Riding the Line: 11. Sherbrooke QC to Prescott ON
The roads in this part of Quebec are long and straight with exuberant crosswinds bombing through rural farmland—all working farms. The landscape here is so remarkably flat it reminds me of Holland and fills me with a combined sense of possibility and agoraphobia. The long unobstructed views over the flat earth all around me inspired a feeling of invincibility, as if I could ride forever, or at least to the edge. And yet, without any sheltering trees or hills, I felt exposed to the sky, to God, possibly to space aliens, and especially to the wind I could not help but personify with ill will or at least an evil sense of humor.
When things got particularly gusty on the bike, I’d play a game of synonyms:
Buffeted by the wind
Harassed by the wind
Toyed with by the wind
Slapped…
Challenged…
Harangued…
Tickled…
Tormented…
Provoked…
Confronted…
Transformed…
Bullied…
Shoved…
Pressed…
Impelled…
Knocked…
Jolted…
Humiliated…