Weekly Ramble

I’m just going to ramble a bit about my week. I didn’t have the energy to write every day, but I did think about things and I have a bunch of comments rattling around in my brain. None of them form a cohesive story, but some of them might be worth reading about. Some of them might make you smirk.

They have no real order and this kind of post was inspired by Pico Iyer’s book “A Beginner’s Guide to Japan.” I paused the book I was reading (struggling through would perhaps be a better description) to read it. It is a pretty light read and while it isn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know, Iyer is a good writer and his words have a nice easy flow.

* * * * *

My first week back at work was hard. At least the first two sunrises as seen through the bus windows were spectacular. The sun was a deep red and the sky was on fire. Many buildings and new condo projects block my view of it, but every time we came to a break in the steel and concrete, I got a fantastic view.

* * * * *

On Thursday, I missed catching an earlier bus by about ten seconds. The staff tried consoling me by telling me that another one would be leaving in 15 minutes. Not only did I know that it would actually be 20 (they have electronic signs that explain this) but I also realized that the next bus would be slower and in more traffic. Basically, I would be home 30 minutes later than I could have been if the bus driver had seen me ducking out of view to tap my fare card. As you could imagine, I was rather inconsolable.

* * * * *

Everyone at work seems to be interested in the online game Wordle. I too am captivated by the game and continued playing even while I was on vacation. Since we all do the game at different times, we have to take great pains to talk about it without revealing the word. As annoying as that is, I find that it adds to the mystique of the game.

* * * * *

When discussing the weather at work, one colleague explained that it was going to rain the next day. Another colleague said that was okay since she “didn’t have to shovel rain.” I found this to be a truly inspiring quote.

We still get bits of winter in early spring and thinking that winter is over is a trap Mother Nature has skillfully laid for us. Putting away your boots or taking the snow brush from the car is courting danger. At the very least you could be accused of jinxing all of us.

Friday morning, I awoke to find it snowing. I thought it looked quite pretty in the older areas of my town that I could spot running perpendicular to my bus route. The older houses and large older trees which invariably surround their properties seem highlighted by the snow. Everything looks romantic under the snow.

* * * * *

When I plan too many activities or tasks for my class we struggle to get through half of them. When I don’t plan well for my class, they blast through it like it’s papier mache and I have to resort to planning on the fly.

* * * * *

Someone dropped (or left on purpose) and sandwich wrapped in saran wrap (plastic wrap) not too far from my bus stop. It has remained there for the past three days. I am surprised that none of the rogue animals we have in the area haven’t eaten it. I should probably pick it up and dispose of it….but then what would I write about Monday evening when I want to update all of you?

* * * * *

Cycling season has officially started in my area. The club had their first meeting Saturday morning. Since we are still in single Celsius digits, I decided to give it a bit of a pass. I also haven’t paid my club dues yet. The fee is more than reasonable and the insurance that it provides is quite good. I am just waiting for a new credit card cycle and warmer weather.

* * * * *

My Moroccan trip exposed me to a number of new foods that I am eager to incorporate into my meals here at home. My girlfriend has already made the carrot dish and this morning we had feta and blackberry jam.

* * * * *

Some people were asking to see my photos of Morocco. I posted some on Instagram and you can see them if you look to the bottom right of this blog (if you are on the actual blog page and not the reader) or you can check out my link on Facebook–no need to friend me to see the pictures. Some of them are quite spectacular and need to get blown up and put on my wall ASAP. Here is the link https://www.facebook.com/anthony.lorbach/grid

* * * * *

Have a good weekend everyone.

Karma

I realized that I left out an important moment from my last post. I suspect it is because it required a bit more time to process. It’s either that, or it just really needed its own post.

Before I left for Morocco, one of the coworkers who recommended the trip to me told me he had a contact for me. He explained that he had a good friend in Morocco who owned a spice shop near the Saadian tombs. He gave me that name and he asked me to record a message on my phone to give to the man. We recorded the message (in French) and he gave me the approximate location. He also told me that if I didn’t have time, he wasn’t going to be fussed, but he would appreciate it if I delivered the message.

Ever since reading The Crying of Lot 49 I have been curious about alternate mail deliveries. I think it is kind of interesting when you find other (non digital) ways to contact people. It worked for me when I got a student to deliver a message to a student who I had lost touch with in Kyoto. So, I sort of felt that this would continue the line of good karma.

On my second full day in Marrakech, along with two of the people from the cycling trip, I found myself outside the Saadian tombs. I explained my mission to my companions and they were game to help. Locating the shop was easy and I entered and was met by a young man professionally dressed and speaking quite good English. I asked to see the owner and explained my mission. He asked me to wait.

