Wednesday, September 3, 2025
My friend asked: What’s your
Favorite thing about Bike Trips?
..."Simplicity."
When Bob and I took our
Unsupported bike trips, years ago,
Each had two back panniers
Plus a small, loaf-of-bread-size bag.
Everything we needed was in those.
We lived out of them..
Clothing, spare bike tubes, and
What my bike-friend Sandy calls
"Lotions and Potions."
(Heaviest part of equipment!)
Limited choice of clothing.
Problem?
Not at all.
An ease and clarity
Seldom experienced in my closet.
I had choice of two shirts:
Blaze-orange or screaming-yellow.
Extreme high-visibility, always my requirement.
Left: Bike trip 'luggage". Two panniers and bread -box size trunk Top Right: Bike trip shirt choices..which one? Bottom Right: Closet quandry—What to wear?
Equal spareness in all categories
Of what we were carrying.
We could have expanded options.
That would mean adding to
Bike load carried....which means
More weight to pedal uphill.
You already see the metaphor
For off-bike-life.
Many things can weigh us down,
Create burden of constant
Daily multiple choices.
Easy to see in the "stuff" realm.
Harder to notice requirements
In place in daily life.
"Always done that, always been that way.”
Can be hard for me to weed out,
Or even see, what
Really doesn't
Interest,
Support,
Enhance,
My daily life.
Maybe all IS a match.
I think I'll try to
Notice my days through
"Beginner eyes.”
See what's real.
Is it even possible to
See through "Beginner Eyes"
When we've lived for decades?
I don't know,
I think it is a good project for me.
You know what I think
My biggest take-away will be?
Gratitude.
May you find more gratitude than grump
In your life.
Hugs.
Lin
Limerick:
When I scrutinize what I'm doing—
And think about what I'm pursuing—
Do I raise a cheer?
Or whisper, "Oh dear"?
It is worth my attentive viewing.
Heath Creek Cycles tuned up my bike. Few tweaks and new chain. Smooth riding!
Oh, Lin…
Everything you said today is what I need to hear. I struggle with an issue you mention… with what gets my attention and that which is still needing my attention. Randy and I discussed this very topic last night. Too much of what I do is not what I want to do for the remainder of my life! Grrr…Grumpy.
For years I have told others that one of the greatest experiences I have when Randy and I travel for a month in our somewhat small RV-van is that we take only what we need… and we are comfortable being together in very close quarters. Our goal is to be outside as much as is possible (and see those whom we love) when we travel. Yay…grateful.
Have a wonderful day, Lin! Hello to Bob.
Muriel
Thank you for your openness, Muriel. I completely get it. And one thing about this time of life–one becomes so aware that “now” is what we have.
Good luck to us both, embracing gratitude and simplicity! Grateful to you.