Knulp on bike

I'm still in the Twin Cities enjoying the last full day of my listless, relaxing vacation from vacation. I just finished reading a great novella entitled "Knulp" written by Hermann Hesse. It's a great story about an amiable vagabond who travels from place to place relying on the generosity of friends and strangers and who brings a bit of cheer and joy to all he meets.

I fancy that on our trip, Eric and I are in a way like the beautifully unproductive Knulp, roaming from place to place, philosophizing superficially, occasionally breaking out into song, meeting and conversing with random people, and from time to time being taken off the street by generous people who seem to glean as much pleasure from hearing about our adventures as we do from getting a warm shower.

But alas, unlike Knulp, our rambling, wayfaring, bike-riding lifestyle will one day come to an end and we will inevitably return to "the real world". Having gone a little more than halfway, Eric and I were discussing the other day about what things we will take away from the trip. In that regard, I hope that, like Knulp, we'll have taken away some meaning and wisdom from among all of our tramping.