When the owner came out, I explained my purpose and who I was delivering a message for. In honesty, I don’t think he knew who I was talking about. Maybe time had erased that memory, so I prepared myself for disappointment. However, when I played him the video, you could see the recognition and the years peel back. It was like he was transported in a moment. His smile grew and his expression changed …softened …widened. He watched the video a couple of times. Reverie had completely taken over. We exchanged comments about how my coworker now looked and how time had clearly shown its effects.

One of my fellow travelers asked how long it had been since the man was there. I think she thought it had only been a couple of years, but had in fact been more than 20. As he talked about it, I could see that at that moment, those twenty years were floating around like they were yesterday. I took his contact information and recorded an emotional video for my coworker.

He offered us tea, but we had some sights to see before they closed. Then a Spanish tour group pulled up and I didn’t want him to lose any business. We went to the tombs and spent a quiet few minutes in the courtyard. It gave me a moment to reflect on the value of meeting people in our lives and creating memories.

On A Whim

About a week ago, I decided to go on vacation. For those of you who have seen my instagram photos, you will already know this. For those of you who haven’t seen them, take a look at the instagram links to the bottom right of this blog–assuming you are on the actual blog page and not just the low graphics reader version.

I am jetting off to Marrakech….shortly.

Some thoughts….in no particular order

• From the moment I mentioned this to my father, he has been singing the Crosby Stills and Nash song to me and everyone.
• I am not sure this is the perfect time to travel, but it seems like I should be living rather than waiting.
• There are many more hoops to jump through, but I guess that isn’t a bad thing.
• I have to wear my mask all day at work, so I don’t suppose wearing one during the flight will feel much different.
• I was casually looking at bicycle trips and found a fantastic sounding one that crossed three countries in the Andes. The price was high, but it was a rather long trip. It was also by a company I had not heard of and didn’t have many reviews. I was interested, but a bit wary.
• In that same search, I found a very discounted trip to Morocco. I wasn’t really considering it until several of my co-workers mentioned that they had been there and LOVED it.
• This is a bicycle trip, so those following me on Strava can see my daily routes.
• I’ve got some time before and after the trip to do my own thing.
• I am thinking of taking a hot air balloon ride.
• I wish I were a better packer.
• There is snow where I live, so you can imagine that I am really looking forward to some warmer weather. Unfortunately, I have to wear some of those heavy clothes to the airport.
• When I land in Paris, I will have officially circled the whole globe. I have flown from here to Japan. I have flown from Japan to Paris. Now, I will fly from here to Paris. It isn’t a Perfect circle, but still interesting.
• I have crossed the tropic of Cancer, but I have crossed neither the Equator nor the tropic of Capricorn. One day, I hope to do this. (I have read both books, but you might not find that interesting)

The Brochures are in the Mail

Up until at least September of last year my English friend Craig was quite sure we were going to be able to go on our cycling trip in South Africa. I admired his optimism but didn’t share it. In the end, things had not gotten better and that trip was cancelled and my money refunded. In 2020, I had planned to go to Colombia, South Africa, and Chicago (and take a trip to Notre Dame). Only Colombia happened–and just barely.

This year, 2021, is proving to be a bit different. While I cannot say with any certainty that I will be traveling, there does seem to be some optimism in the air. You see, I have started to receive some travel brochures. It’s awesome to go to the mailbox and see a big envelope where, until recently, I only found bills and the odd assortment of stamps from 1970. I guess these tour companies are now also feeling optimistic.

The first one I received was from VBT. Not surprisingly, the company was known as Vermont Bicycle Touring. However, since their trips now go far beyond that New England state and into the wide world, the initials are probably a better choice.

Receiving a thick brochure of more than 150 pages is wonderful. It’s kind of like getting the Sears Christmas Wishbook. There are pages and pages to explore and lots of pictures to gawk at. There are hypothetical plans to make, and dreams to be dreamt. I treat it like that Christmas catalog. I leave it on my desk, on the breakfast table, on the coffee table, or on my nightstand. I take it in the car when I think I am going to have to wait. I dip into randomly, passing over the same pages many times, and discovering new ones. I read a few paragraphs here and there. I go back and try and be methodical, but then something catches my eye or my mind starts asking questions and I find myself flipping pages again.

The second brochure was from Backroads. They seem to have active adventure trips that have a cycling element. A quick flip through the pages reveals kayaking, white water rafting, hiking, and snowshoeing. While I love taking a bike trip, it doesn’t hurt to do some other adventures.

