It is a Pavlovian response. The moment my feet hit the pedals and my legs start pumping … I want a cup of coffee and a treat. No wonder I am a world-class bicycle lingerer.
Donuts. Pastries. Cookies. Fudge. Croissants. Scones. If I didn’t ride a bicycle, I’d probably tip the scales at 600 lbs.
But that need also makes me a better traveler. It forces me to take more breaks and spend more time observing. Watching kids share a bubble tea in Thailand. Witnessing an old Turkish man place a sugar cube on his tongue before drinking his already sweetened coffee. Or, as in the photo above, watching men take a break from working on their coffee plantation in a cafe in rural Colombia.
These little moments stack the shelves of my collective travel memory. And the more I think of it, maybe it’s not the sweets that I’m addicted to, but the sweet encounters.
Willie, thanks to your inspiration I did a solo mini self-supported tour on Vancouver Island to celebrate my 60th. Had a blast! I blogged it at http://www.pedalinjoy.blogspot.com
Still reading your stories to my class and they look forward to them. Happy Trails! Paula Joy