indyfabz

1. Eating breakfast with a buddy in Poe, IN and talkng to a local farmer who used to be the mayor of the town. The farmer eventually left to go work his fields. When we asked for our check a few minutes later, the waitress told us the farmer had paid for our meals.

2. A few miles into Yellowstone N.P. a car pulled along side of me. I heard someone say "Hey, Dave." Startled, I turned my head and saw in the front passenger seat a woman who had been on our group cross country tour the year before. She and her boyfriend pulled over and we chatted. I asked her how she had recognized me. "Look at you. You are wearing the same clothes I saw you in all last summer." I was.

3. Sitting in the screened shelter at the American Legion Park in Wisdom, MT at 9 p.m. reading "Jude the Obscure" by natural light while a large moon was setting behind the snow-capped Bitteroot Mountains and thinking about what the three people I had met on the ride into town were missing in their motel rooms.

4. Getting flashed by a local, drunk woman in Staggers bar in Monroeville, IN one late morning. She was nice enough to repeat the gesture for my camera. I would post the photo but I am sure doing so would violate the rules of this forum.

5. The few hours spent in the company of a local townswoman in Isle, MN. To quote Forest Gump: "That's all I've got to say about that."

Gotte

Beautiful description. I can picture the moment.

Gotte

Been to Ypres a few times My grandfather fought at Passendale in WW1. Tyne Cott is a beautiful yet solemn place, and such cold wonder at all those names on the Gate into Ypres (for some reason the board won't accept it's correct name - keeps asterisking it out).

But the Kimmelburg as well. Now that is a memory.

Gotte

Just like to say, I've enjoyed all the comments so far. Every one. It's really nice travelling over the world with you, being let in on those wonderful moments. It's a great way to end a long day.

liamof

In the early 90's I was touring down the coast of California with my brother and stopped in at the Pismo Beach hiker biker camp ground to find something really amazing... It was a Wedding Party. The couple just got married on the beach that morning and all their frinends were there with bikes. They were starting their honeymoon tour on a tandam. A cannondale tandam if I can remember correctly. Anyway, my brother and I partied with our the new found friends late into the night. It was really nice since they had a couple of beer kegs which we gladly donated some cash to help with the cause. On a bike tour you never know what to expect and its always the unexpected that you remember to most!
Liam

djb

well put, I agree.

cheers

Booger1

I'm always amazed by what animals go through to do their thing.

Woodpeckers spending hours to drill a hole with their head,then fly around and find an accorn,then custom fit the hole to fit and drive it home.Day after day.Then having to defend them against the squirrels.

How do they remember where they all are? Do woodpeckers get headaches? or do they feel strange when their head doesn't hurt?

Squirrels can do an obstacle course for a peanut that looks like it defies gravity.

I believe there is no obstacle too tough for a racoon,it's just more practice.Their little hands work just like ours!

Cows will win any stare-down contest entered.I like cows but,I'm sorry,their STUPID! Any animal that will run up to you and let you club it....there lucky they taste good!

Bluebully lizards that come out in the morning sun to get warmed up,doing push-ups on the rocks.

Watching seagulls fly around in circles and get so high in the air,they disappear.What do they do up there?

Why is it that it's almost always the male birds that have to look nice,decorate the place and act crazy to attract attention? Male humans have only mastered one of these feats.....

Crazy animals.....

eofelis 

One one local tour we camped in the city park in Delta, CO (with permission). The grass was soft and thick where we set up our tent. We soon found out why. The sprinklers came on a 11pm, 2 am and 5 am. All we could do was laugh. We found out the tent was quite waterproof.

BigBlueToe

I was on my second tour down the Oregon Coast. I had met some people and we were riding together, as happens on that route. We had met some others and were becoming friends with them as well. One of these "casual acquaintances" (I'll call him Bob because I can't remember his name) mentioned to Charles that it was his birthday. On the day's ride into Nehalem Bay Charles picked up a pie and others bought a couple bottles of wine. We were going to have a surprise birthday party for Bob in the Hiker/Biker site where we were all heading.

We got to the campground, set up camp, and awaited the arrival of Bob. He didn't show. We waited until after dinner. No Bob. It was decided that the party must go on; all we needed was a Bob. Someone went to one of the other sites and found a guy from New Zealand. They asked him if he would like to be Bob so we could give him a birthday party. He said sure. He thought we were a little crazy, but so was he and he liked it! We ended up having a great birthday party for our fill-in Bob (we didn't call him anything else.)

