hope on two wheels
A week ago, as Jude and I were preparing to send her son Nathan back into the
wilds of urban California, we met a young couple from England. Nick and Ivanka
are riding a 1150 cc BMW motorcycle about as far as possible in one direction.
They started in northern Alaska and plan to go as far south in Argentina as they
can. They’re chronicling their adventure by blog, which I’ve added to my blogroll.
Please check it out.
They had come to our green and non-sceptered isle on a whim and asked our
neighbour Jerry if he knew of anywhere they could pitch a tent. He knew that
we are trying to develop part of our farm as a primitive campground, so he gave
us a call. Ten minutes later the intrepid travelers ventured down our driveway.
They were tired, they’d had a trying day and it was getting dark, so we didn’t talk
long. We agreed to get better acquainted the next day. They set up camp and
prepared supper on the picnic table. Then slept well, I trust.
In the morning we sat in the kitchen and, as Ivanka said in their blog, put “the
world to rights over a good cup of coffee.” It was heartening to meet two people
willing to take such a monumental risk. My son and I had taken a similar trip
with our dear friend Bill, and part of the exhilaration of touring by bike is the
inconsideration of others in larger vehicles. Driving on the interstate through
Albuquerque with cars and trucks a few yards behind us was one of the most
terrifying times of my life. Nick and Ivanka said people still do that.
It wasn’t easy putting the world to rights that morning. The Tea Party, which
considers being uncompromising an admirable quality, was holding its breath
to get its way — and succeeding. But talking to our new friends buoyed my hope.
To hear young folks from a distant land talk of world problems and solutions re-
minded me that we need individuals of all faiths, political parties, nationalities,
and ethnicities to right our global ship. You know, compromising people.
It’s already been suggested by others. Our planet could use a group dedicated to
countering the hysteria, venality and xenophobia that masquerades as acceptable
behaviour: an international coffee klatch. It’ll require a massive table, but there
are multitudes of construction workers available.