As this one came today, I haven’t dug as deep into it as I would like. It’s also got over 150 pages to occupy my brain. I expect to be making many hypothetical trip plans with their destinations to. I will be busy teaching tomorrow, and hopefully out on my bike for the afternoon, but as the sun goes down, and my body recuperates on the couch, I will be flipping through those pages.

The itch to go traveling has not gone away. These brochures have some novel bike and boat trips which I think would be wonderful. I am not a cruise person, but the idea is so interesting. I could wake up and be ready to ride in a totally different place. These trips seem a bit more deluxe than my previous vacations, but a bit of an upgrade is not out of the question. I know I am worth it.

I am so glad brochures are being sent out and plans are being made. My passport is still valid, I have both vaccinations, and my cycling form is better than ever.

From This Day Forward

Photo by Olya Kobruseva on Pexels.com

First and Foremost

Happy New Year everyone. It is bittersweet saying it, but I want to start off the year positively.

Though I know turning the page in the calendar isn’t the end of the pandemic and really doesn’t change anything, I think there is a little bit of optimism in the air. I feel as though we are turning a corner and I want to look ahead to my year.

Optimism

I feel as though the vacinations will make a difference and I will be able to take a trip this year. I don’t know where, but I am confident that it will happen.

Work will get back to normal and I will be teaching full classes again in person. Students will once again make it to Toronto to study English and the competitors which weren’t able to stay open will allow those that did to recover.

Challenges

There are lots of political, economic, and geographical challenges ahead. There will also be lots of fallout when we finally count the cost of the pandemic and political turmoil. Some things will have changed and others will bounce back. I can’t predict it, but we will have something to teach our children.

Resolutions

I am not afraid to make a few resolutions for the New Year. What I will do differently is check in here every quarter (or earlier) to see how I am doing. I’ve got to hold myself accountable and this is the best place to do it.

Reading

I used to read 60 or more books a year, but once I cut my commuting time from two hours to 30 seconds, I didn’t read nearly as much as I would have liked. It also didn’t help that the library was closed or even when it functioned, it really didn’t allow for browsing.

This year, I am setting a modest goal of 25 books.

Writing/Blogging

I resolve to

1. write at least six short stories and one novel this year. I have been claiming that blogging was exercise for writing fiction and this year will see me finally follow through on that. Too long have I been sitting on things that need to see the light of day.
2. blog five times a week. Specifically, that means I will blog here four times and at least once on my other blogs. I know I should sort out a schedule, but that really isn’t something I am comfortable doing.

Fitness/Cycling

This is a difficult area since I have so often failed in the past to follow up on these goals despite their importance to me. I hope by writing this that I will take a bit more accountability in this area.

I resolve to

1. Zwift at least 4 hours a week in January, 6 hours a week in February, and 7 hours a week in March and April. I didn’t wait for the New Year to start before jumping on this one.
2. get out on my bike as early as possible this year and put some road miles on my bike. This will also mean joining the club early, and using the technology in place to gather people for some casual rides before official club season.
3. stretch three times a week and follow all the stretches in my cycling stretching book. Obviously, I cannot do them all in the first week, but I hope to be doing all of them by April.
4. do body weight exercises at least twice a week.
5. drink fewer carbonated soft drinks and plan to eliminate them by summer.
6. be a serious and able B level rider within the club.
7. take part in the club time trials.
8. go on one cycling vacation this year.

All of this should result in weight loss, but in reality, diet and muscle building offer the best hope in that regard. Zwifting alone will not do it. Eating better should be a goal, but since listing a bunch of food I shouldn’t eat has never been successful, I should learn the lessons that foods can be eliminated slowly, but a better mental attitude towards eating needs to be acquired first. Actually, a better mental attitude towards everything above needs to be acquired first.

House Tasks

There are lots of things to do around the house, and I could list dozens of tasks (if not more), but I will list the ones that need dealing with right now. Many of these can be done rather quickly, but always seem to get pushed to the backburner. Hopefully by listing them, I will actually get them done.

I resolve to

1. paint the kitchen and hobby room.
2. organize the kitchen cupboards and pantry.
3. organize the laundry room and get rid of the boxes that I was “saving in case I need them.”
4. get the e-waste to the e-waste depot as soon as they open to the public
5. replace the curtains in the bedroom.
6. cut down on the stuff in the filing cabinet.
7. Make planters for the back yard.

I could name a lot of other nebulous tasks like declutter, but without a clear goal and a clear way to measure if I achieved the goal, there is no point in listing it.

Travel

I would love to make a list of goals in this area, but I will have to wait and see how this turns out. The best I can do now is save money so I will be able to pay for it.

Final Thoughts

Okay 2021. Bring it on.

