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Bicycling in Athens Winter Wonderland
Bicycling in Athens Winter Wonderland
By Joe Fox
Oh the wonders and beauty that we miss each day in the fast moving and pessimistic world, which surrounds us. With a bicycle and a few hours of time, life can slow down and happiness can return. For a few hours turn off the Internet, power off your phone, unplug your television and disconnect from the negativity surrounding you. With the recession in full swing, the news has not reported on positive ongoing stories for a long time. Experience your own joy, while taking a journey on your bicycle.
Remember back to the days when you were a child, just you and your bike. Each day brought new excitement and challenges. A moving van was parked in the neighborhood, and you and your friends investigated. A new road was built and you were the first pioneer on a bicycle to ride it. A bridge was completed, but not yet officially opened, so you became a test pilot assuring others that the bridge was indeed safe. A creek was drying, and you road your bike until you found water.
Whatever happened to those fun days on your bike? What if you could recapture your youth? Would you do it? Take a chance. Jump on your bike or your friend’s or your child’s and create your own path. Envision yourself as the child you once were without the stresses of daily life. Pick a destination, such as a nearby state park, river or simply a tree in a pasture. Then ride to the place, looking and enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of your journey.
Your bicycle adventure can be as fun as you make it. Look around and enjoy the scenery that brought you to Athens. The trees, the landscapes, the hills and the animals that make up our environment are everywhere. We were attracted to Athens by more than just the wonderful restaurants and great people, but also by the land, nature and towns that surrounds our Classic City.
Within an hour on a bicycle, you can experience life outdoors the way you would have, if there was no media to entertain you. Enjoy the simple life that we have forgotten. Take a journey back in time, visiting the small towns surrounding Athens with their holiday decorations glistening as you enter the city limits. No need to go to a museum, many of the towns surrounding Athens still have the old look and feel of a town from many years ago.
After your adventure, ride back home and get a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants in Athens. Pretend that it is 20 or 30 years ago and eating out was a rarity and a special event. Look at the restaurants and the staff as the crescendo to a glorious day in your life. When the bill comes, keep the days of old alive and pay for your meal with currency; after all, as a child that was the only type money you had. So ends the first of many future wonderful winter days on your bike. Where will you go tomorrow?