On Paul's long-awaited first camping trip as an adult, he finds neither bliss nor misery. That doesn't mean there were no surprises.

If you're looking for a way to combine your love of cycling with your concern for the planet, you may wish to check out the Sustainable Energy in Motion Bicycle Tours organized by Portland for Peace. This small progressive organization arranges one- and two-week group bicycle tours that offer not only a physically invigorating challenge but also the opportunity to learn hands-on about such topics as permaculture, sustainable and indigenous building practices, environmental ethics, ecology, organic farming, appropriate technologies, and sustainable energy. The slogan, "Less Pollution, More Solutions!" succinctly sums up the group's goals, but doesn't begin to hint at the natural beauty of Oregon's coast and Willamette Valley that greets the roughly 20 to 30 participants as they ride.