Touring

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Bike Touring I had ventured to Europe after I'd graduated college. I hitch hiked across the contenient, and rode the rails with a Eurail pass. I stayed in hostels, and ad-ventured across Europe. I was in my 20s, and had a real blast. I wound up in Greece sitting on the roof of a hotel, and realized I was tired and worn out, and hadn't heard my native language, or felt at home in five weeks, so I beat it for the States. 20 years later I was heading back. My family had announced at Christmas they had rented a Gites on the outskirts of Paris, I mentioned I'd love to go along, and that was it, I was going to Europe. I was filled immediately with dreams and excitement to discover France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Greece, all the countries I'd explored 20 years previous. I had also read Lance Armstrong's autobiography, and was keen to see the Tour De France. After doing some research on the WWW, I began training in earnest, commuting everyday, with panniers, usually loaded with a couple phone books to get use to the weight. I made my commutes to work longer to get more miles in my legs, with the hope that it would all pay off when I got to the Contenient. I purchased maps and guidebooks, I explored the WWW. I plotted my routes, and dreamed the dreams of doing this bike tour thing. I learned all I could about touring, reading and making mental notes. I had no idea the undertaking this would entail, but I kept at it. I divested myself of just about everything I could, cars, computers, clothing, furniture, apartments. I replaced these with tents, panniers, and a camp stove. To save cash I moved in with a willing friend, and asked for a leave of absence from work. I trained, riding 30 to 50 miles a day, with and without packs. I packed and unpacked my panniers just to make sure I could do it. I waterproofed, and continued to cut the load. I purchased maps and cut off the parts I wouldn't need. I tore up my guides so that I only had the chapters for the cnoutries I planned on exploring. And then I poured over the maps and studied the guides, while training daily for the trip. Finally the day arrived. I had the bike in a box, and my stuff in a duffle, and I was off. I couldn't wait for this dream to come true. I could taste it, I had a fire in my eye, and a yearning in my heart. I also came home. No, I did ride, I road to Paris, and around the French countryside. I experienced camping at a campground and saw fellow tourists on guided bike tours. It was enough for the moment, and continues to fire my imagination. I came home, and started dreaming about other rides, like the four corners, and just getting out there and doing this thing. Maybe I will one day get the nerve to get out there and do it for real, until then I'll train, commute, and dream. -fin- The usual guides: Let's Go Europe, Lonely Planet, Other essays: A Rant on Hugging Dreaming about a Big Ride