Cycling into your soul with Marg Archibald
Wheel Life column - November 18, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

During her solo around-the-world cycling adventure, Marg Archibald discovered that situations which look bad at first often unfold in pleasant ways, if you don't give up.

For example there was the terrible day riding through the southern mountains of New Zealand, desolate and bitter cold. A passing road crew warned that it would get even worse, due to storms blowing from Antarctica. It was 60 km to the next source of coffee! After a long, difficult slog she finally reached an abandoned service station with a Land Rover parked in front, a hopeful sign.

As she approached she saw three dead rabbits on the doorstep, and through the glass door a man with a half-shaven head walking toward her carrying a gun. She thought, "I know this looks bad, but I don't think it is!"

Her gut feelings proved correct. The man was a vegetarian who shot rabbits to feed his pets! He was just cleaning his gun when she arrived. Soon she was drying her wet clothes at a warm fire and sipping tea as her host's two young sons flew paper airplanes around the kitchen. The most difficult situations, she realized, can become opportunities for generosity, friendship and enjoyment.

Archibald embarked on her adventure when she turned 50 as a way to break out of an "over-packed, over-scheduled, over-regimented kind of life." She closed down a successful business and took leave of a normal life, as a positive way to begin the second half of her life (assuming that she survived the trip!).

She did no research or training to prepare for her adventure. She hadn't ridden a bike for a year prior to leaving, although she had taken many weekend and holiday bike trips in the past. "Plunged" is the word she uses to describe how she started this trip.

Archibald chose unusual and adventurous places to cycle: Russia, the Czech Republic, Corsica, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece (Rhodes), New Zealand, and an island in the Gulf of Thailand. Not bad for a women who describes herself as "a middle class, middle-aged, un-athletic mom."

Her book "Cycling into Your Soul: A Journey Out into the World and Down Into the Soul. A Triumphant Return With Newfound Wisdom," is available at bookstores and through www.monday.ab.ca. This growing website has information on cycling from publications her various publications (now including "Niagara Fall's Freedom Trail" and "Excellent Cycling Adventures in Southern Alberta").

Archibald continues to travel around North America sharing her experiences and insights. Her traveling slide show is all about journeys: the one described in her book as well as inner, outer and daily ones, to help along the way.

When Dorothy of Kansas was asked what she learned from visiting the Land of Oz, she replied, "There's no place like home." Marg has had a very different experience. When we asked what she learned from her adventures, she replied:

"How to listen to my instincts. I never understood that before."

"The priceless value of living life without a schedule or being rushed." She still has to meet deadlines (slide shows, media interviews) but makes sure she has "down time in between to neutralize the effects of a regimented life".

She started out with many questions and returned with many answers. "50 wasn't on my map anymore. Being more than 50 has faded in importance."