Beyond the Classroom: Europe by Bike
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Melinda |
In five weeks and covering over 500 miles, civil engineering senior Melinda Miller took Europe by tour, cycling from Ancona, Italy to Barcelona, Spain during the summer of 2003. Carrying everything from her toothbrush to tools in road bike saddlebags called panniers, she toured the hilly Tuscan landscape, riding alone much of the journey. With only a guidebook and an adventurous spirit, Melinda made her way through the heart of Italy, up the picturesque Mediterranean coast through cities such as Assisi, Florence, Pisa and Nice.
In excellent shape from triathlon training, and with two previous European tours under her belt, or helmet rather, Melinda was well prepared for the strenuous journey across Southern Europe. Sometimes more challenging than the terrain and 100mile days were the mental "walls" she traversed, exacerbated by windy stretches, hunger and fatigue. For every hard day, an openair pensioni, city nightscape or quiet camping ground served as rejuvenation for the next days ride.
"The destination isnt always everything, sometimes its the little places and the people along the way. " says Melinda. In a Tuscan vineyard, after an arduous ride and yet another confrontation with the mental wall, a farmers hospitality reenergized Melindas spirit, setting her back on course, both literally and figuratively as she and a riding partner were also in need of directions. Another demonstration of hospitality occurred Easter afternoon. Caught in a rainstorm, hungry, in an abandoned city shut down for the holiday, Melinda and her friend were welcomed by an Italian family into their pizzeria for a hot meal and shelter from the rain.
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Florence
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From hilltop monasteries to soccer games in Monaco, Melinda spent time not only touring the landscape, but also museums, cultural sites and interesting engineering and architectural feats along the way. As a student of civil engineering, Melinda found that sites such as the original aqueduct system developed by the Romans, made from stone and utilizing the force of gravity alone, proved of special interest.
With an affinity for architecture, Europe was the perfect setting for a road bike tour. It was this same appreciation that led Melinda into the field of engineering, allowing her to understand how the structures she was so interested in work. Graduating this May, Melinda will be off again on another journey abroad, this time visiting her sister in Tunisia, and riding a possible 4th tour along the Mediterranean Sea, this time in Northern Africa. Because of her love for travel and helping people, Melinda has considered taking her engineering background abroad to work for humanservice organizations such as Engineers Without Borders. With this and other job opportunities in Denver, Melinda will have many choices to make, as graduation is soon approaching!