"It would be pleasant to be able to say of my travels with Charley, "I went out to find the truth about my country and found it." And then it would be such a simple matter to set down my findings and lean back comfortably with a fine sense of having discovered truths and taught them to my readers. I wish it were that easy. But what I carried in my head and deeper in my perceptions was a barrel of worms. I discovered long ago in collecting and classifying marine animals that what I found was closely intermeshed with how I felt at the moment. External reality has a way of being not so external after all."

John Steinbeck
Travels With Charley


So,

Off I go, from Anacortes, Washington to Lubec, Maine.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Progress!

The pass over the Northern Cascades Higway was opened on may 8th.  The snowshoes have been removed from my panniers.

Scott Seymour and the boys at Pat's Bike Shop have boxed up Bob.  Fed Ex picked up yesterday and as of this writing it has left Connecticut on its way west.  I delivered my other touring bike to brother Ed in New Jersey on the 27th of last month.  I continue to get some miles in, now on my road bike.  This bike feels like rocket compaired to the touring bikes; I feel like I'm cheating.  I made a goal of 1,000 miles before I leave.  Right now I'm at 830, including my first centry ride for the season (a trip up to Lincoln and back).  Will I make the 1,000?  Probably not, but I feel as though I'm as well prepared as I can be.

A little eastern wisdom:  A twist of the old addage: "It's about the journey, not the destination."  Thich Nhat Hanh, a Budist Zen Master, says: "Why race to get to the destination?  It's your funeral."
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2 comments:

  1. Myron L Meters The Water Quality ExpertsMay 10, 2014 at 8:02 PM

    Just saw the picture on your home page. Biking around a carpeted room isn't such a big adventure. How big is that room?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownMay 13, 2014 at 5:43 PM

      Hey, listen Myrom, haven't you got anything better to do? For your information, not all of the basement is carpeted!

      Delete

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