Zhejiang

Grateful for Travel

The last day of 2019 has passed. Into 2020 we go. Looking back over the past five years, I’m so grateful for the travel I’ve had, the journeys I’ve been on, the adventures I’ve experience.

Exploring the water town of Xinchang, China

Oh, the places I’ve been. Looking back, Asia seems like a dream. It was. It was a dream come true. So glad I took the time to go. Five years abroad is a gift that will keep on giving in the years to come.

Time abroad has widened my perspective and deepened my insights about the world in which we live. The friends I’ve made, and the people I’ve met have made me a better person. My hard drives are filled with images; my journals are replete with experiences. I’ve come away changed for my peregrinating exertions.

Following China’s “Mother Road” (G312) along the Silk Route through the Hexi Corridor entering the Gobi Desert.

Commitments at home hold me close. Far-ranging forays lay on distant horizons. Hence, this is a time for reflection of journeys past and preparation for adventures to be had. There is still so much more to see.

Exploring quiet villages in Zhejiang Prefecture, China.

The dream is alive. Winding my way back home, future adventures still await. The time is to move boldly into 2020, to set the conditions for journeys at home and abroad. As Newton posited, “An object in motion tends to stay in motion…”

Adventure is out there for those willing to look for it, and time never waits. Many want to go, but few are willing to pay the price required to go. Nothing stands between you and your dreams but thin air and opportunity.

Peering into the endless sands of the Taklamakan.

Go while you have the chance. Get on your bike and ride. You won’t regret it. Pushing it off to “someday” is a risky business. Life is a fickle thing. The day may never come. Act while you have the opportunity. 2020 and years beyond are full of promise. Move forward with confidence in the pursuit of your dreams. Live the life you have always wanted.

A glance back after crossing the Golden Gate while returning to the U.S.

Travelogue: Reflections from a Bridge

by Johnny Isaak ·

Travelogue: Reflections from a Bridge

Our return trek from Jiangshan in Zhejiang province to Shanghai was going to be a long. 224 kilometers lay between us and home. It was going to be a long day. Considering the miles ahead, we pushed on.

The day’s ride began at the crack of dawn. Cool air nipped at my bare face and jersey-only clad torso as well pedaled in the gray light. Early autumn was in the mountain air. Rather than stop and pull a jacket from my handlebar bag, I hope to shake off the chill as I leaned into the rolling hills.

Glancing over my shoulder upriver ascending the low arch one of the many bridges we’d cross during the day, my eyes cast up a fiery orange sunrise. Incredible. Allowing my bike to coast to a stop at the top of the bridge’s arch, I put a foot down to savor the serenity of the moment. Ah, one of the pure, genuine pleasures of traveling by bike.

Motionless water wandering into thick stands of trees had not even the slightest ripple on its surface, save for a blanket of lifting fog warmed in the yellow sun. A thick mountain mist defused the sun’s golden light. I unzipped my camera pouch, put the viewfinder to my eye and made a picture for my memories. It’s moments like this that make cycle travel so unique.

Many miles of riding nagged me back into action. I stowed my camera and resumed spinning my way down the road ahead. It’s small experiences such as this that make all the effort worthwhile. We had many miles to go before we would sleep tonight.

Sunrises are magical things. You only get so many of them in your lifetime. Embrace the moment. Put your foot down and take in those sweet little slices of life. Enjoy them one by one. Hope in the saddle and ride. Experience all of them you can as long as you can. Cheers.

Exploring Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

by Johnny Isaak ·

Destination: Anhui province and the misty mountains of Huangshan or Yellow Mountain. In China, adventure is always near. Hopping a high-speed train with your bike in a bag will take you southwest to the city of Jinhua, which is located in the middle of mountainous Zhejiang province. From there, it’s a couple of days ride to the Huangshan national park on twisty mountain roads that transit some of the most stunning scenery to be found in China.

Continual travel is a way to keep the dream alive. Time on this rock is limited and everyday reality has a nasty way of interfering with one’s dreams if you’re not careful. Seems the wolf is always at the door. Big adventures in New Zealand and central Asia are still on the distant horizon. Shorter adventures must fill the gaps in between. The close proximity and easy access to the emerald mountains of Anhui offer the perfect adventure fix.

Coffee Outside: If You Brew It, They Will Come

by Johnny Isaak ·

I’ve spent a lifetime traveling the world and perhaps more than taking in the beautiful exotic landscapes, I love to meet the people. Experiences and interaction with genuine locals are one of the greatest rewards travel has to offer and I relish the most.

Want to meet people? Just start brewing a cup of handcrafted espresso or Turkish coffee on a park bench or along the edge of a flower bed in a village square, and soon a steady stream of people will gravitate to you for about as long as you care to hang around and talk to them. Most locals are naturally curious of foreigners and have an intrinsic desire to see what you are up to, especially in China. And what better way to break the ice with your new acquaintances than over a cup of Joe?