Not only did I ride my bike up Manhattan, thru Central Park, and later down Broadway to the Brooklyn Bridge, but I figured out that anyone who owns a car (or dog) in Manhattan is nuts! I don't know why more people don't follow the European example and use motorcycles and scooters in major cities. Using the skills I picked up cycling thru Italian cities, I was able to zip my bike thru traffic much faster than the cars, trucks or NY taxis. A little creative lane development can save a lot of time. The only problem with traversing Manhattan by bicycle is needing to carry a ten pound square link chain to prevent theft. No Odyssey bikes were stolen in NYC, yet three were ripped off in Ottawa (by people with bolt cutters).
Prior to Odyssey, I sent away for tickets and later the afternoon of May 23rd, I went to see Late Night with David Lettermen. I don't know how seating is decided, but as ticket holder #32, I wasn't on the main floor but in the first row of the balcony (above the band). I didn't recognize all the names in the monologue because I've been a bit out of touch. During commercial breaks, the band plays, Dave takes off his jacket, and the monitors play lame scenes from skits with Dave & Paul Schafer. The best part was seeing and hearing James Earl Jones reading from Richard Simmon's new book. He flubbed a page number on one skit so, after the taping was done, they reshot that bit and did an additional one as well.
Once out of NYC it doesn't take long to get to big lawn country and towns with names like Clinton - towns where you can imagine people sitting on their large porches waving to neighbors walking by and calling, "Hey Opie. Howdy Andy." You also quickly learn the difference between rural roads in NY and Europe. In Europe, roads curve up switchbacks to climb hills. In NY, they go straight up and down. One day, when my shoulder was hurting, I walked up one such hill. That long steep uphill entailed more walking on a bike ride than I've done since Chilly Hilly '81. On two downhills to Verona (near the Erie Canal), I hit 46 and 48.5 mph - to stop signs!
In Verona, I was picked up by two friends from Vancouver, BC, Cornelius and Terry, plus Terry's family from Utica, NY. I joined them for two days of "normalcy" including vegetating on a soft couch watching the Indy 500, doing laundry where I could start the dryer then leave for a fabulous family bbq, cooking eggs the way I like them, doing a short leisurely stay together ride to a bakery, and having a quiet conversation with a friend for an uninterrupted hour and a half.
Cornelius and Terry had flown to Ottawa and the timing for their return flight was perfect for getting me back to Odyssey in Ottawa. But, before dropping me off, we made an excursion to Mountain Equipment Co-op (the Canadian version of REI). I spent over $500 Canadian mostly on new clothing. I even qualify for a $35 GST rebate. With the welcomed present of five pairs of coolmax socks Terry brought from Vancouver, I should have all the clothes I need to complete Odyssey.
With our return to Europe, the second part of Odyssey2000 will begin. Some malcontents stayed home. The majority are coming together as a group. Al's choir is becoming more public with their practices (see Al's website). Two mechanics were added to the staff making Dave and Merlyn much happier - not to mention the riders who had to wait to get work done on their bikes.
This group identity will become more important as we travel to places where English is much less common. Other links people have to the U.S.A. will become less common also - things like McDonalds, peanut butter and flushing toilets. Apparently root beer can be found only in America. Hopefully, ice cream will be universal. I still miss the Mint Mega ice cream bars of South Africa. And friends.
Happy Trails,
Bruce