I’ve now reached Maple Creek, SK. Well, almost, anyways – I was actually in Walsh, AB when I called my aunt and uncle to tell them I’d be visiting the next day, when they drove out to my campsite and abducted me to stay for a couple days and visit. Don’t worry, I’m not cheating – Uncle Wayne has agreed to drive me back out to where he found me so I can continue my journey from there.
Over the past several days I’ve come to realize that the world has almost entirely forgotten what may be the ultimate luxury: doing absolutely nothing. Our daily lives are so full of every possible convenience, yet we’re consumed by an inherent dread of wasting any time at all as we’ve had the mantra, “time is money,” stuck in our heads on repeat since youth. As a consequence, we’ve entirely lost the art of utterly wasting our own time, and are much worse off for it I fear.
Certainly there are those who are deemed as time wasters – typically those who chatter incessantly on inane subjects or whose chosen hobbies include absurd amounts of video-games or forum trolling, however such pursuits do in fact have discernible value in them: chatter, whether pertinent or not, helps develop social skills with wide applications in both the workplace and among one’s friends, games have been proven to enhance one’s fine motor functions and abilities to track the movements of several objects at once, while forums and blogs provide one an excellent venue for perfecting certain modes of written communication.
Even if they had no inherent value to them, such pursuits are generally taken up out of pleasure in the pursuit itself, not for the sole purpose of wasting time.
The true, luxuriant time-waster is able to set aside work, hobbies, passions, necessities and will just sit still and do completely nothing, will not get bored and will simply amuse himself in regarding the flow of time and people around him. It seems simple, yet very few people are able to resist occupying themselves with something, as we’re so used to being busy that no one can remember the feeling of taking repose. It is at best an extremely underrated activity, if the absence of activity can be termed as such, and at worst a forgotten luxury which could be of great benefit to those suffering from stress (currently almost everyone, if the latest surveys are to be believed.) I feel overjoyed that this trip of mine has afforded me ample opportunity, on breaks from my cycling, to savor and revive the art of doing nothing in my own life.
Also, I biked 210km the other day. I’ve got to say, I’m feeling pretty badass about that.
Awesome!!! Say hi to the relatives from Dad and me. I’m glad that you are enjoying your trip. I’m impressed that you were able to travel over 200 km in one day but I’m not surprised. I knew you could do it! Dad says your writing is wonderful but where are the photos?
Hi Paul
Your parents were kind enough to share the link of your cross country adventures. I was in the kitchen of your parent’s home when you phoned from Hope B.C.
If you get a chance could you include some photos of your bike , the countryside along the road.
Yours is an impressive trek. Thanks for sharing it.
Kim
Hey!
Congrats on your 200km day. If I ever tried to pull that off, I would simply fall over and die. When I was 20 years old though, you’d had a pretty decent riding companion!
I am willing to bet that the nice, flat, uneventful terrain is a welcome break from the mountains.
Be safe when you approach Ontario. Are you planning on sticking with the Trans Canada Highway? Photos would be welcome. I’de love to see this country in the raw.
Justin from (ex!) Dell.
Why do I have a feeling that entry was pointed directly at me…?
Thanks for the call!
I truly enjoyed tales of your trip so far and will follow the remainder of your travels on-line.
I was wondering why your dad did not accompany you on this epic journey, but at 100 to 210 km per day it becomes clear he would need to be the driver of a pilot vehicle.
In my editorial this week (July 15), I felt compelled to write about you and the violent storm that swept through the prairies.
We missed you (and your spandex pants) in the bull riding event at Murraydale’s 100th stampede. You would not have been alone in your rodeo inexperience since a 62-year-old guy who had never ridden a bull climbed on board and made a four-second ride. However, he did not have a cross-Canada cycle trip ahead of him.
Hope the smokies, steak and granola helped power you to a new record distance.
Hey!
Greetings from Bagotville! Definitely no time for wasting here (as usual), but I don’t think I’m as much a connoisseur of doing nothing as you are. I get bored doing too much nothing. Glad it’s working out for you though. I agree with all the above posts though; where’re the pictures? Have fun and do a little nothing for me along the way!
Johan
Hi Paul!
Uncle Paul and I are very impressed with your trip. Since Paul is the expert on Thunder Bay, I thought I’d mention that you should try to stop and see the Terry Fox Monument when you pass that way. It is right on Hwy 11/17 (Thunder Bay Expressway) 1 km east of Hodder Ave. As the T.B. tourism board puts it, “This memorial, with a breathtaking view overlooking the Sleeping Giant, marks the end of Terry Fox’s “Marathon of Hope,” which was to be a cross-country run to raise money for cancer research. A 9 foot high bronze rendering of Terry stands on a 45 ton granite base laid on a foundation of local amethyst. The Visitor Center is located beside the Memorial.”
We stopped there last year and it really is worth it.
Keep having a great trip!
Love,
Rita
Hi Paul,
I’m trying to keep up to speed with you here in St Jean, and I enjoy reading your blog – gives me something else to think about other than the stupid cadets here!
I can’t believe the progress you’ve made already, it’s pretty awesome, I have to say.
As for doing absolutely nothing, I fall into the category of feeling bored and wasting time if I try to do nothing. I’m so exhausted here that sometimes I wish I was able to just do nothing, but I just get bored too quickly.
You’ve always been much better at doing nothing than me!
Keep up the good work, you must be tired, but this is too cool!
Eleanor
Paul, I miss you! You are a bad ass super hero!!!!
Paul! There is still a place for you in North Bay when you get to Ontario! Let me know when you are getting near! We’ll trade travel stories when you get here.
Take care,
Jenny
Still alive?? No posts in a while…