Didn't realize your schedule took you through Warren, RI. I would have been glad to feed you and let you clean up. Enjoyed the book. Wish it had existed 30 years ago.
We just spent three weeks in Jamaica before sailing to Guatemala. The first thing I noticed in Jamaica was how vibrant life was - no one, like absolutely no one was looking at their phone or had ear buds in. Everyone was interacting with their environment. So refreshing.
I completely agree with your reflection. I’m so glad you mentioned the RV park because we just came off a 10 day (rented) RV trip and noticed hardly anyone was ever outside of their RVs even with near perfect weather. It felt dystopian. I thought I was going crazy.
Hoping you make it safely through these next few days until May 1.
Thanks for the nice story about your observations of your old new home. What happend to the famous front porches of the american homes, are they still in use? I always liked those nice half private spaces, a nice place to chat with foreign people.
Such a wonderfully observational trip. Loved hearing the contrasts with Barcelona. And I’m glad you talked about what you’re doing for healthcare insurance—that’s a question that arose yesterday when our household was listening to one of your excellent Dirtbag Rich podcasts. Wishing you all the very best on your continuing journey! ☀️
America is not a strange place; it's a unique place. It's a mishmash of the human condition. Nobody gets the memo; they write their own. And flying the US flag is categorically different than flying a European national flag. Many people don't understand that historical and ideological difference.
Dah! The Barcelona v RI side by side is telling! Been reading a book called Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes and she profiles a number of people embracing the "dirtbag rich" ethos though she uses a different term (her book's title.) Thank you as always for your observations. I get what you mean.... while I took these photos a while ago, the title of the series could very well be: "America is a Strange Place" https://www.ashleylefrak.com/double-take-gallery
I've often wondered what I'd think of America today if I'd been gone a while. Every time I came back from a long stint abroad before, I found it mostly unchanged, but I feel like so much has been shifting beneath our feet these last years. I've found myself thinking that 'America is a strange place' a lot lately, without even leaving its borders, and not just in the acronym "WEIRD" (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich Democracies, as Western Europe ticks a lot of those boxes), but in that it increasingly feels like an outlier in the realm of human life and experiences. I look forward to your impressions of the western states!
Love the travellogs, and I am always keen to hear or read a view of the American reality through the lense of person that has recently lived in Europe. It is strange how through movies and culture is seems a known , but the view from 20kmh is so different.
As always, loved reading your observations. When we were in France a year ago I pointed out to the kids at every restaurant how people were conversing and not on their phones. We also took walks almost every day and the sidewalks were full - in December!
Working through your book - taking it slow so I can really feel what you are writing and living. Somewhat wishing I’d taken that path, somewhat content with the path I’ve chosen.
Stay safe on the roads - at least here they are a bit wider (I hope!!)
Interested to see how the perspective shifts in different parts of the country. I definitely see more bike travelers out this way, but I also live in a highly outdoor active area.
I witnessed your observation about the older ones of society gathering in public places to socialize on a daily basis in Barcelona.
I just returned from a five (5) week trip walking in Portugal and Spain and riding public transportation across the country spending most of my time in the small town of Estella near Pamplona in the Navarre Region.
People of all ages gather at outdoor cafes in the early afternoons and late afternoons drinking, coffee, tea, wine or beer and eating pinchos. Kids kicking around a soccer ball in the plaza in front of a church. I also witnessed similar scenes in plazas in the big cities of Madrid and Barcelona.
None of them drove to these gathering places--they walked. People are outside sharing the public places, not tucked away in their private spaces. They are all richer because of this daily practice.
I have the same question: Where does this exist in North America?
Didn't realize your schedule took you through Warren, RI. I would have been glad to feed you and let you clean up. Enjoyed the book. Wish it had existed 30 years ago.
We just spent three weeks in Jamaica before sailing to Guatemala. The first thing I noticed in Jamaica was how vibrant life was - no one, like absolutely no one was looking at their phone or had ear buds in. Everyone was interacting with their environment. So refreshing.
