Drew: Oct. 25 “A brief alliterative landscaptual history (so far)”
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One of the things I like most about traveling by bike is noticing my surroundings. You can’t help it. On a bicycle a person feels the heat or the cold of the air, the stillness or the breeze, the sunshine or the mist. When the road rises into a hill, the muscles swell with the strain of meeting the incline. You notice, and are grateful for, the shade trees lining the pavement or the natural coolness of passing by a field of clover. And people have time to notice you, and stare, and smile or make a comment.
One of the biggest differences from traveling in a high-speed machine (car, train, plane) is that in the course of a few days a cyclist can see the gradual changes in the landscape. Early on in our trip we began to speculate on where we would be when saw our first palm tree or water buffalo. These would be to us measurements of our progress southward. From Beijing until now, here is a brief history as we see it:
Out of Beijing the road is flat with farmland, fields, and factories.
Soon we see orchards of pinggua (apples), peaches, and pears, with piles peddled peripherally for a few pence.
Yellow corn covers concrete, drying, we dodge it.
Soon we hit hills and huff.
Pomegranites and persimmons hang on hillsides as we wind windily up and whirring, wizz down.
We come to rice and rivers, boats and buffalo, palms. Check point.
Shanghai shakes our senses, sending us spiraling back into city luxuries and lifestyle.
Now we move toward mountains in the mist, beginning to see bamboo and banana trees.
The surrounding peaks are lush and green as the road channels smoothly through, now up, now back down. And sometimes you can’t even tell with your eyes, but your legs let you know. We are approaching Yellow Mountain. We continue westward…
It is very near the end of October, but we seem to be on pace with the weather pretty well; as the warmth moves southward, so do we. The days have been sixties and seventies, mild but crisp in the morning. Barring a few rainy ones, each day seems to be a good day for biking. And so it is.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:34 am
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Andrew!
I really like this reflection. I felt the same way when I got to bike in China - being so close to the people and the land and the weather and everything was astounding. I liked slowing down the travel.
I also like your description of what is growing along the way - pomegranites and persimmons!?
What a sensory treat! Particularly to this gal who spends her days in a hospital.
Love,
Kate
P.S. You are all in my prayers - every morning over oatmeal and hot water.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
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keep it up guys, we love reading about your travels, they are inspiring.
October 25th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
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Hi Drew and crew,,,, so glad that you are enjoying the land. I have been riding here and it has pelted snow and rain on me and the bike - with of course the Livingston winds. Ask Jim how the winds are compared to ours. Any bears by the apples? many hawks and eagles here - golden and bald - what about all the different animals? Take care and I so love hearing about your travels. I even had a captive audience peruse your site—- they were all so impressed. You are becoming famous in Livingston, MT. Good luck. Keep on posting and thank you so much for taking the time to do so. Jim’s mom.
September 5th, 2014 at 7:33 pm
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I grew up with nursery rmeyhs, they were always a source of joy to sing and play games with, I remember all the actions to London Bridge and continued to sing and read nursery rmeyhs to my own children. I know a nursery rhyme book will be one of the first items I will buy our grand children.
February 21st, 2015 at 7:12 pm
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Totally boo away!! I actually found peomismrn yesterday tucked quietly underneath everything in a basket. I never thought to look down. I didn’t get them though because well I’ve got 5 more days really until it’s cookie time!
April 4th, 2015 at 7:44 pm
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HAHA! Where do you live? I have been able to find them at the farmers mraekts still and even at the store. Hrmph, indeed! Sending you some persimmon vibes Good luck!
June 11th, 2020 at 5:30 am
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There as definately a lot to find out about this subject. I like all of the points you made.
January 11th, 2021 at 4:01 am
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you are just too great. I really like what you