Messages

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General Discussion / Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

« on: April 18, 2007, 02:35:57 am »

Alright, kiddo. I was biting my tongue. Telling me I'll be molested and left for dead are presumptuous thoughts. This, though--"Females are obviously more vunerable, how many men are raped, or otherwise molested by females? "--is not only disgusting and ignorant; it is completely unrelated and UNCALLED for in this forum. The reason women are RAPED is because men REFUSE to take responsibility for their own actions. Not because women are irresponsible! By posting this, I feel that you have exhibited the kind of casual disregard that is the inherent CAUSE for violence against women. This is not the tone of a concerned peer (And, though many replies have been ill-communicated I believe that most are with good intention). It is the voice of someone so naive that they cannot see the harm in their own dense opinions.
Please take your sexist attitude elsewhere. Let's keep this adventure & bicycle-related.

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General Discussion / Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

« on: April 08, 2007, 07:55:52 pm »

Thank you so much for the link to that article. I found it really encouraging! Hoorah, and onward! =)

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General Discussion / Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

« on: April 01, 2007, 04:01:10 pm »

I haven't actively replied to any specific emails because I haven't felt it necessary to impose my personal viewpoint the way that I feel some posters have. After all, this is the internet. I would, however, like to clarify that I have been vegan for a fabulous five years. I am extremely active as a one who chooses to commute 20 miles on weekdays, rather than waste the gasoline it would take to get to school. The issue, for me, is not whether or not I can survive as a vegan, but, how I might obtain food during the more desolate stretches of Route 66, and what type of food will be available (Namely homegrown restaurants? Fast food joints? Supermarkets?). I find it rather absurd that many posters have brushed off the notion of not eating dairy entirely. As for dumpster diving, as highly debated as it may be, I believe that it is an issue only in a society that is marked by commericalized development, and the need for a stratified enconomy in order to suceed. If we were hunter/gatherers, there would be no need to chastize me for dumpster diving. Provided that I consider myself to be law-obiding, I have no moral opposition to obtaining food as such. Disgusting? Utter waste is disgusting to me (As is Mcdonald's...).  Also, I feel that it is outside the bounds of anyone here to determine whether this is an appropriate instance in my life to take a 'vacation'. As one who had the "pridviledge" of being financially independent for much of my teens, I feel confident in my decision to leave, now, and in my ability to provide for myself whilst on tour, albeit lawfully. Furthermore, as someone who has been fortunate enough at times in my own life to provide for strangers by giving them my leftovers or a place to stay the night, I feel no dignity is lost sharing. In fact, I believe that thriftiness may be a virtue (And thank you, to the poster who linked me with warmshowers!) Yes, it is my choice to travel. And if I am disposed to hospitality of others, I will not feel guilty for it. However, I can say with confidence that I am willing to do it all, myself, if I feel that I am ever compromising the dignity of my companions or of other people. Sleeping on the roadside, stealing? I doubt it. Those roadsides have covered a thousand tracks of people whose land was stolen from under them in order to pave it. Be grateful for what you have, but don't 'other' those who are of a different opinion. Be reasonable in your judgements. I have no intention of humiliating the cyclists who come after me, if they have no intention of judging me for choosing to give freely and live frugally. And please, keep this on topic.

This message was edited by StephanieP on 4-1-07 @ 12:04 PM

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General Discussion / Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

« on: March 29, 2007, 09:51:14 pm »

Thank you for your reply. Although I'm nervous about lack of funds, I am wholeheartedly committed to doing this, now, because I know that I may never get the chance again. And while I'm sure that opportunities abound when resources are plentiful, I also tend to believe that bicycling is one of those last frontiers that does not require a huge bank account to be richly rewarding. In the spirit of commercialism, adventures such as this may not always come so cheaply. Amen!

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General Discussion / Eating and spending on a two month biking spree

« on: March 28, 2007, 08:55:43 pm »

Two friends and I are leaving in early may to bike from Illinois to California on route 66. While I've only a month left before we set off, I haven't really considered costs until now. We are going to be roughing it in the most severe sense of the word-sleeping next to the road, dumpstering when possible...etc...I am curious as to the very least I should expect to spend on this trip (2500 miles) with all excess costs cut out. Also, I'd prefer to eat only non-dairy foods, but I have been told that this will be impossible if I want to survive in the midwest. It would be especially helpful to hear from anyone who has maintained a vegan/vegetarian diet during long rides, or from anyone who may have trekked this route before. General advice is also welcome.  Thank you!