Isn't it odd that we all go halfway round the planet to find the right ride.
You raise a very good point, Fred, and one I've often pondered myself. Local rides often feel like the touring equivalent of Mark 6:4: "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household."
Too often we dismiss the local and familiar simply because it is familiar and therefore doesn't seem exotic. I once spoke with a world-tourig motorcyclist who observed, "Exotic is anywhere you don't travel on a daily basis". True enough.
I sometimes find myself feeling a little apologetic for my tours of the Great Basin 'cos it isn't the Atacama Desert, or the Cascades 'cos they aren't the Pyrenees, and for the Oregon Coast 'cos it isn't Bretagne, but then I look at it objectively and realize, "Huh. Just 'cos it's already here and familiar doesn't make it mundane". On any given trip to my little cabin on the Oregon Coast, nearly 20% of the cycle-tourists I pass in high season are from Germany and the rest of the non-'Merkins are from The Netherlands or the UK. If it is worth them making the flight just to see it, then it can't be
too mundane!
I've cycled many places on the globe and feel because I live here, it all looks the same.
Right!
...when the sun shines everywhere looks stunning.
Also true, jags; the sunshine helps in any case.
Best,
Dan.
