I’m going to be honest: biking to Ithaca was sometimes awful. In the mornings and evenings especially, I was lonely, intimidated, in pain and generally miserable. I was in kind of a state of dissociation: everything in my head would say “Turn back; go home; give up. It’s not worth it.” Meanwhile my body, very much on its own, would get dressed, eat breakfast, hop on the bike and start pedaling despite knee pain. By the afternoon I’d be feeling pretty good, climbing and descending the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian chain, biking through charming little towns (New York does the whole small town thing much better than Ontario) and enjoying the sun and fresh air. Then I’d arrive at my day’s destination and by the time I went to bed I’d be feeling morose all over again.
Now that I’ve arrived in Ithaca, the whole trip is beginning to shape up much more like I hoped it would. Ithaca is a charming university town, tucked against the southern end of Cayuga lake, full of hippies and anarchists – the vibe is very much like what Peterborough could be if it were less of a shithole. I was fortunate enough to connect with some lovely people who have been hosting me, feeding me, and generally showing me a good time. One of them, it looks like, will in fact be joining me as far as New York City. Everyone I’ve met has been exceedingly nice and generous – this is the first town I’ve come to in which I could genuinely imagine myself living.
Saturday evening, when I arrived, I was invited to a Taurus party outside of town. There was good food and a bonfire, and people gave me advice and supplies for my journey. Since then I’ve wandered through nature trails, attended the local farmers’ market, gone mushroom hunting, helped out at the local bike co-op, cooked some delicious food, and generally kept busy. Last night we celebrated my birthday with vegan cooking, wild morel mushrooms and shots of Chartreuse. I’ve stayed here several days longer than I intended to, since I’ve been so thoroughly enjoying myself; and so Greg and I will be attending not the exhibition opening at MicroCoSM but the full moon ceremony at CoSM a few days later.
Morgan Page said,
May 14, 2008 at 11:19 am
Way to go, Skatche! <3
I’m praying to St. Christopher for you.
~Morgan
ps – If you do decide to come home, though…. that’d totally be cool at this point.
But I know you probably won’t.
Alexis said,
May 14, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I’m so jealous it hurts.
Next time take me with you.
Also, I fully intend to post a comment on every blog entry you write.
mom said,
May 14, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hey Paul,
I fully expected aspects of this journey to be extremely difficult. Everyone’s rooting for you, and I’m so glad you’ve been able to find aspects of immense enjoyment. Having said all that, nobody’s testing you for endurance, and if you did decide to come home, the awe and amazement you have generated thus far, will certainly remain the same, and nobody would think anything less of you – that’s for sure!
I hope things continue to be uphill from here on in, and I don’t mean in the terrain!!
Love you & miss you,
your Mom
Mike said,
May 15, 2008 at 1:48 am
Ithaca? Hardcore.
Happy belated birthday, btw.
Mike said,
May 15, 2008 at 2:04 am
Also… biking to NYC is incredibly cool and proves you’re more man than most. If you attended the moon ceremony and then turned around, you would still be thought a hero, not a failure.
Of course, making it all the way to Burning Man would make you not a hero but a god. So I guess what you’ve got to decide is whether you’re content being a hero, or if apotheosis is within your reach.
Joyce said,
May 17, 2008 at 12:54 am
The fact that you reached Ithaca already is quite impressive in itself. And now that you have a traveling companion till NYC will hopefully make you feel less lonely.
I do hope all of the stops of your trip is as lovely as the time you spent in Ithaca.
Maybe I should pray to Saint Christopher too. I always wish that your travels are steady, smooth, and safe.
littlegodofshadows said,
May 17, 2008 at 7:07 am
*internet hugs*
Continue being safe and successful- and if you don’t, you know who’s around for you.