The Travel Log Get comfy, it is a long one! Dancing in the streets of Amsterdam We have come a long way. Our travel log now includes the major cities, the largest festivals, and tiniest villages throughout England, Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia. I would guess we have covered over 3,000 miles by bike. We have been following a huge snaking river, The Donau, south east through Germany, Austria, and Hungary for the last month. After traveling through Vienna and Budapest, we parted with the Donau last week, marking our eastern most point of the journey and our gradual return west. People everywhere stop us and ask us where we are from and how long we have been riding our super sized bikes. They either look like they will fall over in disbelief, or they have laughing fits while shaking their heads saying “crazy, crazy, crazy” – and I have to agree! Perhaps it was in Berlin that all the wonderful elements of Europe really crystallized for me. In terms of magnetic draw to a city, this was beyond anything I have ever experience before. The history of the rise and fall of the eastern block and the soviet occupation is so tangible, but the feeling was of a phoenix rather than damaged goods. I love to see how people are shaped by the presence of history in their daily lives. I really feel like living among ruins gives you a bigger perspective on your life and reminds you of what can happen…the mistakes and triumphs are constantly there to warn and inspire you. It creates a political and social awareness in the people that manifests in a mature civil dialogue about how to live; self organization, the role of government, the boundaries of self responsibility and collective responsibility, the value of art and descent. The anti-fascist movement and the artistic/creative reactions and resistance to fascism is everywhere. The young people are rallied around a social movement that they really understand and think deeply about – more so that anything I have seen in the US. We have a ticket into the heart of alternative bicycle and pop culture in every city because of what we are doing. I have been deeply compelled by the relationship between bicycle and music culture. It is cliche to say that music is the universal language, but so are bicycles. I see that bicycles are available everywhere you go, not dependent on socio-economic status or geo-political circumstance. Both music and bikes offer empowerment, a outlet for self expression, an centralizing point for community, and a positive influence on the health of humanity one a whole. Okay, I know that sounds a little wo-wo-shee-shee, but it is really a bigger picture between music and bikes that is starting to come together in my mind and heart. A Foreign Tribe I would describe this tour as one of the most trying things I have ever done in my life. I like to say that we are not exemplifying a sustainable lifestyle, we are experimenting with ideas about it. Sometimes I think we are all perfectly crazy and doomed to reinforce the negative stereotypes of American’s as ignorant, self absorbed, inconsiderate, arrogant, and rude…but many times I get a soaring view into the profundity and beauty of what we are doing, and it takes my breath away. For example, in Budapest, we were hired by the US Embassy in Hungary to preform at Europe’s largest music festival, The Sziget, with over 600,000 people. It was such an awesome juxtaposition: We set up in front of 4′x5′ posters of Condoleezza Rice, the Clintons, and other past secretaries of state. Here we are, going to the greatest links to stop participating in oil wars and occupations and waste and careless consumption, and yet, this is what America stands for in so many foreign countries. We were a rag-tag group of hippies, in front of a proud stand of American flags, bringing a highly political message. And to our great joy, our presentation brought a lot of confusion, curiosity, and civil debate to the venue. People were brought in by our bicycle performance and alternative message, and then wandered into the embassy station and bringing pointed criticisms and open ears to the representatives of America’s foreign relations policy. Some days, when we are all riding through the country side and we are drafting, I see the sun setting on our little tribe…I am struck by the notion that we are part of the first generation of a new nomadic tribe, setting out to heal the world and heal ourselves along the way. It makes me wonder what the old Aboriginal or Native American tribes would think of us, such a post modern and foreign tribe. None of us is connected by blood, we drive machines that come from machines, we use technology and tools to navigate, we do not travel by natural necessity, but by some urgent quest to heal our world and ourselves. I think they would have a lot to teach us. The Music I feel like I have finally “come into my own” in terms of my musical presentation on this tour. It has taken a while for me to feel comfortable and confident being part of a line up of five bands in a collective presentation. I am used to booking my own shows in accordance with the audience I think will like my music best and the environments I like to preform in. This tour has been less in my control, so it has pushed me to preform at times and places that I am not naturally comfortable in, and that is a great opportunity for growth. There has not been much time to write new material, but I can feel my inner well filling up with new material. I am also becoming a better harmony singer, which is great fun and easy to practice because I love all the other artist’s music on tour. I perform with a rotating group of musicians, including cellist CelloJoe, flutist Louis Alexander, bassist Kelly Patton, and guitarist Alex Meek. I am marking my map with cities where I felt the greatest musical recognition and resonance. There are many places I would like to come back and live for a month or two to really tap into the music scene a bit more. In the meantime, I am selling CDs and envisioning each one of them as little seeds that are floating out into Europe and while be germinating for an Amanda Mora tour in 2011, when my next album comes out. The Tough Stuff The constant negotiations and logistical nightmares of a 16 person group with monstrous bicycles that weigh more than we do can be unfathomably tiresome. The constant loading and unloading of the bikes, the sore legs and aching ass, trying to keep everyone feed, trying to figure out where the *&^$ we are going next and where we will sleep, and general sleep deprivations…well, I try to think of it all in the spirit of Jack Kerouac and the beat poets who view the sufferings of the road as a kind of poetic gift to your self in the end…but sometimes I just see it as a nearly unbearable pain in the ass and insane self punishment! I have had to deal with a long string of traveling misfortunes…more than my fair share of theft, loss, and sickness. It is almost comical, but I can say that I feel as stripped of my fear and attachment to material possessions as I am stripped of my valuables! I had my main bag stolen in Czech Republic – a danger that I was warned about – which had my passport, money, bank card, jewelry, journal, and everyday goodies like headlamps and pocketknife, address book, ipod, etc. It is embarrassing to admit, because I know better than to put all my eggs in one basket, but it happened none the less, so let this be a lesson. It is so difficult to keep your things together and protected at all times while living on bike…such exposure. Two other crew members had their bags stolen in the next town of Czech Republic. When I arrived in Prague a few days later, I came down with a kidney infection which lead to a flu which lead to me feeling like death and forcing me to go to the emergency room for a quick dose of antibiotics. By the time I had recovered, I caught a violent stomach bug that, well, lets just say it was not pretty and lasted about two weeks. Then I lost my iphone, one of my only valuables I had left. Then I got a head cold…which pretty much concludes my brief history of travel woos and brings us up to now. I fully intend on perfect health and security from this point forward!

