the waves of crypto at the moment are like ending up in the whitewash of Nazaré. There will be a new peaking wave to catch. While driving with Vin Diesel, we are both experiencing bumpy rides. We feel lucky to enjoy the freedom and meeting all those wonderful people on our trip.
Tonight it will be a scary movie night again with my Hive-coach. Although the number of 666 shows up everywhere (mileage in the van, numbers on the road, diesel bill of 56,66 euro etc.) and I am drinking an Energy-drink called HELL...I keep on riding, HELL YEAH!