Update

Well here we are in Europe!!!

The plan was originally to take 6 months off work, rent our house out, and for Jase to work 2 days a week here and train for the Marmotte (a French road cycle race - 174km with 5000m of climbing!), and for me to train and do the entire world cup circuit...

Things haven't quite worked out as planned. I had all the tests for iliac endofibrosis (Exercise stress test in the hills where I had no pulse or BP reading in either leg for some 10-15mins afterwards and intense pain in both legs; Doppler US test after riding on the wind trainer which detailed the location of the problem to the proximal portion of both external iliac arteries - the main supplier to my legs; CT scan which showed significant artery stenosis/narrowing at rest in the same location as above measuring 2.5cm in length in each artery) and the surgeon said I was not allowed to ride my bike ever again! That is unless I had surgery whereby they take a vein graft from the saphenous vein in my leg and use it to widen the narrowed artery. He scared us senseless with the risks of this surgery, and told us the surgery is fairly new and that they don't actually know how long the patch lasts - they suspect there is a risk of aneurysm, but I would be checked for this at regular intervals for the rest of my life if I chose to have the surgery.

So much of our trip was planned and we had committed to alot of it financially so we decided we had to make the most of this opportunity... so here we are now in Durbach in the Black Forest in South Germany. I don't have a bike, and can't run more than 2x/wk, but I can walk (as long as there are not many hills) and I can swim so I am determined to make the most of it. Jase will be cycling most days and enjoying that for the both of us! I have decided to have the surgery when we return - I am just too limited in what I can do - ie I have to walk up stairs backwards now to avoid bringing on symptoms. I just don't want to live my life like this.

We arrived in London last Weds (14th April) to a pretty chilly morning. We were lucky to get in before all this volcanic ash saga started. We stayed with Jase's Aunty and Uncle in London and just spent the time getting over the jet lag really (and visiting Starbucks!- hope you're reading this Hoppers!). Jase also did some work in a place called Ely. We tried to walk the sights but unfortunately I came to a grinding halt after all the stairs of the underground. The next time I went into central London I walked from Waterloo station to avoid any underground. Man London would be a disaster for anyone in a wheelchair.

Jase did some running by the Thames, and I went swimming at an outdoor pool (lucky it was heated!). Our flight to Frankfurt was cancelled on Tues due to the ash, but we managed to get on the Eurostar to Brussells on Thursday. It turned into a pretty big day - 11hrs of travelling via car, train, cab, eurostar, train, train, and finally taxi to reach our accommodation here in Durbach. This place is great. I stayed here last year when I did the world cup and loved it. Yesterday we had a busy day - the groceries. Yes - just the groceries. Had to walk 12km to get there mind you, and then spent a good 2hrs in the supermarket! It is pretty hard figuring out what to buy that is also gluten free!

Today Jase started his training for the Marmotte with a 4hr ride. I went for a walk in the hills behind our appartment. It is beautiful - although I really wanted my MTB! I took some photos (our appartment + some from the walk) which Jase will attach as I am technically challenged! Was a beautiful day - about 22 degrees I think.

Hope you are all well
Jeanette and Jase