Bicycle Trips and Skinny Dips

I am simultaneously reading Ernest Hemingway's Garden of Eden (published in 1986) and Around The World On A Bicycle by Thomas Stevens (published in 1889). A total of thirteen hundred pages about a handful of my favorite subjects. The glorious challenges of being a self-propelled adventurer, writer, lover and the irresistable total immersions in lakes, streams, rivers and oceans that happen along the way. These are the activities that constitute 'The Good Life". I should add eating and drinking, sex and breathing here. What more is there? Both of these stories are able to pull me right into the locales. I can easily relate to hanging out in the south of France (Hemingway) and riding bicycles around the world. We love riding and camping in France and have invested several months in doing so. Twenty years ago we completed an around the world bicycle adventure with our twelve year old boy. Due to his and my combined navagational skills, we were able to complete the journey in six months. I've been skinny-dipping since I was born and find it a great way to stay clean and add a little danger to my days. Keeping the riding shorts dry is an added benefit of the clothesfree swim. Making the time to reflect and get it all down on paper is what I hope to accomplish here in my later years.