Anyway, great advice. I have more in my account than when i started 2 years ago and still have helped numerous people along the way with websites, marketing, computer problems, photos and more.

We did Italy on a bike a few years ago on 5 euros per day (for 2 persons), of which half was spent on gelato. The rest? A pound of pasta, free camping, free fruits and nuts from the road and all kinds of spontaneous gifts (veggies, wine, cakes) from friendly Italians.

I never worry about the costs, try to keep it down pay when I need it. It is too tiring trying to be minimalist 24/7/365, life is too enjoy. And as most biketravellers like to roam less fortunate countries, spending some cash is a great way to give back to the local community, especially if you can make your money from richer parts of the planet.

Cheers and keep writing

Just because every journey is different, does not mean that they are better or worse. Too many criticise charity- or other travellers for helping out, while vegetating away behind their screens, doing nothing themselves. If mark or anybody else raises one penny for somebody else, he is good in my book. If he can inspire somebody to drop the car and ride some asphalt far away? Perfect. if he only does it for personal enrichment? Wonderful.

It’s a sad thing that indifference is often valued higher than giving a damn about yourself or the world around you.

Oh and I have no doubts that when/if I ever return to the regular world, that many people will not have missed me, nor will understand it. But I have touched enough people along the way (and they have touched me), so make it more than worthwhile….

Cheers, Harry

Fortunately we only remember the good times, else we ould never ride again.
By the way, we are a couple two years on the bikes now (currently in venezuela). When Ivana asked her doctor if it was wise to cycle with her bad knee and whet she should do, he replied: “enjoy it.”
One year later, me, the strong mountain climber and cyclist, could not walk due to a knee injury (which has mended since, while cycling on).

You cannot plan the future, and if i could, I would not want to, it takes the fun out of it. Just follow the path, but recognize the unmarked turn-offs :)

Cheers, Harry & Ivana

Good luck making those decisions and I look forward to reading about the result of whichever path you choose.

I finished cycling 4.5 years ago and still wrestle on a weekly basis with this conundrum. Opening myself up to so many possibilities was a wonderful thing to do, but it has revealed to me now how mundane so many of life’s other options are. And yet, and yet, I don’t want to turn into Heinz Stucke (legend though he is)…

Al

And yes, I’d say Yerevan has changed a lot since the 90s, though yes, the underlying attitudes are still the same. In any case, there are definitely more foreigners (expats, repats, tourists and immigrants) and I’d no longer say that Armenia is 99% ethnically Armenian. I don’t think wearing sneakers gets you looks, but being more fair-skinned and fair-haired might! There are lots of folks living here who are not from here or are not Diaspora Armenians (though there are plenty of us too!) and many keep blogs. I’ve met lots of Fulbright scholars and US Peace Corps volunteers, for instance.

In any case, it’s interesting to read different people’s perspectives, especially since I made the move from Canada to Armenia last summer :)

You probably don’t remember me, but we met briefly on Dec. 6, 2009, as we cycled the streets of Yerevan and made a film to send to Copenhagan for the UN Climate Change Conference (loved the video on Vimeo, by the way :)

In any case, I found out about this exhibit through local media and I will make a point of coming to your opening (so, no worries, at least one person will show up :)))

Congrats on your first solo exhibit!
(Yerevan is great for providing opportunities such as this one, isn’t it?)

keep up the good work take it easy

brendan