Nevertheless, she deadlifted 200lb

My 55th birthday post on the Feminist Fitness blog, about deadlifting 200lb:   Nevertheless, she deadlifted 200lb — Read on fitisafeministissue.com/2020/02/01/nevertheless-she-deadlifted-200lb/

Last hours in Hong Kong

My last adventure of this trip was to the Tian Tan Buddha, on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. I had the morning before leaving for the airport, and I was staying right at the cable car entrance. I had a glass bottomed “crystal” cable car to myself and no queues, thanks to few visitors because…

Last hours of 2019

Suddenly I’m in Bangkok. Well, not super suddenly — there was a lot of hilly cycling, and a border, and more cycling — this time more easeful — some cultural activities, a van ride. I’ll write about the bike trip later — this is about my 18 or so hours in Bangkok, and my constant…

Phnom Penh to Kep

I started my 9 day bike trip in Cambodia today. I was all excited, though still toting around some jet lag and fatigue. But today was 48 km — piece of cake, right? (Or, weird banana mango spring roll). Well, it was frigging hard. For reasons — started in midday heat, all rutted super bumpy…

A storm, a lighthouse, a river: Silute to Nida, 48km

I woke at 5 am to lightning and rain, the first sign of anything but picture book sun since I got here. I lay awake too long trying to make a decision I needed to make at 9, not 5: the short direct route to the 3 pm boat across the water to the Curonian…

Taurage to Silute, 79 km (was supposed to be 60)

First half of today: flat farmland, nice little tailwind, cows, little lakes, grey herons, stork nests, la la la. 30 km came so fast I debated about whether I should even stop at the tidy, prosperous farm/ inn/ cafe I came across just outside of Vainutas. Today was supposed to be about 60km, and I…

Raudone to Taurage, 67 km

Day 4 of cycling was lovely, fast and unadventurous. Until I got to the night’s town, it was only two roads, both fairly flat, and though the cars and trucks whipped by pretty quickly, there weren’t that many of them. I took a short detour at 25km into a biggish town for water and snacks.…

Kaunas to Raudone (66km)

Today was about the river Nemunas, a bit too much sun, a lot of gnats and rather a lot of bike portaging. Bike portage: n or v. To transport a laden bike like an overloaded, unwieldy kayak across terrain suddenly inhospitable to bike. Made more difficult by #physics, which constantly pull the heavy rear of…

A Scout, an upheaval and a suburban train

“We gained our independence by holding hands and singing. We are very proud of that. We — the Baltic states — were the first. And now Hong Kong is learning from us.” I met this 19 year old scout at a junction near Electrenai. He is on a 150 km walking pilgrimage, stopping to help…

Trakai, breakfast

I’m eating breakfast on a beautiful terrace with a pink castle across the little lake. A man with excellent waiter manners is bringing me breakfast. I’m 100% happy. And — I’m also deeply aware at this moment why some people find the notion of this kind of solo travel hard to contemplate. Now that I’m…