Touring - Bohemian biking

I've been pondering a bike tour for a while now. Previously, I couldn't seem to get past the idea that I need to use all of my vacation days I've worked so hard to accrue. Like I'd be wasting the days doing nothing when I should maximize my value with guaranteed pleasure such as a nice trip to a tropical island. But then I just read an article on this guy (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/04/03/CMGGTB4LPU1.DTL)

I got to thinking how awesome that is, just totally check-out of society

So I Googled him for some more (http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/11.24.04/harvest-0448.html) and more (http://www.sfbg.com/39/23/special_wine.html) info.

And now I canNOT stop getting the idea of a bike tour out of my head. An extensive one, not just a vacation. A coast-to-nowhere. My mind is rolling now... about just how much I hate my high tech job and looking forward to the day I leave it. How I'm 37, not married, decided not to have children, dont own a house. What have I got? And what exactly am I doing? As I get older the meaning, purpose, and goals of my life become less clear. And something like this, a dream I have, suddenly seems like a very real possibility someday. I'm starting to ask myself, "Hey really, why not??"

Too many fantasy books for me, I fear. I dream way too often of exploring or adventuring new lands than I want to admit. But a bohemian bike tour, now thats about as close to it as reality will let me get. Not bad, not bad.

But can I really do it? Can I really make the sacrifice? Break the chains which hold me down but also provide my comforts? I dont know, but I hope I find out before I die...

I've read about this guy before. He must really like figs.

I'm not sure I would want to emulate him- but taking off to travel on your bike - I've done that. No regrets at all.

Skookum, how long did you stay out when you up and decided to take off to bike travel?

I wouldnt want to emulate that guy to the point of living off the land. But it spurs ideas in my head of putting all my stuff in storage. No rent, pinch pennies, and bike tour for as long as possible. Come back whenever.

My new motto:

Dream. Dare. Do.

The longer you wait, the shorter time you have to do it. Simple.

>>wouldnt want to emulate that guy to the point of living off the land>>

After reading the interview, I'd say he was living off the hard work of other people.

There can be a fine line between a bicycle tourist and a bicycle bum. This guy seems to have crossed it.

You ask the questions I think we all ask. I know I am still asking these questions. I lost a good job that I thought I was going to hang on to for a while. I have another, but it isn't going to last, I can tell that at the moment. I'm 10 years older than you, and in the same boat basically, no kids, not wife, I rent. My home is furnished with garage sale stuff, and dumpster saves, it's stuff I have not attachement to. When I went to France, I packed what I wanted to keep in my car, and parked it with a friend.
There is always stopping for a while and taking a job when you see a place you like. Wash dishes or something just to get money for the next leg of the trip.
You've read the stories on Crazy Guy on a bike. Read a few of the posts here. All you'll get is encouragement, and support.

My wife and I worked in Chile for almost a year awhile back and while there a bicycle touring group came through. This was a really huge group (maybe even up to 100+ people). We got to talk to them and even take a few around the city and to the grocery store. They were all going on a worldwide tour over the course of a year. It was amazing to me that they had left their jobs and family for a year...spent, I think it was, around $35,000-$40,000. But man, in the end...imagine being able to say that you've biked like that all over the world.