Our first full day here in Delaware. If today is any indication of what kind of summer this is going to be then we’re in for a truly great summer!
We met the most fascinating couple today. Fred and Hitome, (heh-toe-me) Fred, 45, is from France and his girlfriend, Hitome, 42 hails from Japan.
They are on a round the world trek on BICYCLE! Granted, there are some sailing ships that help them along the way but on average they are pedaling 75 miles a day. I can’t even imagine! They made port in Miami just 20 days ago.
Bob was outside and Fred came over to him to ask a question about something or other and of course a conversation was struck. One thing Fred wanted to know was if there was a public microwave in the campground. He explained that he wanted to make dinner and Bob offered our place to get their dinner made.
I gladly boiled a pot of water for their box of rigatoni and cooked it up for them all the while having the most interesting conversation with Fred. He told me that retired from the French Navy and then went to work for L’Oreal the cosmetics firm. After a few years he quit and made his first leg in his round the world trek. You can follow his itinerary HERE. He was with Linda in those years, a former girlfriend. Back to work at L’Oreal for awhile more and call of the rolling bicycle wheel was calling him again. He resigned, once again, and took to the road. By the way, the rigatoni, that was dinner. No sauce, no salad, no garlic bread, just the pasta tossed with some spices Hitome brought from Japan. They have a long way to go, they need the carbs.
Everything they own is carried in plastic or canvas bags. Clothes, cooking utensils, cameras, food, shelter, EVERYTHING is carried on their bikes. I couldn’t do it. I get upset in our own journey when we don’t have cable TV. I can’t imagine putting up with all the elements of weather, of UPhills, crazy drivers without the shield of a big truck around me, oh no, their mode of traveling would not suit me at all.
Fred and Hitome took advantage of showers in the campground and came to visit with us again when they were ready to hit the road once again. They will pedal to Cape Henlopen State Park and board the ferry tomorrow to Cape May, New Jersey. Hitome has to take a break in her trip around the world to go back to Japan to work for two months and wants to see New York before she boards the plane or ship for the trip home. Hitome works four months out of the year as a technical proof reader. She works July and August and November and December if I remember correctly. She will meet up with Fred in January,,,,wherever he may be and their wheels will continue to turn together again.
They thanked us over and over again for cooking their pasta for them and we took pictures together and saw them on their way.
Where he’s been so far.
Oh yeah, they had Hitome’s bike repaired this morning. She’s only had one gear for the past 20 days.
So long Fred and Hitome, may the roads be flat, may the wind be at your back and may your sleeping bags never be sandy.
Wow, what an interesting couple we met today. I can’t wait to see who else we meet this summer.
2 comments:
My girlfriends daughter & her boyfriend (at the time, later husband, then divorced) rode a tandum bike across the USA. That was a feat too!
I hope this young couple makes it around the world. He's got a good start! I'm with you....too many UPhills!
That is so cool! And you can keep in touch with them!
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