GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of March 11

Are you ready for another fantastic Gadling recap of a week that was, um quite fantastic? I reckon so, but before I dig in I must say there were several other highlights to this week not listed here like how to speed through security check points or some new outdoor places in China to use the potty (only for those who aren’t shy) which were recently blogged about, but let’s go back further in the week.

5. Japanese Penis Festival:
Penis, fertility and renewal are all the hype at the Hounen Matsuri festival, known also as the Japanese Penis Festival for those who aren’t as swift with Japanese pronunciation. Sadly, the festival has come and past this year, but go on, read further and beef up your knowledge for next year’s events.

4. New Matt: “Dancing Man” Harding Video:
Honestly, there are parts of me that really can’t take watching the well perfected horrible dance jig-like moves performed by Matt Harding across the world. While I fancy seeing various locations, his dancing is just awful. Yes, I said awful. No matter my thoughts, Matt is the lucky one here and Justin has done us the favor of posting his latest dance outtakes clip and providing fans of Matt with some very tasty news. Check it out!

3. Underground Railroad Bicycle Route:
Hungry for history and cycling around the country? If you have five weeks to do it you can join in on exploring the route of the Underground Railroad with the Adventure Cycling Association or purchase the maps and head out on your own. Either way this is very, very cool.

2. Vieques: A Trip Report:
Having recently toured Vieques, an island off of Puerto Rico, Erik brings us the 411 on what’s going on and why you should get there fast.

1. Round the World in 100 Days: Nassau, Bahamas:
Slowly, but surely Dia Draper is heading around the world in a big floating city of about 900 people. In this dispatch she touches on a place not too, too far from home for most of us (depending on where home is) in Nassau, Bahamas. Which is my saying even if you can’t take off 100 days to cruise the world you might want to look into her notes for planning a smaller trip to the Bahamas, though being ambitious and following in her footsteps might not be so bad either.

Underground Railroad Bicycle Route

If you’re looking for a theme for your next cross-country bike ride (aside, of course, from the obvious theme of “cross-country bike ride”), then you might want to check out the Underground Railroad route. Though there are a number of routes that made up the historical Underground Railroad network — clandestine paths by which slaves attempted to escape both before and during the Civil War — the Adventure Cycling Association chose to map a route guided by the song, “Follow the Drinking Gourd.”

The 2058-mile route begins in Mobile, Alabama, and winds north through river valleys and wildlife refuges, before culminating in Owen Sound, Ontario on Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay. Along the way, the Route passes a number of highlights, including Africatown, Hal’s Lake, and several important churches.

The Adventure Cycling Association has maps for the route available ($56 gets non-members the complete set of 5). Alternatively, you can go on a guided tour with the Association, if you can spare 5 weeks.

[Via Getoutdoors]