Was catching up with a recent episode of
Alastair Humphreys' Living Adventurously podcast featuring a chap called Jack Cornish and was immediately minded of your own adventure(s). Although the #everysinglestreet notion might not appeal, vis ...
... at least insofar as chasing the target of walking/cycling #everysinglestreet, nevertheless, the enchantment in exploration, delight of discovery, and relishing revelations shine through in all your posts. However, I couldn't help but notice on the
Every•Single•Street site that Ciudad de México doesn't currently appear to be covered - #justsayin 😉 - although there's probably a good reason for that.
Although you might not quite be motivated by the same rationale as the chap behind Every•Single•Street, you and he do seem to share at least some similar philosophies. The video is well worth a watch:
View: https://youtu.be/jy_W5qsjB5U
Thanks for the link!
You do like your podcasts! At the moment I'm pretty much staying away from them and any cycle touring blogs etc. as it's just too depressing.
I had a look at that video over my first coffee of the day and had an almost physical reaction to the idea
and not a good physical reaction!
I'm not sure why someone would intentionally place such a restrictive route upon themselves? (What does that say that I see it as restrictive?
)
I like the idea that he's not dressed like a runner and appears to interact with people but the cynic in me can't help but wonder if the camera influences actions and reactions.
If I understood it correctly, he "ran" SF in one block of time, sleeping in his car. In my world, that's bordering on (unhealthy) obsession.
Knowing me, as I do, I'd get lost, do the same street multiple times and miss entire blocks!
I tried something like this in the Roma district, on the bike. Up and down, up and down then over and back. As an experiment, it was worthwhile. As an experience I think it suffered from rigidity. It was a dry run for another area but that one will be done differently. Of all the places that I've visited, this fantastic place only suffers when I try to impose some kind of discipline on it!
What I took from it is the reminder that every street, every alley, every person is worth a look - even if not in the traditional touristic sense.
I'm not sure if it's this place or my covid influenced mentality that has me genuinely enthralled as I walk around. I wonder if I was back at home if I could do it and if I would notice the interesting features of people, buildings and trees like I do here.
It's probably a bit of both. It's easy to look on things with fresh eyes when we're not at home.
There's a very interesting discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of planning, especially in detail. Information is so freely and easily available that top 10 lists are soon filling up the mind. These can easily morph into checklists. A journey can then easily become about checking off those things.
However, no top 10 list can tell us how we'll react, how we'll feel. The important thing is to be happy where we are.
I remember vividly the first time, on my first, solo, self supported tour when I turned off my lovingly planned route (on laminated maps!) and headed off to cycle through a German forest. One of the most significant things I've ever done on a bike!
Oh! CDMX is represented on the site!
Also, I'll probably never have as much time to really immerse myself anywhere so I have to try to make the most of it!
