NEW TOURING FRIENDS ON THE ROAD AND NEW ADVENTURES!

When traveling in general, meeting new people is inevitable. How do you know if there is compatibility? Who is going to like who and why. What are that person’s political , religious and other more trying views and opinions. How are they going to fit into our own dynamic of thought? Is the voice we like or is it more in-depth that we look for in our interactions with others. Seldom we have to have a common denominator to get us to open the gates. No one gives you the keys to the Kingdom willingly. We are all in the same situation from time to time. In bicycle touring meeting others can be a blessing after many days in the saddle by  itself. Others times can be frustrating because a fellow human being can have the best intentions in the world but not the ability to communicate to understand the other’s needs. Meeting others while cycle touring is exciting but there are some reservation that I have. The pace. Are you both going at the same pace, are you willing to go up the hill to get to the real quaint town while your new friend refuses and barks his disapproval? Where, how far and what time are the others concerns. Who dictates where you are going to eat , what and when.  It seems to me that the very same reason as to resigning from a job leaving your other half at home working and taking care of your other life while you are having an adventure is the reason why you wouldn’t want the challenges that come with a new cycle touring buddy. How to solve the conflict of company versus solitude? Ride one day to see but establish your needs and sterilize the interaction as much as possible or allow that person to be themselves and evoke a new learning experience while you are seeing the world one pedal stroke at the time.  I have been fortunate enough that while touring, I have met some really interesting and unique individuals. No all cycle tourist. Hikers, and plain people who live on the trail, going up and down the trail everyday.  Everyone has a story that is trying to be written everyday. Some encounters are hours , some are for a night, and some are for days. Which are the ones that I want to maintain? All of them. All of them because this is the very same reason as to why I am cycle touring and exposing my being into the adventure and unknown. In a previous post I had discuss a fellow “Bob” who I thought has some unresolved issues that are being put off by riding the trail up and down. My point is that whether it is the “Bob’s” of the world or the Laurie’s and Jerry’s of the world; meeting other cycle tourist and fellow human beings does bring that humanity that I have felt is missing for so long.