Scenes from the Past Few Days (part two)

Facebook has this nifty little feature in which it reminds you of something you have done in years past. I don’t know what it’s called–memories? remembers? Whatever. The point is that I kind of like it. I am a sucker for nostalgia. Of course, if it reminded me that I was sitting on my ass doing nothing at this time three years ago, I would probably hate the thing and deactivate it permanently.

As it is, three years ago at this time I was on a cycling trip from Thailand, through Cambodia, to the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. While not all the scenery was spectacular, it was a good memory and I enjoyed being reminded of it. This is doubly true because we really can’t travel right now.

An interesting consequence of this was that my friend Craig from England, who was on the trip with me, also got a reminder. He shared it with me through FB messenger and added a comment or two. I replied, though still in bed, only to find him calling me. I scrambled out of bed, threw on some clothes and sat down for a chat.

We talked about the trip and the one we had done ten months earlier in Vietnam. We chatted about the characters on the trip and how the cycling trips were in general. We exchanged what few updates we had–it’s been three years and some people are in the wind. Even three years later there are some details which need rehashing.

The two of us were meant to be in South Africa right now cycling through the winelands. Things didn’t turn out for us, or the world, like we thought they would, but we are determined to get there some day. Neither one of us is giving up on the idea that we will be able to travel again some day.

It was a good chance to catch up. After the nostalgia, we talked about the lockdowns (past and current) and how we’ve been doing. We spoke about our current situations, relationships, hardships, Christmas plans, and fitness levels. I have to admit, I had better do something quickly before I become too fat to get on my bike.

If you haven’t reached out to an old friend in a while, I urge you to do it now. It will do you both some good.

Interesting Errors

This comes courtesy of my flight from Santa Marta to Bogota.   The seats beside me had belt spelled correctly.   I don’t know about the ones in front or behind.

So, was just one sticker wrong? Was this a replacement seat from another plane on which all seats had wrong stickers?

Thoughts?

Mules, Motorbikes and Malodorous People

So, there I was the morning of the trek. I had my daypack packed and my other stuff stored at the hotel.  I was excited but second-guessing everything.  I second guessed what I packed, and I second guessed my choices for coming on the trip.  Everyone else showed no signs of these things.  They were excited.

I had been told that we were walking 3 days to the Lost City, and on the fourth day in the morning we would see the city, and then head back for two presumably longer days of hiking.  I had been told that we would be tired and we would stink, but that’s about it.

We split up into two groups and got on board two rugged trucks. We did an hour on the highway before switching to a less hospitable road until we got to a checkpoint.  At the checkpoint we went to the washrooms and got our official bracelets to say we were on the tour.  Apparently, you can’t do this yourself and you need to book with a tour agency.

We stopped for lunch and to park the trucks. From this point onward, we would be on foot.  There was excitement in the air.

We set out after lunch. I had my walking poles, two water bottles strapped to the sides of my pack, and at least some determination.  The trek started out okay, except that the people coming back from the trek looked absolutely worn out and you could hear them grumbling about drinking a very cold beer.  They also reeked something terrible, but it was their hangdog faces and near physical exhaustion that struck me.

So, we walked onward and upward. The trail alternated between stones, packed dirt, and loose dirt.  None of it was easy.  In the first section we had to contend with motorbikes and mules ferrying goods and people up and down the trail.  That was quite surreal.

Most of the group seemed fitter and more determined than I.  The guide, who hung at the back with me, reminded me that this was not a race.  I tried to take solace in those words, but struggling to keep up, whether on foot or by bicycle, is never a great feeling.  It isn’t about winning or losing, but nobody feels great being the slowest.

As it turns out, some people love to race and see hiking or trekking as a competition. I didn’t see that the first day, but it became clear by the end.  There were three groups on the trip:  The competitive ones, the social and talkative ones, and the quiet one.  Yeah, I know, you probably can’t see me as a quiet one, but climbing that mountain, that is who I was.

The highlights of that first four-hour hike were of course the scenery, and the juice we had at one of the stops. It was freshly squeezed and for 2 dollars was one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted.  It was so good that I looked forward to stopping there on the return part of the trek five days later.

It was hard work and hot. I was slathered in sunblock and mosquito repellent.  If it had not been overcast, I don’t know how much worse I would have felt.  By the time we reached the camp, I was a sweat drenched mess and already tired.

Day two was much the same as day one.

The camps that we stayed at were basically solid roof structures with no walls. Their functions were to house the bunkbeds we would sleep on under mosquito nets.  They had washrooms with flush toilets, and showers–well, cold water pipes that ran upwards so you could get water splashed on you.  There were no showerheads.  I am not sure why.

