I was riding around some trails in Michigan when I crossed paths with a street musician playing guitar. This melody stuck with me all day and somehow followed me into my tent that night.
The next morning—very much under the influence of caffeine—other melodies started looping in my head. This sometimes happens when my body is moving but my mind is slightly behind, catching up.
That’s when a familiar paradox showed up:
It doesn’t matter at all if I ride.
And somehow it matters completely if I do.
To test this immediately, I stopped and touched a sign on the trail. Just to see what would happen. It didn’t say anything back, but we met!
Later that day I got a message from some incredibly generous Warmshowers hosts, and I responded in the only reasonable way I know: by doing a quick gratitude dance on the side of the road.
I’ve been filming moments like this as I ride, and I’m curious if anyone else has felt this strange mix of meaning and meaninglessness while traveling—especially solo travelers. I’d love to hear examples from your own tours.
¡Abrazo!
Pablo
by pablousunoff