Welcome, welcome. I’m planning a big trip – which I’ve talked about to a lot of people over the last year or two – and it feels like time for me to uncloak more widely.
In March of 2011, I plan to ship a motorcycle from the US to Europe and spend the next 18 months on a solo adventure through most of Europe, North Africa, Central / East / Southeast Asia. I’m simultaneously delighted and terrified by the prospect!
This trip is a long time coming – the path to the decision has followed an odd route through more than half my life. I remember being 15 or so, reading a lot, staring at atlases and globes and thinking, “I want to see every continent. I want to know the world”. A few years later, I find myself on the far side of my collegiate experience, steeped in wanderlust, reading “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”, and seeing a possible future.
Fast-forward from 1990 to 2005: my first act after nine years at Microsoft was to take off on a ten-day solo motorcycle trip through WA and OR, no clear idea where I was going, just wanting to ride. I got myself into a few misadventures along the way, taking my very obvious road bike onto some of the thin gray lines on the map, and loving it. The next two years found me in the saddle again for a week or so, off by myself seeking clarity, beauty and solitude.
I think it was 2007 when I first saw “Long Way Round”. That’s when it clicked. I like traveling by motorcycle. I want to see a lot of places. Perhaps I should combine the two. So I started thinking about it, and then mentioning it to a few people, trying it on for size. I came to realize more and more that this is so completely what I want to be doing with my life.
So, then. I’m doing it. I’m about to buy a bike, trick it out for crazy adventure travel, learn its ins and outs. Take it out into the woods.
Along the way, I plan to write more about my plans (and some about previous travels), and post photos from various trips and places. I’ll write about what I’m riding and taking, where I plan to go, some of my goals for the trip.
I hope you’ll stick around for the ride – and maybe, if you’re inspired, come meet me somewhere along the way. Introduce me to folks I should meet out in the world. Tell me about that one magic place you went and always go back to when your heart travels.
Come along. It should be fun.
cheers,
~stuart
PS: Please pardon the dust while things settle out here. I’ve got things to say, and don’t want to wait until I have a perfect blog site to start saying them.
* h/t Lou Reed
Comments
11 responses to “Beginning of a Great Adventure *”
Wow. I had not heard about these plans, but this sounds AMAZING. I cannot wait to follow your adventures. You know we’ll all be over here in our ordinary (well, as ordinary as we all can be) lives, feeling a little envious.
Congratulations on following your heartsong. As always, you are an incredible being to know, and this adventure is yet another reflection of the depth to which you go to expand your horizons, learn about the world, and be present to it. I am really excited about this new voyage!
I remember talking to you about this almost a year ago. I hope you have a great and wonderful adventure, returning from it being exactly where and who you want to be.
@Donn – Thanks! Yes, it’s been a long time coming, and now it feels like it’s so soon that I don’t have time to get everything done that I need to before I depart.
This sounds excellent! Looking forward to hearing of your adventures… we’ve got friends in London, Helsinki and Risskov, so if your journey takes your through any of them lemme know.
@yelahneb: I’m almost certainly going through or near all those places. As the trip starts, I’ll be posting a rough itinerary in month-or-two chunks and will welcome introductions to fine folks I should meet along the way. Particularly if they happen to have a nice sofa or guest bed. :)
I’m very pleased to be a witness to your journey – I’m so glad you are taking us all along with you!
And I hope to see you in Casablanca ;)
xoxoxox
Jenn, I’d love to see you in Casablanca. Yes, please.
Yes. Let’s make that happen! Of course, at some point I will need a date ;) Will I find out by following your blog? Or….?
Jenn – I’m planning to have a couple ways people can keep up-to-date. I’ll post regularly with rough itinerary for the next several months, and also plan to set up a mailing list. :)
I look forward to this tale.
ok. i’m officially envious.