Where we go from here I am in a little cafe in Ljubljana, Slovenia at the moment. Tomorrow is the beginning of our two week vacation, during which we are all responsible for getting ourselves to Marseilles, France. I plan on staying on the Croatian island of Krk for a week, then cycling/training through northern Italy and the southern coastline of France to arrive in Marseilles on September 4th. Then we go to Toulouse, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Porto. We will have our last show in Porto Portugal on Halloween. Still do not know how we are getting back, but most likely we will return to London and catch the Quenn Mary 2 back to New York on November 10th. I apologize this letter is sooooooo looooooong, but you have to strike while the iron is hot. I send my love and would welcome your own updates! Amanda Mora P.S. Three things I will never take for granted in the USA again: free hot water at every convenient store, free toilets, and the bottomless cup of coffee, all things that are hard to come by over here. P.S.S. The fact that I actually own a car back home seems utterly bizarre to me right now, and the idea of getting in it and driving seems gross. Pretty deep transformation going on here. follow our tour blog at www.pleasantrevolution.net

]]> http://amandamora.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/east-to-west/feed/ 0 amandamora http://amandamora.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/10/ http://amandamora.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/10/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:53:36 +0000 amandamora http://amandamora.wordpress.com/?p=10 Continue reading →]]> As you may know, I have been cycling for over a month now, playing music with The Pleasant Revolution Bicycle Music Festival Tour in Western Europe. I am finally settling into life on a bicycle and feel like the true adventure has just begun…

