Back in Utrecht, in an empty room with only my packages for the trip, to get more in the mood, in the feeling, I slept in my tent, packed it in in the morning, making the bags, mounting the camp again at night ... It is easy under a roof, with a flat floor and lights as needed!

Changes were happening for good around : Ben, my roommate, found a new job and took a break to France. I wish he will have a nice new room-mate. He has become a good friend, as far as a gay fish can be.

          Camping in my room.

It was rather busy, sleeping in... Meeting many friends and not being able to answer them all. Watching the remaining South Park episodes. Discovering unknown places in Amsterdam with Evy the Witch, in Bilthoven with Yogini Jasmijn, and a CouchSurfing meeting with the wonderful Utrecht group. Paying a visit to Peter, an inspiring long term and low budget cyclist.  All of it making me feel like there is enough to discover in the area I'm in, but I dream of exotic lands. After all, The Alchemist says it already, the treasure I am looking for is here, but I look for it far away. To be able to appreciate it better when I return? And find wonders on the way? I don't know wether this is wise or not.

"Worry and doubt a lot before you take a decision, but once you take a decision, stop worry and act upon that decision" Don Juan, master of Carlos Castaneda

On Sunday, a dry autumn Sunday in The Netherlands, not so frequent, I took a ride with the bicycle, fully loaded: 70 km in 4 hours. Seeing in short the different dutch landscapes, green fields, long canal, lakes crossed by a dike, woods. Speaking about wonders, I was struck by the bright colors of the trees. Was that a beautiful autumn or was this 'last time' feeling adding a magic taint ?

          Wonderful autumn colors in Lage Vuursche, Sunday 31 October

Same with the last yoga classes with Pieter, Hilary, Kyra. I was in the mood of catching all of it. Aware of the moment, centered in the practice. I felt we should always be in that mood of leaving it all, of the last time I see you, the last time I walk in that land, the last moment I live, the last breath I take from this life... Who knows, we might go tomorrow? Of course we all read books, we hear teachings about being in the present moment, but these times, I was not applying knowledge, I simply was.

In the meantime there were a few pieces of gear to had: a thermos, another mirror for the bicycle, ...  Some administrative documents to solve, just reminding how subscriptions, bills and all poison life even when you think about getting freed from those! A great thanks to my parents for the research they did on finding me travel and health insurances. Now I can break my head but still not being taken hostage.

Monday, dinner with Thomas, my cycling mate to Chartres and Berlin the last years. Tuesday was a long day, after hughs with yoginis from Yoga Moves : mothers and sisters from the teacher training. It was time for enjoying a good self cooked meal, sharing a bottle of wine with Andrew the guitar hero, and biting in seven french cheeses - don't tell my ayurvedic doctor-. Late at night, I got to talk with Robby, now in Seattle, a brave travelling friend who inspired and comforted me in this trip project during the time he stayed at our place. It was good to hear his voice after eights months.

As I got to bed, the gestation time was getting to an end and the story ready to be.