A Walk in the Woods and Its Not About the Bike Comparison
Summer Assignment
Reaching a destination, one is overcome with a vast and irreplaceable sense of accomplishment, achievement, and overwhelming rush of pride. What makes these feelings so worthwhile? Throughout both A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and Its Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong, characters experience significant journeys, which help them discover value, patience, and new forms of strength. It is these traits, gained along the way, that become more important than the journey’s destination. Bill Bryson and Katz do not conquer the entire Appalachian Trail, but more importantly, they are able to conquer and overcome personal flaws while trying to do so. Bryson and his friend, Katz set out for a journey, their main intentions being to complete the Appalachian trail, and reconnect with nature. Throughout their journey, Bryson and Katz experience grueling days of long hikes and stormy weather, sometimes reaching below zero. Even though this seems miserable, and at times it was, the challenges helped both men to better themselves. Katz and Bryson gained a sense of pride by experiencing a harsh and deep pain, when hiking for long hours each day. By the end of their journey, they had become much more “slender and fit”(274). Even though they didn’t reach the end of the trail, physical strength was something they were able to leave with, and feel proud of. Looking back on the hardship and adversity the men faced was a significant accomplishment in itself, knowing that they were able to push through it, no matter how difficult.
Though Lance Armstrong’s journey leads him to a medal at the tour de France, he more importantly gains a value for life itself when fighting his way back to it after being diagnosed with cancer. Even though cycling is “so hard” and “so intense,” Lance realizes that cancer is an even greater challenge, because the “biggest victory” would be winning his life back (86). Through his journey of recovery,
Reaching a destination, one is overcome with a vast and irreplaceable sense of accomplishment, achievement, and overwhelming rush of pride. What makes these feelings so worthwhile? Throughout both A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and Its Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong, characters experience significant journeys, which help them discover value, patience, and new forms of strength. It is these traits, gained along the way, that become more important than the journey’s destination. Bill Bryson and Katz do not conquer the entire Appalachian Trail, but more importantly, they are able to conquer and overcome personal flaws while trying to do so. Bryson and his friend, Katz set out for a journey, their main intentions being to complete the Appalachian trail, and reconnect with nature. Throughout their journey, Bryson and Katz experience grueling days of long hikes and stormy weather, sometimes reaching below zero. Even though this seems miserable, and at times it was, the challenges helped both men to better themselves. Katz and Bryson gained a sense of pride by experiencing a harsh and deep pain, when hiking for long hours each day. By the end of their journey, they had become much more “slender and fit”(274). Even though they didn’t reach the end of the trail, physical strength was something they were able to leave with, and feel proud of. Looking back on the hardship and adversity the men faced was a significant accomplishment in itself, knowing that they were able to push through it, no matter how difficult.
Though Lance Armstrong’s journey leads him to a medal at the tour de France, he more importantly gains a value for life itself when fighting his way back to it after being diagnosed with cancer. Even though cycling is “so hard” and “so intense,” Lance realizes that cancer is an even greater challenge, because the “biggest victory” would be winning his life back (86). Through his journey of recovery,