What's funny is when complete strangers come up to me in the shop that I work in and say "Are you really going to do that?", "How are you getting your Vespa around the World?", and " If Niel is riding unsupported does that mean you can't cook him a meal?"And " How can you tell that people aren't cheating?"
Inane questions - every cycle tourist knows what it's like. "Where have you come from?" is the most common question. It's also hard to answer. For example if you say "From New Zealand", it just confuses them, if you say "From ie: San Fransisco [or what ever city you started the trip in], they naively think you've covered that distance in one day. If you say "From [ whatever the last town you spent the night in], or 100kms back that way" it doesn't seem to satisfy them.
I'll never forget in the U.S. last year, reaching our highest ever pass of 11,200 feet, a man trailing his family came over to ask us if we: "were going up or down?!?" In exasperation Niel said " Down, next silly question". I also got them crossing the 4 and 1/2 thousand kilometres across Australia on my Vespa. 1,000 kms from Sydney, 2 Harley riders saw my Western Australia Plates and said: " You haven't ridden that thing from Perth have you?" laughing thinking it was a great joke, "Too right" I said " and I'm off to Sydney. [Boy I made them look silly].
 | ||
| The Rabbit Proof Fence in Western Australia - heading East Don't get me wrong, I like these comments - at least someones taking an interest. On the whole they are encouraging, positive comments. Many people are complimentary and want to take our photo. Actually that reminds me of a funny story. We were cycle - touring Italy in 2000, and were pulling up to the camp ground office in Monza [just out of Milan]. The receptionist [who was gorgeous by - the - way] came out with her boyfriend [ who wasn't bad looking either], and he asked us if he could take our photo, because we "were Beautiful!" We expected him to come back with a camera, but he came back with this huge pack. Inside the pack was an array of camera equipment. "Yes" he answered when we enquired, "he was a photographer for a living". Because we were next to the Monza Grand Prix circuit, I asked if he photographed the Motor racing. "No" he said: " I photograph Cindy Crawford"
I'm starting to do a countdown of sorts - it's 6 weeks till Spring - Yahoo!, In less than 7 months we'll be in Europe. This time next year we will be almost finished. By this time next month, the weather will be the same temperature as when we start in February in Europe, so I will know how cold it's going to be. You know what it's like. I haven't got as far as counting days though. One things for sure, the last 6 months has flown by, the next 6months will too. |
No comments:
Post a Comment