I don't think its common in our culture for a woman to announce her turning of 60. Some people seem uncomfortable when I tell them my age. "No" they say "you are turning 39 again". "No" I say " I am turning 60, I feel good and there's no shame in that." The 19th of this December marks the 60th. Some months ago I decided I needed to treat myself to something special and different to mark the day. I felt it would also set the tone (in my mind) for what I would be doing for the next 20 or 30 years. And hopefully those next decades will also be filled with adventure that my age and health permits. A far off ski and snowboard adventure was the first idea to come to my mind when I was planning … [Read more...] about Looking Forward: Looking Towards 60
Biking Taiwan
Now: Back Into It
So many years later I find myself not quite as spontaneous and certainly I have lost the feeling of invincibility. With baby steps I have gotten some weekend tours back under my belt. All loaded up with my tent, sleeping bag, stove and so forth I have sometimes become frustrated with my pace as sleek looking riders wizz past me. I have to remind myself they are probably half my age carrying half the weight. All the frustration becomes forgotten when I sit aside my campfire enjoying the stillness of the night. I often give myself the pep talk about how well I'm doing. Last summer a friend and I did a trip along the Royal Canal in Ireland at a snail's pace. The hardest part is to keep my … [Read more...] about Now: Back Into It
My Passion
Bicycle touring was my way of life in the 70's. At almost a moment's notice I was on the road for a day, weekend or multi month tour. I was spontaneous and felt invincible. After a few tours throughout Europe I landed a job at American Youth Hostels in New York City. I was a bicycle tour leader, mail order manager, buyer for their sporting goods store and helped run their training programs for potential tour leaders. Years later I was asked to set up and run their youth hostel in the Catskill Mountains of NY. When I got to lead a tour a got a whopping $4.00 a day to lead groups of teenagers throughout parts of the East Coast and Europe. I wasn't in it for the money. My opportunity to lead … [Read more...] about My Passion