Walking a long way

I’m not sure what it is, but the idea of walking a really long way appeals to me is some kind of primal way. Cradle Mountain, the Appalachian trail, perhaps something in New Zealand. Cycling a long way, too, has its appeal. I’m not quite sure why this is. Perhaps some sort of naive yearning for a return to a mythical golden age of nomads, when the human species was more in balance with its environment.

Recently though, a friend proposed the ultimate slog. Travelling from Northern Scotland to the southern most tip of South America, entirely by human-powered means. Swimming, walking, cycling, kayaking would all be in. Motorised transport – out.

Am I crazy to be considering this?

Relaxing in Leuven

I’ve spent most of this week relaxing in Leuven. Riding to Mechelen, around 24 kilometres away, was a particular highlight. There’s a canal that runs between Leuven and Mechelen, and then beyond, so the riding is pretty easy. I did briefly consider riding back along the unsealed path along a nearby river that runs through Dilje, but time was short and my bike is rickity, so I rode back the same way.

At the same time as relaxing, though, I’m trying to make some headway on this site, as well as catch up on all the news and current affairs. Progress is slow on both fronts, although I am devoting considerable time to current affairs. Having the time to leisurely read the paper everyday over coffee is wonderful. The exact form that this site will take will emerge slowly. I’ve got small projects underway at the moment, and time will tell what fruit those projects bear. In the meantime, I hope you’ll bear with me.