Later we found out that the real Bob had decided to treat himself to a night in a motel with a pool and hot tub for his birthday.

djb

stand in Bob, thats cute.

Steve0000

Some memories come to mind.

We cycled into a town on Xmas Day and found the campsite. The owner insisted we join their extended family and friends for Xmas lunch out in the sun. We were told not to supply anything, just ourselves. Very pleasant day.

We were trying to find the camp in a small town on the outskirts of Grenoble. After a few attempts to understand the local's instructions (not understanding French), I spotted a police car and waved to them. The woman officer understood me and told us to follow her. We sped after her on our bikes for around 2km to the camp gates. Excellent service!

Pulling in to a campground in St Marie Englise and having a guy rush up to us and call us by name, saying he hadn't seen us for ages. Just before I was going to admit not knowing who he was, he admitted he was drinking with a couple we had met a couple of days earlier, and when they saw us pull in, decided to play a prank on us. We were sure fooled. It led to a pleasant afternoon of drinks with them in their mobile home.

Cycling in Belgium on a warm summers day, cresting a broad rise and travelling among fields of wild flowers in the warm breeze, and thinking 'this is what cycle touring is all about'.

nashcommguy

My heritage is Welsh. A few years ago I did a self-guided tour of Ireland and Wales lasting 7 weeks. Did the 'Grand Tour' of Irleand before embarking to Wales on the Stennaline ferry out of Dublin. Landing in Holyhead, Wales the dis-embarking was like a jailbreak w/t cars, trucks, passengers, etc. all trying to get through customs at once. The customs official just waived me through and I was on my way across Angelsey Island. After a few miles on the main A5 road I made a left and accessed a less traveled parallel 'B' road. Went on for about 5 miles and finally stopped for some water and a snack. As I gazed across the island to the Snowden mountains off in the distance I was suddenly impacted by the sacrifices my forefathers made in the 1600s to give themselves and ultimately me a chance at a better life.

It was the first time I'd had a chance to reflect. The emotion broke and I was reduced to tears out in the middle of rural Wales w/nothing around except rolling grass-covered hills and some cattle. It was a life changing moment and I did nothing to stop it simply closing my eyes and weeping until the feelings had run out. Unbeknownst to me as I was standing there straddling my bike w/my eyes closed the cattle had gathered just over the fence...must've been 50 head just looking at me w/what seemed like genuine concern. None of them were chewing or bending down to take a bite of grass. They were just all looking at me...finally, I just laughed and told them I was ok it was just my 1st time in Wales and I was Welsh. That seemed to satisfy them and they went back to eating and chewing.

A very strange experience. And while on the same part of the ride I passed a butcher shop w/a sign that read 'Owen J. Jones, Proprietor'. I took a picture of it and went inside to tell the owner he and my son shared a name. We talked for a while and in sharing re my tour I'd told him I was staying at the Youth Hostel in Bangor. He said he knew the caretakers and gave me a fully sectioned/dressed chicken to cook that night! When I tried to pay him he insisted I just remember him to my son when I got back to the States and that would be payment enough.

There were many more memories that tour, my first, but those 2 stand out for some reason.

contango 

Riding down the gravel path beside the Caen Hill Locks was pretty good. Crossing the Severn Bridge by bike was also a buzz.

Big Lew

On my first long tour (1400 mi), on the third evening, I stopped at a private campground with laundry and showers. Had no soap, so the elderly lady owner (her house was about 250 yds away) went and got some of her's for me. I asked if there were any eateries still open, so she walked back to her house again, phoned around, and then came back to tell me which one was still open if I hurry. Came back to finish my laundry at 10:30 pm and she shows up again, asking me to join her and her husband for tea and crumpets. All I wanted was a good rest, but she was such a nice lady, I consented, finally leaving for my tent an hour later. Her husband warned me about a very steep, long hill just north of the campsite, and offered to take me, my bike, and gear, to the top early the next morning. I politely declined his generous offer, explaining it would be cheating. All this kindness from those 2 old folks for a 15 dollar shower, laundry, and camping fee....there's some real nice people in this world.

raybo

One of the things I like most about bike touring is meeting people. As such, I try to get hosted as much as possible.

