This text is a biographical reflection by Miles Mathis, recounting his experiences leading up to and during a bicycle tour of Europe with his brother Mark in the summer of 1983. The narrative delves into Mathis’s early life, academic pursuits, and personal development, highlighting his intellectual curiosity and unconventional path. He discusses his rapid academic progression, his early academic achievements like high SAT and PSAT scores, and his choice to attend Haverford college, which he found disillusioning. The text also touches on his relationships, notably with a girlfriend named Allison, and his evolving understanding of himself and society. The core of the piece is the detailed account of the 1983 European bicycle tour, a challenging yet formative adventure that took them through Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and France. Mathis also reflects on moments of perceived magic or extraordinary luck throughout his life, from childhood incidents to encounters with nature and his own artistic aspirations, contrasting his worldview with prevalent societal trends like Modernism and punk. He concludes by emphasizing the profound impact of this first European journey, despite not covering the planned mileage, and his lifelong connection to travel and personal growth.
Entities and References:
- Europe
- Mark
- 1983
- SAT
- PSAT
- Haverford
- Allison
- Germany
- Switzerland
- Italy
- France
- Modernism
- punk
- Miles Mathis (the author)
- University of Texas, Austin
- Lubbock
- Dunbar HS
- Tommy Hutchinson
- Stan Blanton
- Tim Redus
- Texas Tech
- Pina Jardine
- Bryn Mawr
- Royal Ballet
- Loyola (in New Orleans)
- Delta (airline)
- Biever Hall
- Cafe du Monde
- Audubon Park
- UT Press
- Rolling Stones
- Philly (Philadelphia)
- Simon and Garfunkel
- Central Park
- Wheless Lane (in Austin)
- Plato
- Paul Woodruff
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Plan II
- Bob Solomon
- Nietzsche
- Derrida
- Deconstruction
- New York City
- Salinger
- Waggener Hall
- David Armstrong
- Horace
- Nesbitt
- JCL (Junior Classical League)
- certamen
- Amarillo
- Descartes
- Kant
- Hegel
- Wittgenstein
- LBJ School of Public Affairs
- Barbara Jordan
- Club Foot (music venue)
- John Lennon
- Sex Pistols
- Milner Group
- Gretchen
- Hot Springs (Arkansas)
- Nancy
- mary
- Taos (New Mexico)
- Bonnie (later fiance)
- The Secret (book/concept)
- Woman’s Day (magazine)
- Michelle Obama
- Melinda Gates
- Gloria Steinem
- Graham
- Ginsberg
- Poehler
- Dahl
- Altman
- Mock
- Solnit
- Metz
- Owen
- Northrup
- Wicca
- Phoenician
- Jungfrau
- Locarno
- Milan
- Leonardo’s Last Supper
- Uffizi Museum
- Colosseum
- Sienna
- Nice
- San Tropez
- Cannes
- Menton
- Monte Carlo
- Marseilles
- Paris
- Pantheon (in Paris)
- Sorbonne
- Balzac
- Eiffel Tower
- Louvre
- Musee Rodin
- Jeu de Paume
- Frankfurt
- August 1
- Montalivet
- Bruges
- Vatican
- Harbour Bridge (implied by Australia reference)
- Australia (implied by “Harbour Bridge”)
- Venice
- Bologna
- Florence
- Rome
- Verona
- Vicenza
- Guerciotti (bike brand)
- Providence
- Brown (University)
- Sony (brand)
- TGV (train)
- MUSEE D’ORSAY (mentioned as not existing then)
- Heidelberg
- Mannheim
- Karlsruhe
- Freudenstadt
- Triberg
- Schaffhausen
- Villingen
- Zurich
- Chester (travel companion)
- Koningin Astridpark (in Bruges)
- Balmers (youth hostel in Interlaken)
- Interlaken
- Loch Ness monster
- Viner (bike brand)
- Holdsworth (bike brand)
- Avocet (crank brand)
- East Coast
- Texas
- California
- John Lennon’s death
- New World Order
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (implied by “FBI”)
- FBI
- United States
- New Orleans