2010
As we enter into a new year and the door of the past year hits us in the ass, I would like to take this time to reassess what the hell happened to us in 2009.
It is not often that I stop and evaluate my life because that only leads to depressing conclusions. However, the past year has led me to realize that sometimes taking at least a few minutes to evaluate and plan can dramatically improve your quality of life for months to follow. Perhaps the arbitrary end point of this year is a good enough reason to do that.
2009 was a year of change. I am not sure it was the change that I needed, but I am an adaptable organism that tries to deal with my surroundings in the best way possible. However, in 2009 those surroundings were changing everyday and there was no end to the change in site. Let’s review.
We spent the first part of 2009 couch/yardsurfing between Mickey’s condo and the apocalyptic junkyard where our friend Tim lived. I spent almost everything I had on the custom bike of my dreams. We left Tucson for the east coast.
We were excited to be on the road again in the desert with 30 lbs of Clif Bars. I left Tucson the same way that I came in, on the I-10. Camping in the desert was rugged and desolate. I enjoy being in places where I know that I am the only human being for miles.
The further east we got, the less majestic and desolate our surroundings became, and the more densely populated and congested with cars. It became utter drudgery and I began to feel more like a hobo than an adventurer. Summer on the farm was not the mental and physical refill that we needed to keep touring. Eventually, and possibly after sleeping on a pile of garbage in a mosquito infested nature preserve aptly named Mosquito Lagoon, I drew the line and decided that the change needed to stop. It needed to stop somewhere that we could hopefully find work and a cheap apartment. It stopped in Chicago.
A quick comparative glimpse into the present and past can illuminate certain things, and perhaps make me appear very foolish and stupid at the same time. Lets take a trip back to this time of the year in 2009 and compare it with where I am here in 2010.
So to recap, I still have 3 bicycles and <3, and according to some, I have two years to gain the rest back before shit either hits the fans or magically transforms. Thank you.
-L
You Whipper Snappers are all right.
-25f here in steamboat springs colorado. thats cold.still plan to ride my bike to work. thanks for sharing all your adventures in 2009. looking forward to all your posts in the comming year.im in the planning stages of my first big tour this fall and have learned alot from you. thanks for the lessons and keep the touring info comming.
daaaam
steamboat! isn’t that town at like 9,000 ft or something.
town sits just under 7,000ft. the summit of the ski area is at 10,600ft. thats where im headed now. have a great day.later
must be nice. we are surrounded by snow but have nothing fun to do in it here.
i love you, larjar! happy 2010.
<3 you ariel!
Happy new year…my best advise is be content wherever and however you are. good luck…..
Having a stable job and tons of friends is boring and to demanding. I just started eating 3 dollars a day from $2. I feel like I am a King.
Hello Lar, You’re leading an exemplary life.
You’ll have many more memories and experiences
than alot of less adventurous people, and
you won’t be one of those that regret not
having done more. And you’re alot more interesting
than alot of people, so hold your head up high!
Take care, and all the best. Hope we meet
some fine day! Kim
hey kim where are you now?
Mickey’s fort is in dire need of more inhabitants. Feel free to bike back down here and ‘lease’ one of his rooms. Oh, and I’d have something good to read as you make your way through the midwest.
Sebastian has an open room as well, and he’s a little more centrally located than I am. Plus, he’s got more bicycles to borrow than I do. Jared would even fit one of them.
Wishing the best for 2010, I wouldnt have chosen someplace so cold. But its cold in Texas now too..I hope you chose to be on the road again in the spring. Perhaps plan an epic cross country adventure and ask for support?
Anyways, still watching.
Toadz
Thanks Toadz-
There will soon be a post about our tentative future plans. Thanks for sticking with us.
L
It’s pretty cold in tucson too. I almost have to wear a second shirt. Almost.
Yeah – having to wear a longsleeve flannel shirt to ride in the early morning is for the birds. I hope Tucson warms back up soon.
I totally had to close my window the other night it was so cold.