A Cold Weather Gift--Sound of the Surf

December 11, 2009

As I write this sentence, the temperature in Seattle is 25°F. Pedaling around the city would be a blast ... except for the black ice. When the temps rise above freezing, that infamous Northwest drizzle will return.

Yes, there are those hardy individuals that embrace the cold and wet and freezing. For the rest, winter is a time to dream of warmer climates and climbs. Time to plan that next great bike trip that includes less ice and more ice cream.

If you are stuck in a cubical or a cold winter rut, I present you with sounds of the sea: warm beaches and breezes.

This first recording is from a place called Maria Gorda in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Turn up your speakers or put on your headphones and let your mind drift into bicycle travel mode.
 

Cuba Beach Sounds #1

Now that you are relaxed and warm, this next clip is a full ten minutes of bicycle beach bliss. Kat and I pedaled the road from Pilon to Santiago Cuba in 1998. A road that had just been newly paved. The traffic? One vehicle every other hour. It was like pedaling along the Oregon coast in mid August ... with no cars. There was so little to be found along this stellar stretch of coastline, we actually had to hike into a town to find food to purchase.

This beach wasn't sand, but millions of small smooth stones. You can hear them if you listen closely.

There are hidden beaches and coastlines all over this planet for you to discover on your next bicycle adventure.

Dream. Pedal. Travel. Repeat.
 

Cuba Beach Sounds #2

Photo and audio by Willie Weir

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SIGHTS AND SOUNDS is posted every other Friday. Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine. His latest book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist will inspire you to hit the road and just might change the way you approach bicycle travel. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kat. You can read about their adventures at http://yellowtentadventures.com.