I’ve modified some famous quotes into fun bicycle quotes. Can you guess the original quote and author?

• To bicycle, or not to bicycle: that is not a question.~ Answer
• If you want to make a bicycle from scratch, you must first create the universe. ~ Answer
• Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him a bicycle.~ Answer
• You must be the bicyclist you wish to see in the world.~ Answer
• Not all those who bicycle are lost. ~ Answer

How does going home constitute an essential aspect of travel? I share some of my ideas and discovery’s of returning to home after traveling the world.

Watch the video, approx. Min 22.

or, listen to the audio.

Rip Van Winkle has this to say about returning home:

‘He had now entered the skirts of the village. A troop of strange children ran at his heels, hooting after him, and pointing at his gray beard. The dogs, too, not one of which he recognized for an old acquaintance, barked at him as he passed. The very village was altered: it was larger and more populous. There were rows of houses which he had never seen before, and those which had been his familiar haunts had disappeared. Strange names were over the doors–strange faces at the windows–everything was strange. His mind now misgave him; he began to doubt whether both he and the world around him were not bewitched. Surely this was his native village, which he had left but a day before. There stood the Kaatskill mountains–there ran the silver Hudson at a distance–there was every hill and dale precisely as it had always been–Rip was sorely perplexed–”That flagon last night,” thought he, “has addled my poor head sadly!” ‘

I was impressed by the latest report of my adventures. (Read the Waukesha Freeman article.) The journalist was really passionate in his questioning and accurate in his reporting. He highlighted all the main points. And I think really captured the vibe of my whole journey. So, thanks to Carl Engelking.

As pictured above the article spawned my recent book signing at Martha Merrell’s bookstore in Waukesha, WI. Falling Uphill was selling like hotcakes to an Eskimo. When I was a young teenager, I used to special order all my sci-fi books here.

Also, This Friday, July 17th, I’ll be on the Morning Blend TV show in Milwaukee.

This story was released early this week in the San Francisco Examiner.

Scott Stoll bikes around the world.

Interestingly, this story is a small excerpt cut and paste from my impromptu email written while bootlegging internet access outside a school closed for the holidays.

It seems to cater to the short attention span of an increasingly hectic world. 3 minutes seems to be about average.

Scott’s second interview from the road. From the redwood forests just north of San Francisco.

Listen to the interview.

Or watch the interview. (Approximately minute 20:30.)

Scott’s first interview from the road. Broadcast from the Sea Otter Classic, Monterey, California.

Listen to the interview.

Or watch the interview. (Approximately minute 32.)

Read a flattering story about my current adventure in the Santa Maria Times:

Cyclist discovers meaning of life

Also The Bay News (Morro Bay, CA) will be publishing a story, but as I understand it they don’t have the budget to post the stories online.

Watch the video of the latest interview here.

Caution the video begins automatically, so turn down your speakers

“Is it available anywhere? You should post your scenes!  Nothing beats a bad Bollywood movie!”

The Bollywood movie that I was in is called “Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne”, which means something like “You robbed me of my girlfriend”.

You might be able to track this down online. But blockbuster Indian movies are a dime a dozen and quickly forgotten about. Besides, it’s painful to watch. Especially my dancing :)

Unfortunately, I can’t post a scene.

Thanks to Colleen (a registered nurse) for some more questions that might make the chapter titles for the next book.

How often did you need to access real medical care (beyond the tribal “medicine man”), and what was the quality in comparison to the US?

There were relatively few times that I really needed medical attention.

1) Bolivia for acute intestinitis (salmonella poisoning). The doctor was trained in Germany and treated me on his day off immediately. I give him credit for an accurate diagnosis and prescribing an effective cure, however he tried extremely hard to frighten me about how serious my condition was and tried charging me over $500 dollars. I negotiated him down to $60 and was still over charged many times.

2) Costa Rica for a dislocated risk. Overall very good health care in San Jose. I think they even advertise health care vacations for anyone that wants to combine medical care or plastic surgery with a vacation and probably still have money left over.

3) Booster shots and dentist appointment in Belgium. Super fast, easy, affordable and friendly.

4) I sought medical attention in India numerous times for some extraordinarily painful boils on my shins and ankles. And once for dengue fever. Medical care was extremely poor in the villages and small cities. Doctors, if they really were doctors, often worked in a shack along side the road full of shelves with bottles like a medieval alchemist in a movie. Pharmacies in the cities were much more civilized. However, after my fourth trip I was diagnosising myself on the internet and prescribing my own medication. “No. That one didn’t really work. Why don’t try something different.” On the positive side, treatment was often free just due to my “celebrity” status.

5) Australia for a routine checkup, and again for irritable bowel syndrome, probably due to my salmonella poisoning, or parasites, or one too many cases of giardia, or maybe too many antibiotics. Health care was very speedy, friendly and affordable.

6) New Zealand for tendonitis in my knees. This was probably the best health care system I experienced. Free even to tourists (why let tourists infect the natives). Extremely no nonsense, accurate and friendly. I saw the sports doctor, got a diagnosis, prescription, recommendations and went to the physical therapist for more advice and a routine of excercises, all completed within 2 hours after just walking into the clinic I happened to bicycle past.

To summarize, I would rate the United States health care system below average as far as developed country goes and as far as what seems possible these days. Of course, if you have the money, you can get top notch care, but how many people have the money? I personally can’t afford health care anymore. All in all there seems to be too much greed on one side, and too much lack of responsibility on the other side, which makes a recipe for inconvenient, over-priced miracle cures which are probably toxic. But that’s just my humble opinion after having experienced my travels and working for a cancer researcher after my trip.

What was the longest you stayed in any one place, and why?

Melbourne, Australia for 6 weeks. Mainly I was lonely and needed a break. Also, I had some time to wait for the weather to improve before I went to New Zealand.

You wrote that your brother shipped a new bike/parts off to you– how often did you have supplies/ goodies from home shipped?

My family shipped me a new wheel, a new rear cog, and a new credit card. My friend Debbie also brought me some supplies. I restocked and rebuilt my bike everytime I entered a developed country.

How did your camera not get stolen or lost?

Always having to walk around with my camera, wallet and passport was a big pet peeve of mine. Unfortunately, the safe place was often by my side. My friend Dennis had 2 cameras stolen. Mine survived 3 years until it got wet. Certainly, I had people watching me like circling vultures, waiting for me to put my camera down so they could snatch it. However, for the most part, I found the world to be extremely safe, probably more safe than the average American city.