Back Issues: #27, Sep3, Bicycle Vacation

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JacksonFive's
Free Weekly "Learning English" Newsletter
Issue: 27 "Bicycle Vacation" Sep 3, 2000
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Dear Reader,

    Sorry to be one week behind on our newsletter. I've had a busy
    week. I spent many evenings after school re-keying all your
    information. I transferred our mailing list completely from the
    old system to the new system. Did you notice the difference above?

    In the process, I also made the effort of removing about two
    hundred email addresses that were "invalid" (def: incorrect). It
    was a lot of work! In the past, every time I emailed these
    addresses, the newsletters would come back. It created quite a
    problem for me.

    With your help, I would like to keep our list much more accurate in
    the future. If you move, your address becomes invalid, or you
    just want to remove your address from our list, please let me know
    "ASAP" (As Soon As Possible). Please remember to email me your
    old, as well as, your new email address. You couldn't believe how
    often someone emails me just their new address without giving me
    their old address. How do you expect me to find your information
    this way? ^_^
    (601K MP3 recording,
              http://www.path
    Also, I have "taken the liberty" of listing the main information
    you've gave me when you registered (def: done something without
    first asking, but with the best intent). If it is incorrect,
    please let me know, and I'll correct it when I have time:
    Your First Name is xxxxx. Is this correct?
    Your Last Name is xxxxx. Is this correct?
    If either or both of the above are wrong, please let me know.
    Also, if you gave me your Chinese names before, please email me
    your English name, so I can update the file. Our new system might
    have some problems working with Chinese characters. Thanks.

    As a "parting note" (def: last item), if for any reason you don't
    receive our newsletter for two weeks or more, please go to our
    website to see if I published an new issue. If there is a new
    issue and you haven't received it, you might have been removed
    accidentally from our list. If you are sure your email address
    if valid, please register again.
    (555K MP3 recording,
              http://www.path
              Have a good week!
              JacksonFive

THIS WEEK's FEATURED TOPIC:

    "Bicycle Vacation" from Linda

ARTICLE:

Everyone has their own idea of what the phrase "taking a vacation"
means. For some, it is relaxing on an island beach. For others,
it is exploring a new city. In most cases, "taking a vacation"
usually means you take a break, you treat yourself, or get a chance
to recharge. How do you "take a vacation?" One of my favorite ways
is to take a bicycling vacation. Not for you? If you like to
exercise, explore new areas, and eat lots of food, then perhaps it
is!

Seeing to a new place from your bike is, I can say, an unique
experience. In a motorized vehicle, you are often going too quickly
to see things up close. You can't really get a "feel" for a place.
Plus, all that car-sitting can make you feel stiff, cramped, and
tired. If you want to feel great both along the way and once you
reach your destination, then seriously consider going by bike.

Whether you're new to bicycling or a seasoned rider, there are many
options available to you. If you are an "avid" (def: serious) rider
with lots of experience, then of course you can just pick up and go.
You may need to make arrangements with an airline for flying your
bike somewhere. You might also want to reserve a campsite or hotel
at your destination, but usually there are few restrictions. If
you're a beginner, then you are not likely to do all the planning,
organizing, and arranging yourself. No worry. Someone else will be
happy to do so!

There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of tour operators around the
world who can set up bicycling trips for any type of rider. It is
less difficult to find out which companies offer what choices than it
is to make a decision about which of the wonderful trips to take!
Once you start to research, you will be amazed at the range of
possibilities out there.

Price may drive your decision. Yet, there are many other things to
consider when evaluating different trips. Do you want to camp in the
forest or stay indoors? If you want to stay in-doors, do you want a
fancy place or a simple inn? How many miles per day would you be
willing to ride -- 15, 25, 50, or more? Will you bring your own bike
or would you rather have one provided for you by the group? Do you
want to travel with a small group or many people? Do you only want
to travel with other women, other couples, other teenagers, other
senior citizens, or some other specific group? These are just some
of the questions that you'll need to consider.

What you won't need to "ponder" (def: think about), though, is
whether or not it's a good idea. You will surprise yourself with
your own ability to pedal far, you will feel terrific and after a
day's worth of exercise, you will enjoy your dinner more than if you
had sat in a car or on a bus all day long. I guarantee that after
you've taken your first trip, you will be "hooked" (def: like it a
lot). You might even get so excited about traveling by bicycle that
you'll send in a story about your trip to this newsletter!

Follow-up Questions:
1) What is "car-sitting can make you feel stiff, cramped, and tired"?
2) What is "price may drive your decision"?
3) Have you tried something like this or how would you image your
      ideal vacation trip to be like?

NEXT WEEK's FEATURED TOPIC:

    "What's in a paper"

<< JacksonFive Family News >>
1) There were two typo errors in the last issue:
      i. It is not "battered down the hatches",          hatches". I guess I          happened with my ISP that week.
     ii. It isn't "or will disconnect me", but rather          disconnect me".
2) I'll soon be creating a new section on our website, "Good Links
      or Learning English." If you have any       to contribute, please email them to me. 2english.com/Reference/MP3-027-01.mp3)
2english.com/Reference/MP3-027-02.mp3)
                                                                                                        but "battened down the
felt a bit aggressive because of what
"or they will
good URL's you would like

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