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My Next Life as a World Traveler

Is it just procrastination, or is it a dislike that I'm not willing to face up to, that causes me to postpone bicycle touring to my next life? Perhaps the romance of this kind of travel wouldn't hold up to three days of reality.

Cycling on highways is no pleasure. But that might be gotten around by using dirt roads and mountain bikes, or by going to civilized countries outside North America that actually have bicycle paths. Of course, the dog would have to stay home (sniffle!).

But the biggest turn-off is looking for accommodations each night. In first-world countries, motels are outrageously expensive and sterile. In third world countries, you would be lucky to get a toilet that flushes or a shower that puts out any hot water. In any country, there is only a couple sheets of plywood or drywall between your space and the noisy clowns next door. Of course you could always tent-camp 50 feet from a highway.

The question of 'where to sleep' is handled best by sleeping in my own bed in an RV every night. 

Very well then, the next life it will be. Still, I do enjoy the vicarious experience of reading bicycle travel blogs on CrazyGuyWithAbike.com. There is little to interest a general reader in the vast majority of these blogs, of course. It is the nearly universal syndrome of travel blogs, regardless of the means of conveyance.

But if you have the patience, you can get lucky. And it is nice to spread the word. The travel blogs by Leo Woodland have consistently been a cut above the rest. In the past I only wished that he didn't try so hard to be humorous. (Recall Mark Twain's advice in his essay, "How to Tell a Story.")

Leo's last blog does just that. I consider it his best. His wit still comes through. Good observations and thoughts. He integrates a little history into the story in a brief manner, without politics, and in his own words; they are not cut-and-paste jobs from Wikipedia or a travel brochure. Even the photographs are interesting, because he avoids photo clichés and standard postcards.

Keep up the good work, Leo. In my next life, I will catch up with you.

Comments

Ed said…
In the Mark Twain essay he says: " The humorous story is strictly a work of art—high and delicate art—and only an artist can tell it; but no art is necessary in telling the comic and the witty story; anybody can do it. The art of telling a humorous story—understand, I mean by word of mouth, not print—was created in America, and has remained at home."

Notice the NOT PRINT but then goes on to write humorous stories in PRINT. Great link!

I also want to comment on another point that he makes in how to tell a story. "The pause is an exceedingly important feature in any kind of story, and a frequently recurring feature, too. It is a dainty thing, and delicate, and also uncertain and treacherous; for it must be exactly the right length—no more and no less—or it fails of its purpose and makes trouble. If the pause is too short the impressive point is passed, and [and if too long] the audience have had time to divine that a surprise is intended—and then you can't surprise them, of course."

Perhaps the master was Jack Benny and his classic "your money or your life routine" which can not be done in print.
Good examples, Ed. I was remembering something in Twain's essay about not being self-conscious about being funny when you are trying to be funny. Someone can be funnier when they are frustrated or mock-angry than we they are visibly trying to be funny.