Our Lovely Host Ursula

Another night had gone by and I haven’t managed to write a blog! This unemployed cycling/travel malarkey is more time consuming that you’d imagine!

Pictured is Stew with our lovely host Ursula. We stayed with Ursula last night. She was a fantastic host! I’m not quite sure what my favourite thing about Ursula was…it was either her excellent language skills or wonderful outlook on life.

In three hours Ursula went from speaking fluent French with her husband, Pierre, English with us then when she picked up the phone to her German mother she spoke fluently in German too. The skill really comes in the ability to flick between all 3 languages with such ease. Ursula could also speak some Spanish!

In regards to her outlook Ursula was a bit of a kindred spirit! I loved a comment she made about boarding a ferry. When she was working she had to take a daily ferry which lasted 5 minutes, but everyday to work and everyday home when she took the ferry she would imagine she was going to an exciting new place! This is just the sort of thing I would do! I realised that Ursula is the sort of person who enjoys all things about life – big and small and that, I believe is the key to unlocking a large proportion of happiness.

Also, anyone that knows me will know that I’m terrible with directions and would never have the confidence to go bikepacking alone. Ursula said she is the same but she isn’t afraid of getting lost (unlike me). Last year she cycled JOGLE alone and camped. She wanted to go on a bike ride to test herself and her adventure skills – she also wanted to practise her English again. One day she cycled 30 beautiful miles only to end up in the same spot she started in! The best part was that she showed absolutely no disappointment in her route! Instead she quickly forgave herself “oh well, you tried, it just didn’t work out”. 👏🏼

Ursula’s home was the last home we will stay in and manage to return to when we are coming home! We loved our stay here and we hope to catch Ursula on the return journey! 😊