A Simple Life For Now

Another week has flown by. Hard to believe we were just in Pueblo for a rest day last Wednesday, and now we're in Telluride for a rest day tomorrow. Some of us were wondering why we were getting another rest day so soon, but after the climbs just about each day since we left, I for one no longer wonder why. A 12 mile climb, an 11 mile climb, and all the shorter climbs in between make for some lingering fatigue. Today's final climb, just before the last leg into Telluride, sucked all remaining energy out of me. The only redeeming aspect of that climb was the view from the top. Spectacular.

So now, after setting up camp, after taking the coldest shower ever in my life (it cost $3.00 to have hot water for 5 minutes, and me being the cheapo that I am settled for the cold--hey, that $3.00 was just spent on a tea latte, a much better use of the money!), I'm sitting in Between the Covers, drinking said tea latte while eating a monster cookie. I also just bought Czeslaw Milosz's Selected and Last Poems 1931-2004. What more could a person want?

Simplicity. The whole ride has been about living out of a 30 x 18 x 16 box. After finding out how easy this actually is, I'm wondering what life will be like when I return home. Will I fall back into the usual ways of pre-ride? I truly hope I don't, but with the pressure from those around me, I have a hunch I'll cave and follow the status quo. As I was pedaling along today, I was imagining getting home and setting up my tent and crawling inside. I know my family would think I'm absolutely nuts, but I've developed an affection for my tent, and each night I set it up, snuggle down into the sleeping bag, then wake up with the rising sun and the singing birds, I wonder why we need 3500 square foot homes. Why do we need air conditioning? Why do we need to build walls around ourselves?

I'm not sure what's in store when I get home. I have three weeks to enjoy the simplicity of life while riding across Utah, Nevada, and California, and that's exactly what I'm going to focus on. I'll worry about home when I get home.

Comments

I know one person who rode across America and then found it more comfortable to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag when he got home. He said it was the best sleep he had in years.
JK said…
It is interesting how snuggling down inside the tent feels so good. I wonder if Hubby would mind creating a tent over our bed. :)

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