On the confidence of and in a new cyclist

 My cousin Louise and/or her husband Thomas has posted some videos of her four year-old daughter Tessa riding her bike around various tracks (sans training wheels). There was one in particular that I thought showed off Tessa's confidence and skill. I showed it to coworker who has a four year-old of her own in the learning to ride a bike zone. While re-watching the video, I was struck by the fact that not only does Tessa seem very confident, but that her parents are very confident in her as she rides quite a distance  away on the practice bike track without her parents following her, except by sight. 

Way to got Tessa! Way to go Louise and Thomas!

On having your mind blown away

 I was reading the April 2022 edition of Adventure cyclist when I had my mind blown away by a paragraph in an article by Alex Crevar called "Epicurean cruise : a gourmet bike tour along Croatia's Adriatic coast":

"I stopped at Zadar's northwestern tip and sat stop the city's Sea Organ, where 35 pipes of various sizes have been installed under the [waterfront promenade]. As the tide rolled in and out under the stone promenade, air rushed in and out through the pipes creating a symphony with the ethereality of a theremin and the soothing of whale calls."

The idea of making a musical instrument that is played by the sea itself strikes me a breathtaking leap of the imagination. 

I think I am going to add Croatia's Adriatic coast to my bike bucket list.

Addendum:

Margo had submitted the following comment. 

"Great idea! But I just reread the part of our Bangkok to Paris blog where we were discussing various route options into Europe, and you commented "You two seem tired of post-communist nonsense. Consequently, I would suggest you might want to limit your Balkan touring."

About time you ate your hat! But we are glad you are expanding your horizons."

I responded with the observation that my comment was based on what I perceived as their state of mind during their epic trek, not the merits of bike touring the Balkan coast. Thus, there was no hat to eat.

Unfortunately, I just accidentally erased both comments. Censorship was not the reason.