On the road

When I'm on my bike for even the shortest ride I will frequently imagine myself being on a long bike trip, heading somewhere distant by myself. I try to be a realist in my daydreams and think of the likely travails of lousy weather, getting sick and the dangerous riding on bad roads crowded with motorists. But yesterday as I explored in my mind this scenario I thought that these problems on the road would be preferable to the worries that I have now daily of being in debt and of the government's tax man looming. Maybe more existential problems of survival are what I need? What would be the worst that could happen to me while biking a long trip? I think that getting sick and injured would be at the top of that list, followed by running out of money. That last one is the rub. I could travel very cheaply on a bike; I would have no car that needs to be fueled, maintained. licensed and insured. I still would need food and shelter along the way. I picture myself pulling a 2 wheeled trailer, about the size of the ones that parents use to haul small children when they go riding, but in one of these I would keep most of the gear I would need, including a small tent and bedroll. That would help with the cost of shelter but would I be able to find a place at every night's stop where I could set it up, and do so under the nastiest weather? This would be a trip where I would need to be lucky, lucky to meet people who might let me stay in their homes for the night and lucky that I don't have my bike and gear stolen. The worst would be to become the victim of a violent crime. That's a fate that makes for the grist of so many ancient stories of travelers getting waylaid on their journeys'. I think my travel plans would be like becoming a hobo, except I'm not hopping freight trains but making my way by pedaling on 2 wheels. Am I up for that kind of life at such a late point in my life after living so long with running hot water and soft beds at the end of my day? I would be escaping from life with it's tax and credit card debts. What have I got to lose? In another 2 years I'll be getting social security and I'm only going to have that to live on anyway. I only need my son to find his own way because this is the end of the road trip for an old guy.