And We’re Off

January 19-20, 2026 — San Francisco to Marrakech

Waiting for our plane at SFO

I’m not sure if we’re ready for this, but our bags are packed (one carry-on each), we have a couple of “riads” booked for our ten days in Morocco, we’ve paid for our four weeks of French lessons at the Institut de Francais in Nice, we have a three-bedroom apartment booked there for the entire month of March, and our bikes are partially dismantled and BikeFlights primed to pick them up deliver to us. 

Traveling light

Bike stuff

As of only a week ago, we were still not 100% sure the trip was a go. After talking to Meg’s oncologist, however, we breathed a sigh of relief and committed to the plan. The doc felt that the because the new spot on her spleen was so small, chemo could wait until our return at the beginning of April. Of course, Meg was hoping to delay chemo as long as possible so she could be out and about while I was off on the trail. Nevertheless, the trip to France has been on the list for many years, so we are counting ourselves lucky.

We also learned, just on Friday, that the consistent pain that Kylie has been experiencing in her calves while running has been diagnosed as Popliteal Artery Entrapment!

Not Kylie's scans, but representative of PAES

It was a big relief for her to finally have a name and a reason for what has made running so difficult and has completely derailed her fall cross country season. Her relief, however, quickly turned to trepidation when she learned that the coach was pushing for surgery in early February.  Two weeks in a brace and three to four weeks of PT for each leg would eliminate any chance of competing with the team for the spring track season. Adding to her anxiety was the fact that we will not actually be in the country.

Last night when Meg and I were getting into bed, Meg observed that I will likely spend the vast majority of nights in 2026 sleeping somewhere else. We will be in Morocco, France, and Switzerland for the next 11 weeks and then, if my hopes of through-hiking the PCT become a reality, I will spend another 22 weeks on the trail.

Welcome to Marrakech

Here’s hoping 2026 is a good one!