Melissa and Brooke, who rode across the US and Canada wrote an evocative list of the stuff that had happened to them on their adventure. It follows nicely from a recent post I did listing Good and Bad things about riding through Africa.
I have often tried to articulate answers to the biggest question of all: “why?” Here are a few of my answers:
Anyway, on to the list of reasons to go on a long bike journey, which I originally read on the excellent Bicycle Travel Network.
- I’mve seen roadkill happen
- I met my nephew
- I’mve cried
- I’mve sobbed
- I’mve feared for my life
- I’mve seen the most amazing sunsets and the most beautiful sunrises
- I’mve washed my hair in a public sink
- I’mve gone without showering for days
- I’mve laughed so hard my whole body hurt
- I’mve slept at the base of the Tetons
- I’mve been surrounded by hundreds of butterflies
- I’mve slept on an alter
- I’mve out run a dog
- I’mve lied about who I am
- I’mve found comfort in a church
- I’mve ridden over mountain passes
- I’mve ridden through triple digit heat
- I’mve milked a goat
- I’mve dodged willy-worms crossing the road
- I’mve been mistaken for a boy
- I’mve made some amazing friends
- I’mve slept on a complete stranger’s floor
- I’mve drank a beer with a stranger in a garage while watching old Elvis movies
- I’mve pushed my bike up hills
- I’mve regretted the bike tour
- I’mve sat in a city park, with six other bike tourist and have never been happier
- I’mve attended Vacation Bible School
- I’mve been homesick
- I’mve raced two guys to the next town (and won)
- I’mve been flipped off
- I’mve been cheered on
- I survived Jeffery City, Wyoming
- I’mve crossed the 45th parallel, twice
- I’mve consumed an estimated 100 jars of peanut butter
- I’mve slept in a cabin built in 1880
- I’mve bathed in hot springs
- I’mve eaten way too much ice cream
- I’mve watched orca whales dance
- I’mve ridden through pitch black darkness
- I’mve been robbed by a raccoon
- I’mve slept in a dentist office
- I’mve slept on the beach
- I’mve had the time of my life
What about you and your experiences? Anything you might add to this list?
“I’ve feared for my life…
I’ve slept on an alter…
I’ve regretted the bike tour…”
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God I love travel.
All 3 simultaneously perhaps?
I love these “why” posts, though have noticed that the “what for” posts illicite the most comments on this blog. Funny that, as the “why” seems easier objectiviely argue, whereas the “what for” comment threads inevitably desend into the tit for tat most online discussions regress towards.
If the “why” is the spirit of adventure and expeditions, then I suppose the “what for” is the meaning of them. The former the individual impetus, the latter the social justification. Maybe the spirited folks that read this blog, or rather, are compelled to comment, are more interested in the meaning of adventures than the spirit of them. Maybe they’ve intuitively figured out the why already and are diligently chpping away at the “what for”.
Or maybe we spend so long trying to justify the “what for” to managers and marketing types, who sponsor, and grant expeditions, yet will likely never get the “why”, that we forget ourselves.
All considered, if the why is of interest, this book is well worth a look;
http://books.google.com/books?id=-pONUIuS2okC&printsec=frontcover&dq=tuan+escapism&source=bl&ots=xtOTaemPPM&sig=WFrGjyr415KKYdwvbjtPSTid44s&hl=en&ei=H9gQTfQJyICEB7vY8bYO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
I take my hat off to anyone who gets through “Jeffrey City”, Wyoming on a bike…alive!
My “A Tale of Two Cities!” Blog post recalls surviving Jeffrey City and sleeping in a cabin built in 1880.
Definitely a Good Thing and a Bad Thing about riding across the USA!
The link might help…
http://www.midlifecyclist.me.uk/2010/07/tale-of-two-cities.html
Great post. For me, riding is about getting off road on remote trails, getting off of the tarmac – and these days finding trails that haven’t been covered in the black stuff is getting harder and harder. Trails connect you with nature and really show case the people, environment and beauty this world has to offer in a way that roads can’t.
Take care Alastair, have a great Chrimbo & NY. I’ll be in the UK for 3 months next year – may be hook up for a beer!
Mushypea (just finished riding in Bhutan and now in west Bengal)
Wow – how was Bhutan? Any cracking photos for a Photo Friday entry?
Hi Alastair – internet has been way sketchy this last few months – just got back from a nightmare snow storm on the Tibet border. Heading off again tomorrow for Ladakh. I’ll be back in Australia 17 July when this trip is all wrapped up. Would love to do a photo friday for you when I get back – not forgotten just been out of reliable comms since Feb.
take it easy, dave
1. I go on vacation and loose weight instead of gaining it.
2. I’ve dismantled and “remantled” my bike in various international airports.
3. I’ve mimed in the Czech Republic, Spain and France, to find my way around.
4. I’ve worn lycra for two weeks and not felt stupid.
5. I’ve smelled carrots in Quebec, wine making in France and sheep poo in Ireland.
6. I’ve been overtaken by a truck full of olives in Spain.
7. I’ve been lost in forests in Austria.
8. I’ve cycled parts of the old Iron Curtain
9. I’ve crossed International borders that are no more than streams or small roads.
10. I’ve seen the world at 20 mph.
Going on holiday and losing weight must be a pretty big selling point!! I like it!
‘-Had bikes towed from the mountains of Spain on a flat bed after blowing a derailer
-slept in a Icelandic geyser field
-got a ride in a Finnish police car after my bike was stolen :(
-sang Christmas Carols in the rain while riding thru New Zeland
-took too many wrong turns and lost my partner for hours
– old a man offer me a push up a hill
-old men tell me to go faster in Spainish, French, German, etc
-after all these years I am finally learning it’s all about the journey and not racing to the destination. I love bike trips
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Did you accept the push from the old man?!
I’ve played days of bocce on a vacant beach in the windy arctic, with uniform stones we found there.
I’ve thrown firecrackers off the peak of a towering Shanghai appartment complex and watched them erupt against a haze of black and mixed neon.
I’ve drank directly from a raging river of glacial water.
I survived a 5 day canoe and portage route through Algonquin Park in Ontario, during bug season.
That’s a great list. Can someone please take a look at my questions for biking gear? Just click on my name to visit my blog post about the proper biking gear. I am completely new to this biking adventure!