Bikes Belong. (And everyone else?)

There's a funny debate going on with the Pedalibre group about the use of bikes in the city, and it's brought out some funny alliances.

José M., who's a PL member I don't know, went to his local golf club with his son about a month ago and was asked to leave because the golf club didn't feel that bicycle use gave the club the appropriate image. José hasn't said how long he's been a particular member of the golf club, but he was offended enough to send a letter off to the governing council of the club, asking them what was up with the anti-bike policy. (Spaniards are great whingers, but not many are willing to take action beyond flapping their gums.)

Then the real controversy started. Several members, almost all of them car owners, started in on José for being a golfer. One wrote: "It's hardly consistent that someone who's interested in the environment should take part in a sport that's aiding and abetting the irresponsible use of water." Another took José to task for participating in a sport which could be considered elitist at best, and a third – this killed me – said that it was ridiculous for a child to play golf, that a child should be doing better things. (And yes, if you're wondering, Spain does have a problem with child obesity, too.)

OK, first of all, let’s address the fact that José, evidently, is one of the few men brave enough to go on a bicycle with his children in this city. That, in itself, is pretty commendable. But I don't get this mentality that says that all behaviour has to be perfectly aligned with one point of view or another. I mean, how many cyclists have drivers' licenses? Exactly. One thing doesn't have to cancel the other out; not every form of behaviour is going to be 100% coherent in the eyes of the other.

Personally, I think José wins on more than one point. Not only does he get to take his bicycle with him to the golf club...he's also shown his son that it IS worth fighting, in a civil manner, for what you believe in.

Life is a secondary highway with two weeks free....

So I'm sitting at home this morning, doing some proposal letters and generally mucking around on Messenger, and it hits me. Doesn't hit me like a ton of bricks... it was more like a Philadelphia Cream Cheese commercial, with shining lights and harp music...

Hot diggedy double damn!!

I'm totally free!!!

I just got paid....

There is no man hanging around to explain or justify things to....let alone one who would want to come along....

There's no job to report back to...

I could very well jump on my bike and go straight back to Tarifa, if I damn well felt like it!

And for once, that freedom is not daunting...it just feels VERY VERY COOL. To realize that you're free of the normal constraints which keep you from riding is great. It's not likely that I'm going to take off at any point in the next day or two; but knowing that I could do it (the rent is paid, the invoices have been sent, the deadlines have been met for this month....), the temptation to take off next week is enormous. After all, what am I going to do here? Sit here and moan that I'm unemployed and that the G-Man doesn't love me? Yeah, right.

Truth is, the weather has, for the most part, been freakishly good this fall. Daytime temperatures have averaged around 20ºC, even in Madrid, and with the exception of last week, with the rain, it's been very dry.

So, where to go? The Camino de Santiago beckons, to be honest. I would really like to do the bit I haven't tried, going between Logroño and León...even over a week, that would work. Almería would be great, but there are no regional trains going down there and I don't feel like fighting the ALSA bus company to put the bike on the bus (though if I travelled Tuesday at 10AM I would be HIGHLY surprised that anyone would care.)

Oh, the siren call of the open road...if I didn't have to go back to Canada at Christmas, I would love to take the time to go to all around Spain, and really do it by myself this time. And do it RIGHT.