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Since my last letter we have been enjoying good
weather in New Zealand's mountainous Alps and the southern tip of
the South Island. We have seen the days shorten and the leaves turn
bright red and yellow as Summer
is replaced by a crisp dry Autumn. We rarely get to see the seasons change
because we tend to be in the tropics in the fall/winter,
and experiencing this change has been comforting to our internal clocks.
After an extended time in the bush and off the
grid/internet we pulled into the big university city of Dunedin to soak up the urban
conveniences
and file our taxes over the internet. During this annual headache Cindie takes over the computer with her
accounting and tax software which leaves me in the university library with
maps, guide books, and time to dream and
piece together or trip through the USA and Canada. (more below)
When we finally connected to the internet we were
surprised to receive dozens of emails from readers congratulating us on
completing six years of traveling on bicycles. The funny thing is that
we had completely forgotten about our trip's anniversary. March 30
marks the day we let go of everything and started living this out of the box
lifestyle and now six years later on this anniversary our thoughts and feelings
were consumed by paying off Uncle Sam so we do not get deported and
sent to jail - OK, probably just fined but the jail part is much more
motivating for me. When reporters ask about the day we left home we
often describe it like we jumped into the complete darkness not knowing where we
would land. It was a big gamble not knowing what life would be like
past the point of no return and how we would be holding up after years on
the road. Now, after six years, we know that we
landed on our feet, held up reasonably well, survived even the worst
situations, and even created a whole new (for us) way of making a living in this strange new
nomadic environment. Six years later we are
forging ahead with no plans to stop!
What
Has Changed?
Many of the emails we received asked us what
has specifically changed during the last year on the road where we crossed the unpopulated
outback Top End of Australia and beautiful New Zealand. Since my last
anniversary letter, besides
replacing another set of worn out tires and drivetrain components, we have spent a
good portion of our non riding time finishing up our second book. We
are so close now but have hit a major road block. The sluggish
internet speeds and restrictive up/download public access allowances in this
part of the world has frustrated us to no end. I could have easily
moved large cover and layout files around the internet in Asia but have repeatedly failed here. We are being charged
US$8/hour for slowish internet with a 120MB up + download restriction
including web pages, email, and posting pictures to our web site.
We have decided to postpone the completion of the book a few weeks until we
get to Alaska where the deer, antelope, and internet run free.
On a more positive and unexpected note over
this past year we have been regularly recognized by the other touring
cyclists we meet. Humans much less cyclists were few
and far between in northern Australia but once we started riding in New Zealand, where
cycling is extremely popular, we found ourselves in the wonderfully awkward
situation of people we have never met recognizing us and knowing all the details of our trip
and lives from our book and web site. For example, we have been
approached in places like campgrounds and rest areas with "hey aren't you
the DownTheRoad.org couple from America"? or "I know you. You are Tim
and Cindie from the internet".
I would be lying if we said that we did not
like the attention. We have spent years in distant countries with only
each other to talk to and now interesting people are coming up and wanting
to talk to us. The only drawback is that we
want to know about their lives and travels instead of answering
questions about ourselves. I never feel like we deserve to be seen as
more than we are. I always
stress there is nothing special about us and anyone
can do what we do if they wanted.
Another bit of big news this year revealed
itself as a result of Cindie combing through our finances for taxes. Cindie
announced that we are now (almost) breaking even with our income equaling
our travel expenses. She predicts that with
the upcoming second book release and busy season on our web site we should
be in the black in a few months. Apparently we could say we were breaking
even now but the record low US dollar has made Australia and New Zealand more
expensive. The USA should be cheaper which will also help the bottom
line. Cindie, who is always looking
ahead financially, has already informed me that any surplus will be used
to replenish our savings instead of increasing our shoestring budget.
So, while I dream of getting a cheap hotel room every couple weeks while
traveling through North America Cindie tells me that she dreams of camping
and paying
off the remainder of our house.
In
Our Immediate Future
On May 2nd we fly from Christchurch to Alaska where we
plan to spend a month with Cindie's sister and family in Valdez. Around June 1st
we start riding south through Canada and the west coast of the USA. In
November we plan to be in Tucson, Arizona for several bicycle events and to
ride
with old friends. If we can find a cheap place to stay in Tucson we will
spend the winter there but if not we will head south to
Mexico, find a quiet village, rent a room, and rest for the winter.
In the spring of 2009 we want to ride north through the
western states to the Pacific Northwest in time to pick up the Adventure Cycling
Association's Trans America Trail and cross the USA before summer ends. In the fall of
2009 we will visit my family in Indiana and most likely go to the huge bike
event I first attended with my father in 1977 when I was eleven called the Hilly Hundred.
After that we plan on visiting (maybe in order) The Middle
East, Africa, India, Europe, Russia, Central Asia, and whatever else we can
think of.
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