73 years old and riding a ten speed on I-5 with a toothless grin

The hard part about being at the end of the world is getting the out. Hitch hiking with a touring bike, trailer and a columbian jewliery maker is a great way to not get anywhere but not a bad way to shair some laughs. So I parted with some coinage and bussed my way back up north to Bariloche Argentina.

So interesting to travel the same land by peoples perfered method of travel. Fed by others a diet of bread, meat, cheese and sugar. Provided with H20, a bathroom at all times, sleeping or entranced in a computer screen of some sort. But when the jarring vibrations of the bus´s rythyms chnge, alertness is obtained. ´hey whats wrong? Why are we stopped? Will it be long? It is only then that they are atentive and alert to their enclosed surroundings, And what do we see but anouther bus on the same desolate pampus road going in the oposite direction. The bike is my perfered method of travel. Its easy on the bus, no thinking required, perhaps that part of the reason so many people are drawn to me when i loll into city. ´wow´´ they think, a person that is thinking differently! I ´ve seen sheep and guanachos shairing the same land, I´m a guanaco.

I don´t want to be tired i want to be naked.

Perhaps my efforst for a lower crbon foot print could be considered a type of urge toward evolution? Not evolution in the pure sence of the word, but if computers are an evolution then a lack of their use could be one as well. my diliberate use of older technology is my fuel for that though. Wet tent, Holey shoes and only 191 chilian pesos or about 38 US cents in my pocket while crossing back into chile. What do you buy with that? three carrots and a onion, not a bad soup with my other supliments.

Stepped into germany. One not so lonly trees in the cow fields on rolling hills set on large inland bodies of water some us call lakes.

So it is when multiple things go wrong that compound on each other. Stove problems: My dependence and reliance on the jet fast gas stove is intrinsic with the use of ll types of technology. Yet when this gas stove does not function and can´t be fixed, i still need to eat. hile not excited about the idea, i put wax into a tuna can lined with a cardboard for a wick... 30 minutes later boiling h20 for my oatmeal. Technological regression will be the most painful for though who have grown the most dependent.

And who should meat me upon my reentrance to I-5?
8 missionary workers on rickity white ten speeds of course!

Talked with a Gas station attendent who had never been 70k south of his home town. I traveled farther in one day than he has in his whole life.

EMAU, french for chillian soup kitchen, $1USD gets me a hot bowl of soup, shower, and a bunk. The place leaves me refrested and with a cool glimps into their recycling yard, clean, organised and a mix of the hub and the restore not to mention an opertunity to get people off the street and to learn some workin skills.

Took a photo of an old man looking out over hundress of houses all the same. As it is with their diets, religion and love for soccor. Its a wounder a different idea ever comes out. I respect the señors rolling around town with hourse and buggies.

They actually build roads differently here to acomidate puplic transportaion. Highways and roundabouts have much easier access than the states and although its posted that you can´t ride a bike or a horse on I-5 this law is far from enforced.

I´m sure the name is spelled wrong for its hard to hear over 5 lanes of traffic. Laonce is 73, just the age alown is amazing, but the fact that the ten speed road bike rider was on I-5, holding off advancing trafic with his hand is so inspiring. A conection by far more close than imainable for just riding 15k in his draft. It gave me the feeling of greatness for us proud cyclist of the world.

Entering Santiago after dark and 200k with a sweaty smile, I have completed my west coast ride. Just in time for April´s Critical Mass bike ride too with police escorts and over 100 in atendance. Bike culture here is strong and growing with force with the help of $$$ from the chilian government for the first time.

Artificial inteligence needs to never be created. For the future is bleak with computers thinking for us.

some pages of friends with photos too...

http://anneesympatique.zeblog.com/
http://www.whereismaynes.blogspot.com/
http://www.arribaelachancha.cl/

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