A few years ago, I was riding from Portland, OR to Jackson, WY on the ACA TransAmerica Trail for the first bit. I managed to find a couchsurfing host in John Day and as I pulled into town, called to talk with Rose, my host. She had a whispery voice that I could barely hear and I was concerned about who I might find on the other end.

When I arrived, I was surprised to find an attractive woman, about my age, living in a beautiful house with her friend Martha visiting. Both were unattached, attentive, and interesting to spend time with. It seemed I'd stumbled onto the old man bike tourist's dream. I was invited to spend a second day with Rose and Martha, which I did, and even longer, if I wanted. It was an appealing offer but if I'd spent any more time there, things might have gotten out of hand for a married man.

When ever I think of them, I can't help but smile.



Ray

GeoKrpan

We were cycling through Lucia on our way to Big Sur. An expensive sports car "scorched" through while we
were enjoying a cold drink from the store. A CHP man was in the store and ran out. We talked for a few minutes and then he got in his car to pursue, lights blazing.
A couple of days later on our way back we see a CHP car on the side of the road.
As soon as he saw us he waved, poked his head out the window, and said, "got 'em".

GeoKrpan

raybo, what a babe she is!

MTBMaven

Eating some amazing triple creme cheese from Cowgirl Creamery, fruit preserve, baguette, landjaeger, and a bottle of Cab while relaxing under redwoods in Samuel P Taylor State Park on a tour from CA/OR border to SF in August 2010. Amazing food, amazing scenery, amazing tour!

spinnaker

I have posted this story before but it is just one of those moments that bears repeating.

I was in Cremona, Italy which is a fantastic friendly little town. My touring buddy and I woke up in the morning and made our way to the piazza. We were looking for directions to a bike path north.

We quickly learned one thing. Never ask more than one Italian directions. We asked and soon an argument ensued, which seemed to be a trend in asking a group directions.

Finally a young police officer came over and told us he knew where it was and that he could show us. I fully expected for him to jump in the nearby van. Instead he jump on his motorcycle! We stuck ride on this tail, twisting and turning through the streets of Creamona. A police escort out of town!

indyfabz

LOL! My farther's side of the family is Italian and I spent some time there riding and bumming around by train. So true.

spinnaker

What amazed me is how angry they got with one another. They were actually screaming at one another! Later we lost the trail and stopped to ask an old couple working in the garden, the location of the trail. Same thing, big argument. Poor guy probably went to bed with no la cena.

djb

I love these stories (Italian ones) they certainly fuel the stereotypes of Italian hyperbole and general theatrics that certainly is evident in the politics and what we see in F1 with Ferrari sometimes. Makes me chuckle hearing how simple directions can turn into La Traviata....Santa Maria!

axolotl

I've posted this story before:

Several years back I was biking in SW Utah with a friend, near Bryce Canyon National Park. A van with California tags passed us and pulled over to the shoulder. A couple got out and flagged us down. They told us that their son had biked across the USA the previous year, and that he had told them how hospitable people had been to him on his trip. When they saw us, they immediately decided that they wanted to do something nice for us because strangers had treated their son so well. The man took out his wallet and took two $10 bills out and tried to hand them to us, saying that the money was for our dinner that night (in small towns in SW Utah at that time, you could eat dinner for $10). We both protested and told him we weren't as down and out as we may have outwardly appeared. When we wouldn't take his money, the man folded the bills over and shoved them in a pocket in my friend's jacket (my windbreaker had no pockets). They then jumped into their van and drove off.

RepWI

Hehe...
My daughter, at the time a Jr. at University and I took a little 225 mile tour last summer.

My best memory from a tour? Last Friday she said to me, "Dad, I have July 2-6 available, wanna take a tour?"

A year ago our tour from my perspective was to offer her something I enjoy in hopes she would as well. Go tour.

spinnaker

I was riding into Somma Lombardo, heading to our hotel to fly out the next day. I kept hearing this man's voice, it seemed to keep getting louder but as I looked around no one was there. Soon a car with a man on a cell phone passed. It was his voice I heard for the past few minutes. I could still hear him nearly a block away! He was mad at someone.

But nothing is more beautiful than an angry Italian woman. They turn anger into an art form. It truly is a sight to behold.