Friday, November 1, 2013

Three years on the road

I went to lunch yesterday with a friend, just down the road to Fisher's. It's so much quieter than the Lizard. This bicycle had our attention.



I said it looked like a homeless person's shopping cart. My friend, an avid cyclist, said no, but it seemed the owner was travelling. "Look at the washcloth."

And then, there she was. Seated, in spite of the brisk breeze and cold, at a patio table, keeping an eye on the bicycle.



We stopped and exchanged some pleasantries, and yes, she and the bike went together. Where from? San Diego. I know I made incredulous sounds. How long on the road? Three years, six months off here and there.

My friend said a cross country bike trip was a dream of hers, but amassing the equipment was just a daunting task. Our cyclist said if she had waited to do that she would not have crossed the street.

She asked if we knew of a hostel she could put up at for the night and have a shower. We didn't, but sent her across the street to Century Cycles, the best bicycling information around, I'm sure.

Oh, and where was she going? She would be stopping wherever she was closest to the Canadian border.

We wished her God speed and very safe travels and went on into the nice warm restaurant. Of course we picked up her tab.

Perhaps you recall a year ago June I met a solitary biker, leaving Lockport, New York, going to California.

Canada is a stone's throw over the canal from Lockport. She can take the Peace Bridge, right there in Buffalo, New York. Coincidences in a small world. 

19 comments:

  1. It is a type of thing we all dream to do, but very few of us actually do it (or can do it). It would be interesting to hear of her experiences on the road.

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  2. What an adventurer! It was sweet of you to pay for her lunch.

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  3. She's very adventurous.

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  4. Hari OM
    She's right. We are inclined to wait; she's grabbing it by the tail. Bravo. YAM xx

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  5. How wonderful. I love that after three years on the road she still has a huge smile - and that you and your friend shouted her lunch.

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  6. That was nice of you to pick up her tab, neat you had the encounter with her. Good for her for her adventures! A bit more than I would want to undertake, but I admire those that do!

    betty

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  7. I'm so envious. Such an adventure she must be having! And the sights she must be seeing, I hope she is taking photos to be able to look back on her trip. I planned on riding all over my city, but after several falls, I've had to give up. There's no way I could manage cross country when I can't even do around the block.

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  8. What an interesting woman. We know of people who have taken off on boats... but not bikes !

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  9. What a woman...that's no mean feat cycling so many miles/kms over so many years!
    She must be as fit as a flea with the heart of a lion.
    Jane x

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  10. Brave soul... So many of us love the idea, but would most likely never attempt it. I wish her a safe journey.

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  11. Wow, that is incredible. I am a lousy bicyclist and can barely bike around the block without falling off. Lol.

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  12. I remember the Peace Bridge, I do not believe we had to pay a toll to get back into the US, only a toll to go into Canada. What fun to meet someone "living the dream".

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  13. What fun would love to do it but just too lazy and I can't ride a bike.
    Merle..........

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  14. Quite an intrepid expedition, that. Like Travels With Charley without the van or the dog (only they say Steinbeck made a lot of that up). I hope she writes a book.

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  15. That was nice of you to pay for her lunch. You'll be one of her fond memories of her travels.

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  16. Brave woman! I hope she reaches her dream destination safely.

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  17. Interesting character. It would be fascinating to learn the whole story here.

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  18. I have a lot of admiration for people like that. I couldn't do it though. It's not the physical part but being away from my kids and grandkids. But if I was a singleton...

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