I fear every entry will begin with me proclaiming "I'm tired, my body hurts!" So, from now on, unless noted, just assume that to be true. Actually, I think my body is adjusting to the constant work a little bit. When i was clenching my teeth in order to clear a hill today, I thought of the many workers on bicycles-carts pulling full loads in China. This was common sight for me in Shanghai. That's their job - sunrise to sunset probably. I bet they even bike to work and back. If they can do that with their skinny rice fed bodies, then there is no excuse for a complaint from me about a certain ache. I am extremely sore and stiff in the mornings though. ;)
I am continually amazed with the progressing beauty of the landscapes - vast green fields with bordering evergreens dipping into the heavens, sunsets of every color - so brilliant one could mistake if for the epitome of beauty, shady hardwood above lazy cows refugeing from the sun - the list goes on.
Sunset is still my favorite time of my journey. Every object around me takes on an ethereal attribute. Is all this and my ability to awe merely a manifestation of chance? If no, why is this monkey oohing and awing? And where's his banana?
Today was a very full day of biking. I'm proud of myself. Got up early and biked past sundown. I was stopped by a passing motorist who warned me of seeing a bear about 20 yards from me. So far, the dogs have been much more evil than the bears. I spent a considerable amount of time trying to find a place to stay for free tonight, as it began raining hard and word on the nighttime lows was a staunch 44 degrees. I almost tried the airport again, but while sitting down enjoying a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter outside a certain unmentionable "super center", I struck up a conversation with someone who was staying with YWAM.
So, somehow I'm staying at some one's house who happens to be good friends with someone I met at L'Abri last week I'm all fed and showered now, and the laundry is chugging away. This is sweet! It's cold and rainy outside. Adventure with the best of both worlds. Solitude on the road, but always meeting people. I think I draw a lot of attention with my bike rig, as I'm obviously "not from around these parts".
3 comments:
you´ve chosen a great mantra:)
since it´s about China it
made me think of The Tale of three kingdoms; you know...when Cao cao once marched his army into a barren land and they were tormented by thirst.. He decieved them by saying that there was a plum grove only a short distance ahead... the thought of tasting plums made them slobber and they were not thirsty anymore..
maybe that´s how the workers in Ch. manage..they have this traditional sayings running in thir blood, pumping their hearts. hm
aaaah, toilets, bears, cold...wicked;)... but u´ve got all the freedom and that´s the greatest thing in the world.
lots of luck and hugs from Slo
Dude, you're cold when it's only getting down to 44 degrees? You need to layer, or your sleeping bag is pretty poor quality. :-/
I've been doing house framing/construction and sleeping outdoors, on-site, for the past two weeks. It's been getting down to the mid-30s at night. With my worn-out 30F-rated bag, a pad, a cap, thermal underwear, my down vest, wool socks, and my army jacket, I've been plenty warm (even too warm, when it got up to the 60s in the early morning - started sweating a couple times). Pretty certain you'd be OK without the jacket - I tend to prefer quite-warm sleeping environments.
Oh yeah and what's with the whole "bear 20 yards from you" thing? That's pretty damn close.
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