17 Comments
User's avatar
Holly Starley's avatar

“I’d float down-down-down over the chestnut trees and the cobbled path that leads to the lower funiculare station with the chickpea candy dispenser and the smell of espresso coffee,  fresh bread and exhaust from Vespas.” 💕 💭

I, too, once had rail riding fantasies. I met a guy who did that for a living (which is not the right word for the tiny amount of money he made). He was paid by companies to accompany large freight and rode in the cars as one would if one were hopping the rails. His tales disavowed me of the dreaminess, to be honest. But perhaps we just had different kinds of imagination, he and I.

And your dream walk with travel guides in love with each leg — swoon. I have made long overland journeys by bicycle and days long treks by foot and longer ones with a mix of public transport thrown in. The Camino is on my list. And I’ve eyed same long road through the Americas. But this addition of the perfect guides. Friggin brilliant!! I’d enlist you as my dream trip dreamer upper, Adam!

Thanks to you and to you, Tom, for sharing this space.

Expand full comment
Tom Fish's avatar

So glad you enjoyed Holly! Sounds like you have a few stories of your own - if you ever fancy being on Speedy Boarding please do drop me an email at tomasfish3@gmail.com!

Expand full comment
Holly Starley's avatar

Awwww! I would very much love and be honored to be on Speedy Boarding, Tom. Dropped you an email and looking forward to connecting. 😊

Expand full comment
Adam Nathan's avatar

Read her latest piece, Tom.

Expand full comment
Samantha Childress's avatar

I'm so charmed by this idea of traveling like a hobo with a dog who loves you more than anyone else in the world--I hope Adam gets his Shep!

Expand full comment
Tom Fish's avatar

Same here!!

Expand full comment
Adam Nathan's avatar

Adam would love to have his Shep, any Shep, but unfortunately my building here in Brooklyn will not allow us to have a dog. So, for now, Shep is my dream dog, but he comes when I whistle and is so excited to see me when I come home.

Expand full comment
Julie Gabrielli's avatar

This was brilliant. Vintage Nathan. I lost track of how many times I laughed. Felt like you were in the room telling stories only to me. When my husband and I walk the Camino and come down the hill to Finisterre, I will think of you with joy in my heart. I won’t ever be in the airport in Atlanta so that’s out.

Expand full comment
Tom Fish's avatar

So glad you enjoyed Julie!

Expand full comment
Adam Nathan's avatar

Absolutely walk down that hill. You’ll remember the moment when you first see the ocean. It’s very special. Life special.

Expand full comment
Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

Two things. 1) What is #24 on the list? It sounds dodgy to English ears. 2)That insta article that pinged in as you were writing, the coincidence has echoes of the NYT incident. I think you've gone and got yourself tuned in on a particular frequency. (A different radio to Radio Melanie. Oh how I love that idea/alagory/reality. My stations are equally varied.) Finally (turns out there are three things) hahahaha for so much of it, Red Beret Man, if I go in that bar I will raise a glass and not ask.

Expand full comment
Adam Nathan's avatar

If you come in to my pub (really it should be a pub, not a bar) snatch that red beret off the center of the table, slap it on your head and say, "What do you make of that, O'Meara?" O'Meara has always been a bit intimidated by strong women and he might only grumble. We'll see.

Expand full comment
Eleanor Anstruther's avatar

hahahaha I'm going to try it

Expand full comment
Rona Maynard's avatar

Someday you’ll round a corner and Shep will be waiting with a red beret in his mouth. I loved this.

Expand full comment
Adam Nathan's avatar

I literally welled up when I read that. To my surprise, Shep turned out to be a terrier.

Expand full comment
Adam Pelzman's avatar

Love this

Expand full comment
Chloe Hope's avatar

Oh, how I’ve missed Shep

Expand full comment