Touring Tuesday - The Cycling Doctor

Cycling through the Chile - Argentina border region (photo courtesy of Stephen Fabes via BBC)

Dr. Stephen Fabes of London spent six years (2010-2016) cycling 50,000 miles on six continents. Most days he rode between 25 and 60 mile, and lived on less than $10 per day (That's still more than $20,000 over six years). He put his medical training to use in several locations around the globe, including:

• A floating medical clinic in Cambodia
• A tuberculosis clinic on the Thailand - Myanmar border
• A mobile clinic in Kathmandu, Nepal treating orphans addicted to glue-sniffing

Fabes traveled through Mongolia during mid-winter, which made it challenging to keep his water liquid. Daytime temperatures remained below freezing, so he had to keep his water next to his body. Also challenging were those days passing through featureless deserts or steppes that never seemed to change. His scariest moment occurred when he was sleeping in a remote region of Peru. A local resident poked a gun inside his tent and made him get out. He then marched him into his home. The man explained that he had been robbed not long before, and thought Dr. Fabes was connected with the thieves. After realizing he was harmless, the man made him some soup.

Stephen Fabes said the biggest thing he realized from his travels is the world is friendlier than he thought.

"I have had a very favorable impression of the planet and that bolsters my faith in humanity. When you are traveling by bicycle, the universe is on your side. You get lots of offers of hospitality."

While I was reading this quote, I noticed a couple of news items on the side of the BBC web page. One said the North Koreans were threatening more missile tests. The other said five states were searching for the "Facebook Killer."