Europe: For much of my life I dreamed of going to Europe. In 2012 I shipped my motorcycle over to Germany and then flew over to ride in Western Europe for four weeks. Later that same year, I returned to ride East as far as the Republic of Georgia and back to Germany.
I had a blast, covered a lot of ground, spent a fortune or two - and while this was a great adventure, I was left with the nagging feeling that I was missing something. Better than driving a car, a motorcycle does put you out in the elements - but there is still a tendency to blast along without stopping - and this leaves me thinking that the most rewarding component - meeting people - would be easier on a slower tour.
The very nature of bicycle touring - using your body to power yourself across a country - requires one to take notice of what is around you, and to interact with your surroundings. The need to frequently find food and a place to rest ensures human interaction, forcing you to spend time on language and communication skills. I also think people are less threatened by a person on a bicycle - motorcycle stereotypes have resulted in many people being afraid of motorcycle riders.
And so the idea of a bicycle tour of Europe grew in my imagination - and in 2013 I plan to take my touring bicycle to Europe and ride.
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