📙 Part 2: Describe a trip you took by bike

This episode's vocabulary

Stir-crazy (adj.) - upset or angry because you have been prevented from going somewhere or doing something for a long time.

Accessible (adj.) - able to be reached or easily got.

Cooped up (adj.) - if you are cooped up somewhere, you are in a small closed space from which you cannot escape, or you feel as if you are.

Entail (verb) - involve (something) as a necessary or inevitable part or consequence.

Pleasant (adj.) - enjoyable, attractive, friendly, or easy to like.

Hairy (adj.) - frightening or dangerous, especially in a way that is exciting.

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Questions and Answers

Maria: Rory will describe a trip he took by bike. He'll say when and where the trip was, who he went with, why he went by bike and explain how he felt about it. Could you start speaking now, please?

Rory: I can't say this is something that I've done regularly in my life or recently, given that we're currently living through the Russian winter. And I don't think that kind of weather lends itself to riding a bike, to be honest with you. But I think the last time I took a bike trip was when we borrowed some bikes at camp. That was about a year and a half ago. We were in Vladimir oblast. Oblast is like a Russian word for region. And it was me and all the other teachers that were there. We took this day trip to a local resort since we were going a bit stir-crazy, sitting in the same place all day. And, well, the resort itself is only about a mile away. So we thought, well, why not. We've taken a car there before, but the bikes were a little bit more accessible this time. And to be honest with you, I don't think anyone could be bothered to drive given the heat in the sunshine. It really wasn't a day for being cooped up in a car and all of the heat that that entails, even with air conditioning. And I don't travel by bike often, since I'm usually a pretty straightforward person. I just like getting from A to B and like I say, the most straightforward manner possible. But the weather made it pleasant enough and we were chatting away as we went. There were a few hairy moments on the road and I'm sure that I swallowed more than a few bugs on the way. But for the most part, it wasn't so bad. It was quite enjoyable, actually. Going back wasn't so bad either, because I think there's a sort of gentle slope or incline from the resort to the camp. So as you, well as you ride back, you can do this with minimal effort. And so. Well, you know, it was a pretty positive experience. I don't feel the need to it again, especially not know. But I would definitely recommend it if anybody goes to Vladimir oblast in the summer.

Maria: What about your friends, did they enjoy it?

Rory: Um. Well, they were with me, so of course they enjoyed themselves.

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