I completely agree with your reflection. I’m so glad you mentioned the RV park because we just came off a 10 day (rented) RV trip and noticed hardly anyone was ever outside of their RVs even with near perfect weather. It felt dystopian. I thought I was going crazy.
Hoping you make it safely through these next few days until May 1.
Enjoyed your summary! And thank you for talking about health insurance.
Thanks for the nice story about your observations of your old new home. What happend to the famous front porches of the american homes, are they still in use? I always liked those nice half private spaces, a nice place to chat with foreign people.
Such a wonderfully observational trip. Loved hearing the contrasts with Barcelona. And I’m glad you talked about what you’re doing for healthcare insurance—that’s a question that arose yesterday when our household was listening to one of your excellent Dirtbag Rich podcasts. Wishing you all the very best on your continuing journey! ☀️
Nice chronicle.
America is not a strange place; it's a unique place. It's a mishmash of the human condition. Nobody gets the memo; they write their own. And flying the US flag is categorically different than flying a European national flag. Many people don't understand that historical and ideological difference.
Happy trails! (You won't recognize CA!)
Dah! The Barcelona v RI side by side is telling! Been reading a book called Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes and she profiles a number of people embracing the "dirtbag rich" ethos though she uses a different term (her book's title.) Thank you as always for your observations. I get what you mean.... while I took these photos a while ago, the title of the series could very well be: "America is a Strange Place" https://www.ashleylefrak.com/double-take-gallery
I've often wondered what I'd think of America today if I'd been gone a while. Every time I came back from a long stint abroad before, I found it mostly unchanged, but I feel like so much has been shifting beneath our feet these last years. I've found myself thinking that 'America is a strange place' a lot lately, without even leaving its borders, and not just in the acronym "WEIRD" (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich Democracies, as Western Europe ticks a lot of those boxes), but in that it increasingly feels like an outlier in the realm of human life and experiences. I look forward to your impressions of the western states!
Love the travellogs, and I am always keen to hear or read a view of the American reality through the lense of person that has recently lived in Europe. It is strange how through movies and culture is seems a known , but the view from 20kmh is so different.
As always, loved reading your observations. When we were in France a year ago I pointed out to the kids at every restaurant how people were conversing and not on their phones. We also took walks almost every day and the sidewalks were full - in December!
Working through your book - taking it slow so I can really feel what you are writing and living. Somewhat wishing I’d taken that path, somewhat content with the path I’ve chosen.
Stay safe on the roads - at least here they are a bit wider (I hope!!)
Interested to see how the perspective shifts in different parts of the country. I definitely see more bike travelers out this way, but I also live in a highly outdoor active area.
I loved how you pointed out Europeans believing America is “some dog-eat-dog capitalist hellscape…”.
It’s true.
The generosity Americans display in private is touching and life affirming.
Broadly generalising here.. but in Denmark, where I’m from, we are more complacent leaving the state to pick up.
I witnessed your observation about the older ones of society gathering in public places to socialize on a daily basis in Barcelona.
I just returned from a five (5) week trip walking in Portugal and Spain and riding public transportation across the country spending most of my time in the small town of Estella near Pamplona in the Navarre Region.
People of all ages gather at outdoor cafes in the early afternoons and late afternoons drinking, coffee, tea, wine or beer and eating pinchos. Kids kicking around a soccer ball in the plaza in front of a church. I also witnessed similar scenes in plazas in the big cities of Madrid and Barcelona.
None of them drove to these gathering places--they walked. People are outside sharing the public places, not tucked away in their private spaces. They are all richer because of this daily practice.
I have the same question: Where does this exist in North America?
Thanks Blake, you're showing us all why bicycle travel is a multi channeled infusion of enlightenment.
Also - how are you choosing which roads to add to your routes?
Thanks Doug—and I use Komoot for routing (verified by local people whenever possible)