The camps sold cold drinks at slightly inflated prices.  When I say that, it should be noted that a beer in the jungles of Colombia costs less than a beer at any bar in Canada.  It was never more than three dollars and since it had to trucked there by mule, I really don’t begrudge them the price.  In fact, it seemed quite reasonable.  I saved my drinking for the completion, but I did buy a few sports drinks after we finished the day’s hike.

The best thing about the tour was that we had our own chef who prepared breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This chef would prepare our breakfast, and then hike faster than us to the next camp to start preparing our lunch.  Then at night, he would prepare our dinner.  His name was Diego and he really treated us well.

On the morning of our third day, the guide told us that he was going to adjust our plan. Instead of waiting until the fourth day in the morning to climb the precarious stone steps to the lost city, we would arrive at the third camp, eat lunch, leave anything we didn’t want to carry and head for the lost city that night.  The idea was that we would make our fourth day a little easier, and that we would also arrive at the lost city without the crowd.

One of the group worried that this wouldn’t give us enough time at the city, but many of the others thought it was a good idea. This one group member has a “strong personality”, but we finally managed to shut her down.

The climb was rather hard. The stone steps were steep and irregular.  At least a few times, I had to grab some rocks with my bare hands to steady myself or pull myself up.

Besides our CEO, we had to guides from the Wiwa tribe–descendents of the Tayrona. They climbed up this trail with incredible ease.  I struggled.

On that third night, we arrived at the lost city. I heard other members of the group pump themselves up by saying that they “earned it” and it was so much more rewarding than taking the train to Machu Pichu.  I don’t know about all of that, but I was quite pleased with myself that I made it.  I never thought of quitting and turning back.  I never thought of paying for a ride on a mule back to the first camp.  I had wished it wasn’t hard, but other than needed to rest and do a better job of regulating my breathing, I didn’t give up.

The lost city is definitely a beautiful place. I hope my pictures can give you an idea of what I experienced.  How it was built in such a remote place is quite incredible.

The walk back was quite arduous. We had to walk the same distance we did in three days, in two.  My walking poles bent and no longer telescoped.  They were fundamentally useless and I abandoned then at an army camp.  I wanted to bring them back for a refund, but there was no way they would ever fit into my luggage again.  Making the descent without poles was quite hard and I asked the Wiwa guide to machete me off a walking stick, which he did.  It made the last day all the better.

The last day was hot and we had to walk from camp two to the start in one go. Of course we stopped for a snack, but lunch was waiting at start finish line.  Arriving there felt like finishing a marathon.  I was sore.  One foot had blisters and sore nails.  My knees were good, but my muscles were tightening up.  And yes, that victory beer tasted pretty good.

On the whole, the trek part of the trip was much better organized and executed than the first part.  I will document this and give a summation in my next blog.

Night Biking in Medellin.

We arrived in Medellin around six, maybe earlier.   The flight was quite nice. I forget how much of a novelty it is to board and deplane on the tarmac.  The view of the country was beautiful.

Since we were trying to make up time we lost, they sent us on the bike ride.  We were doing it after dark, which was a first for the company.   I  give them credit, they armed us with lights, a big bottle of water,  a scarf for the fumes, and a reflective safety vest.  I was really enjoying it, but I  wondered about the safety of the thing for others.

The beginning was a bit scary,  but eventually we found our way to the bike paths, which are quite developed and set apart from traffic.  We covered quite a distance, which I captured a bit of on my action camera.  I also started Strava, but forgot to turn off when we were done, so I deleted it.

We saw many interesting buildings and learned about some of the great initiatives being taken to improve Medellin for everyone.

For dinner, after the ride, we had a curious mix of fruit,  granola,  and yogurt.   My stomach and other parts have still not recovered,  so I approach each meal with caution.

We finished the tour and went for drinks at a local place.  I  think the name was Taicho.  The area our hotel is in is a raucous nightclub zone, and the odd pairing of tourists with skimpily attired young women (as well as similarly dresses women approaching men on the street) indicates the world’s oldest profession is alive and well here.

Poor Planning

So the snags continue and my confidence in G Adventures plummets.  Instead of getting to Medellin last night,  we took a hotel in a dangerous neighborhood in Bucaramanga.   We left for the airport in the morning,  but our midday flight flew to Medellin without passengers for mechanical issues.  Apparently it is on the way back here now.  However we have effectively lost a day and a half of our vacation.

I lay  the blame squarely on poor planning.   The CEO (guide) had to wait for an alternate plan and we wasted hours.  Now the alternate plan is full of holes.

I am a bit frustrated and want to digitally vent.   Anyone care to comment on their travel woes?  Anyone have good stories of compensation?