Some of the highlights of the trip so far:World Naked Rides in London and Brighton, England, where we rode with thousands of nude cyclists through the city with our mobile bike speakers pounding! Later in the day we had a dance party in the streets of London that Hollywood could not have touched! People coming out of their apartments, business men putting down their cases and jackets, people parking their car and running over, all to join in on the frenzy and bliss of our spontaneous dance party in the street. A bicycle music festival in a small town in Germany where the whole town came to the show with their oldtime music, homemade goats cheese, bread, homemade beer, and jam to share with us. We spent all night in an old dance hall out in the countryside and then cried when we had to leave the next day. Randomly running into a dear old friend from my home town in Texas in a central square of Amsterdam. Taking a three day solo cycling trip through the Germany countryside on a lovely bike path that followed a river. I was so happy to experience the vulnerability and quite of being alone after a month spending every minute with 15 vivacious new friends. I got overtaken by a swarm of bees and was not stung once…one of the most magical experiences ever. The three days ended with a swim in a cold lake and a sunset dinner of crackers, smoked fish, red wine, and cheese in a field of red poppy flowers as far as I could see. Right now, I am at Fusion Fest, a gathering of 60,000 people in an old bunker yard that was used to store missiles during the Cold War. The scale of the landscape and artistic expression are beyond description. It is boiling with anti-fascist ideas and looks and feels post-apocalyptic – like the party at the end of the world. I am learning to love everyone in the crew. Each person is so unique and brings something really valuable to the group. We share a lot of laughs and good food and really create a support system that is much needed when we are challenging ourselves so much. I am the sound woman, which is quite a job. At festivals I will build and break down the PA four different times and run sound for 9 bands on any given day. It is a lot of work, but I feel like I am good at it and it is becoming easier. We are moving really fast all the time. It is hard to imagine how much work goes into trying to keep my gear together to live on a bike, navigate a new city just about every day, maintain a job as sound woman, be a performing artist trying to put together a new band and perform major shows, keep my clothes washed and my face feed, set up camp each night and tear down and pack up each morning….then ride hundreds of miles a week. Much less do publicity and planning for the tour. And add into the mix all the different personal relationships between the 15 members of the crew. It has been exhausting, but worth while. I am getting much better at using my time efficiently and my body is stepping up to the challenge…sleep derivation and all. Needless to say, it has been difficult for me to get online or make phone calls. I want to do better, but in the meantime, our website is kept very current and you can follow our blog to know what is happening: www.pleasantrevolution.net On a deeper level, my love for the mission of this Pleasant Revolution and sense of doing the right thing at the right time envelopes me and I feel re-energized and so incredibly glad to be on this tour. We tend to work with other activists and people who are exploring ways to live more sustainably, so I am learning a lot and being deeply inspired to clean up my life back in the “real world” – off tour. So, on that note, I have to run! No time to edit my email very carefully, so please excuse my typos. I play a showcase tonight at midnight here at the Fusion Fest. I send my love to you! Amanda Mora P.S. I love my bike. Did I say that already? I love my bike.

]]> http://amandamora.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/10/feed/ 0 amandamora photo by Emily Fitzgerald http://amandamora.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/hello-world/ http://amandamora.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/hello-world/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 03:22:24 +0000 amandamora http://amandamora.wordpress.com/?p=1 Continue reading →]]> Departure time is here ya’ll!!!

Oh my goodness, am I excited. I am scrambling to get all my lose ends tied up and my gear assembled. I leave on the Amtrak early tomorrow morning. I can’t wait for the moment when the wheels start rolling and I relax into the knowledge that I have done everything I can to be prepared…I am not going to Mars…whatever I need along the way will be available…and it is time to experience rather than forecast the future.

Cutting up and showing off my bike a my dad’s house.