I have a friend who...

Just because you can't read the signs doesn't mean they don't have meaning

I have a friend who is out cycling through the middle of nowhere as some have said.   But when you think about it, nowhere to whom?  In my travels, I have gone to a number of big cities and small towns and it is always interesting to think about the people who are getting up and going about their day and who do so every day completely oblivious to the idea that where they are is nowhere.  There in the midst of high rises they celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and promotions.  Also, in the midst of corn fields and grain silos, they celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and promotions.

I like belonging to this cult of people who are united by the love of two wheeled pedal power, but there
are differences.  There are people who like grinding through dirt and those who love the uniform hum of their tires on pavement but common to all who truly love to ride is the sound of the thump of their heart and racing pulse.

What made me think of this was that a friend is traveling through Thailand now.  Each day he posts pictures of his journey and the exotic things that he is seeing.  One day, he is on barren and desolate roads.  The next day, he is entering a city.  Day in and day out of constantly changing scenery counting the miles in association with the new people he meets and testing his language skills.

Found the hole in the stream, but kept riding.

I have a friend who is also content to ride the same route every day, challenging himself to get faster and sometimes taking a moment or two to play around.   Then there are others who ride to work and back and to the gym and back and to the store and back.  Friends who claim to save hundreds on shoes because their feet never touch the pavement.  Friends who read and write about where the best bathrooms are!

One of the best bathrooms in Thailand according to Acid Mustafa.

We are an odd bunch.  We speak our own language and the roads and trails look different to us than to those who walk or drive.    The best thing is that I get to say, "I have a friend who..."