As The Crows Fly

Michal and I have been reading a book called Down The Road in South America which is a very inspiring account of one married couple's journey on bikes through Latin America. Tim and Cindie Travis started their bike tour in 2002, and according to their website, they haven't stopped yet. They plan to go around the world and visit every country from the vantage point of their bikes. We have been taking turns reading the chapters; Michal is a slower reader than I, when it comes to English text. Some of the Travis' decisions we question; especially the amount of gear they carried. Oh my gosh a laptop? Today I was following the links to their blog, hoping to learn some current information about their travels. What I found was disturbing: Cindie left Tim in Asia. She wanted to spend more time at a Buddhist monastery, and she didn't invite Tim to stay with her. Tim has continued to write the travel blog as a single guy for over a year now. There is even an entry about signing...

I signed us up for the river run on Saturday. I was supposed to unlock the bathrooms, since we've been having issues with our weekend Gates Guy for the parks, so I cycled down to the Marina a bit early. There were already many people gathered under the bright blue sky; moms with strollers, the entire high school wrestling team, old people, young people, and one man in a diaper and wings, with a bow and arrow. Michal showed up two minutes before the gun. He was late, he said, because he was looking for his other glove, and did I know where it was? Of course not. He had one pannier on his bike with water and an extra coat, since he would be cycling to Hood River after the race. He's crazy. He's really serious about cycling as much AS POSSIBLE. But, at least this meant that I would be able to keep up with him during the run; he would be saving his energy for the following bike ride. I was able to run the first 2 kilometers. We passed the wrestling team, including their coach w...

We just got back from another 26 mile bike ride. this time there weren't as many hills but my knees still hurt. They only hurt when I am pedaling, which tells me that I'm doing something wrong. My theory is that my seat is not wide enough... I need to get a Woman's Seat, which will be a wider saddle, and will allow me to put the full weight of my body onto my "sit-bones"... as it is, I'm holding myself up with my legs and arms so that I don't have to put my full weight on the seat. At least I think that's what's happening. Sometimes my knees hurt so much it's like they're broken and I can't push on them, they just give out in pain. So I have to stop and walk for a while. They don't hurt when I walk, which makes me really think that I'm pedaling incorrectly. Having knees in pain allows me to feel sorry for myself. I've been doing a lot of that lately. No one has ever pushed me as hard as Michal does. He will not let me feel s...

Last night at a small party, I told my friend that "Michal and I are planning an epic bike trip through Central America next year." She said, "Oh that's nice. That will be great." I don't think she realized what I meant, and apparently she wasn't interested in finding out more specifically what I meant when I said "epic". She and her boyfriend are flying down to Mexico to go surfing next month. I'm a little jealous that my partner doesn't choose such relaxing and comfortable vacations for us. Not that we are going on a vacation - I realize I am mixing apples with oranges and I'm totally judging my friend and her travel style. A vacation is essentially different from a Bike Trip. A vacation is an opportunity to leave your job and commitments for a week and focus entirely on pleasurable activities: eating nice food, trying new hobbies like snorkeling, spending quality time with your loved one. A Bike Trip is an opportunity to leave yo...

Yesterday I read Sarah Brady's blog for the first time. She's a wonderful writer, and she hits on the questions that I'm wrestling with. She admits that she feels a little guilty when her host family gives her the master bedroom and piles trays of food on the table made specially for her. I know that we will find incredible hospitality when we go south. I'm just not sure that we deserve it. When was the last time Michal and I brought home a hungry traveler off the streets of The Dalles?

We bought new bikes for the new year. Ever since I met Michal at school in 2007, he has been talking about an epic journey around the world. When he married me, I figured he gave up on that dream, but I should have known better.