一生的旅行

貴州 羅躍梅

許多人夢想著去經歷一次偉大的冒險旅行。 格雷格·布萊克尼的冒險計劃又是什么呢？

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Many people dream of going on a great travel adventure. Most of us keep dreaming; others make it happen.

Gregg Bleakney's dream was to travel the Americas from top to bottom. He got the idea after he finished a 1,600-kilometer bike ride. Gregg's friend Brooks Allen was also a cyclist. The two friends talked and decided on their goal: They would travel from Alaska to Argentina by bike. To pay for the journey, Gregg and Brooks worked and saved money for years. In 2005, after four years of planning, they set off. Once they were on the road, they often camped outdoors or stayed in hostels. In many places along their route, local people opened their homes to the two friends and gave them food.

Lessons from the road

During their trip Gregg and Brooks cycled through deserts, rainforest and mountains. They visited modern cities and explored ancient ruins such as Tikal in Guatemala. In many places they met other cyclists from all over the world.

In May 2007—two years, 12 countries, and over 30,500 km later—Gregg eventually reached Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern tip of South America.(Halfway through the trip, Brooks had to stop. He returned to the United States and Gregg continued without him.)

Gregg and Brooks kept a record of their adventures in an online blog. The trip taught both men a lot about traveling. Here is some of Gregg's advice.

●Travel light. The less baggage you have, the less you'll worry about.

●Be flexible. Don't plan everything. You'll be more relaxed and happier, even when there are challenges along the way.

●Be polite. As one traveler told Gregg, “Always remember that nobody wants to fight, cheat, or rob a nice guy.”

Reading Check

Choose the best answer to each question.

1. What could be another title for the reading?

A. Cycling from Alaska to Argentina B. Things to do and see in America

C. Argentina: The land of adventure D. Gregg: A great modern adventurer

2. In the text, what does the underlined word “baggage” mean?

A. Things you take on a trip. B. Places you visit on a trip.

C. Reasons for going on a trip. D. People you meet on a trip.

3. What does Gregg mean by saying “Be flexible” in the text?

A. Be careful when you travel. B. Be ready to change easily.

C. Plan the details of your trip. D. Prepare for the worst in advance.

4. Which statement would Gregg most likely agree with?

A. When you travel, only stay in hotels or with people you know.

B. Bring a lot of things on your trip so you don't have to buy anything.

C. Be careful about some accidents when you travel alone abroad.

D. When abroad, learn how to say “thank you” in the local language.

Language Study

Complete the information using words from the box with their proper forms.

advice goal journey relax route worry

Every year, many people make mistakes when they go hiking. Here's some 1. __________that can help you stay safe. Before you start your 2. __________, leave a map showing the 3.__________that you are planning to take. If something goes wrong (for example, if you get lost), you should“S.T.O.P.” This means:

Stop: try to 4. __________and stay calm.

Think about your situation.

Observe: look around and notice where you are.

Plan what to do next: set one or two simple 5. __________for yourself.

It's also important to stay on clearly marked trails. Don't 6. __________—someone will eventually find you.