This is a 10 hour stretch of slightly curvy road through relatively boring country. This is another 3 hour stretch.
I came North for the adventure, and adventure isn't as fun when it's cold and wet (and by cold, that's 40 degrees; with wind chill and the gear I have...) and that's enough to take away any wandering attention.
The bike is fine, but there's no one to share ideas/thoughts with. The event is ok, but I didn't bring my armor, so I don't get to play; I can dance, but I'm the only dance teacher so I spend the time calling, and I didn't come up here to chase women. (Even if I did, all the single ones are under 16.)
Going north to Anchorage is 4 10 hour ride days, if the road is good and the weather clear, and would be cold and rather boring--either winterbrown and dark conifer green, or winterbrown and muddy water. And while there are friends in Alaska, I didn't arrange to be there ahead of time, so I'm more incidental.
It also costs $120/day to be on the road, when you include gas, lodging, food, incidentals...that's too expensive for boredom!
I'm going to take sites in and head south. It's not fear, it's lack of need, and boredom...
Surely if anyone can find people to share ideas/thoughts with it is you! I know, not while you are actually riding. Sometimes it's good to spend some time in your head though. So I remember you were going to be an inspiration to people actually travelling to the event who hadn't journeyed that far for an event before. How did that go? I'm sure even if you were a bit bored, people really appreciated it. You have that effect on people... I'll be glad to see you when you get back!
Isn't it interesting how your friends have reacted to your decision to turn around and come straight back home? No one said you must push on into Alaska. Folks are just reminding you that perhaps, you have not had the opportunity to gain whatever perspective you wanted out of this trip. They are reminding you of why you said you wanted to go on a trip.
Remember, you went on this trip for a reason. From my POV in the nickel seats, it sounds like this is no longer important to you. The going got rough, so you are going to just turn around and come home? Are you considering other options? Surely there are other, interesting places one could go.
Please don't tell me I'm wrong because one day I plan on loading up the bike and heading out. I must be able to believe that even when the riding is long, the scenery boring, and the weather inclimate; there is something on the other side worth perservering for. Or are adventures only worthwhile if they are scripted or event oriented? I don't believe that. I know it's not true. In fact, even if you tell me that, I won't believe you.
I won't believe you because had I stopped every time the going got tough or I didn't have a real plan, I'd have never gone anywhere or done anything. I wouldn't have seen penguins in the Straights of Magellan (the weather there is similar to what you are describing and probably worse out on the water). I wouldn't have made it to the parties in Hong Kong just prior to Turnover. I wouldn't have freedove in Bohol. I would not have seen Aconcagua. I would never have been invited to a formal tea in Wick. I would never have competed at Nationals in spearfishing. I would not have met a great number of fascinating and terrific people all over the world.
No, adventure is not scripted. Adventure is what you have when you stick things out, are open to your options, and are flexible enough to make your own options from time to time. In the end. It's all up to you. Stay out there, come back, come back the long circuitous route. It's all your decision.
Oh, come on Selkie, don't you think that's a little harsh? You have certainly had some extreme adventures - not everybody does as much as you do. I'm not saying he shouldn't of course. I just know from my point of view, I tend to be more people motivated. If the social aspect of a trip isn't working out or being fun, I probably wouldn't be motivated to stay. My favorite adventures happen with friends.
I've never been anywhere...no extreme adventures of that kind for me, and, as anyone who knows me will assert, I am definitely a people-motivated person...if I don't have people contact, I wilt. All of that being the case, however, I have to agree with her. It isn't the pushing on to Alaska that is the point. Indeed, what with the conditions, I suspect it may be the wiser choice *not* to push on but (and it's the biggest but I have ;-) I would still argue that staying out is a good idea, given the initial rationale for the trip, and given how time - and solitude - tend to help clear the brain.
The decision of course must be the one learnteach chooses for himself. I think that what both she, and I, and near as I can tell, practically everyone else, are suggesting is that he re-think the trip, and vary it to meet his needs (especially for interesting scenery and safer riding conditions!), rather than just discarding it altogether.
No. I don't think I am being harsh. I have listened and read what learnteach has had to say about his life and about what he thinks he needs. He has told me about which side of the plexiglass he wants to live on. He has talked about how he needs to get away.
If these things are true (and I recommend learnteach go back and read his journals, live and otherwise), then the very worst thing he can do is just to turn around and come back now; unless he is coming back to regroup and head out again.
I think many others have been listening and reading as well. Just look at the comments prior to the disco comment. These are all reminders to learnteach of what he said he wanted and needed.
I am not saying that he should go out and duplicate my experiences. Certainly, that would be a huge mistake. And besides, he's in the wrong part of the world to try at most of the ones I mentioned. On the other hand, I know that he admires some of the things I have done and I don't think he realizes that these things that I have done, the really worthwhile adventures that I have had, have come with some large amount of work, a good measure of perserverence, and a large dose of flexibility. They did not just happen because I walked out my door and decided to have an adventure.
They also did not happen without the help of others. While I do often travel by myself, I always meet people wherever I am at. I am a terribly social person. Meeting new people and interacting with them is the best way to learn, in my opinion. You learn about them, their lives, and how they are. And you learn about you, your life, and how you are. It is all about learning about new perspectives. Bingo. That's what learnteach was looking for and I'm not afraid to argue that maybe he should still be on a quest to gain it.
It occurs to me that you, garandman, Antonio and I had an adventure in downtown San Jose some three weeks ago. We wandered around, checked out hole in the wall restaurants, counted up shark statues, and checked out the stunning view at King Library. We even made sure that the men's and women's room had equal art.
So, there's an example of an adventure that was bourne of three people deciding to do something, yet nothing in particular. I don't know about you, but I had a lot of fun that day, even if it was an adventure in my own backyard. (:
That's exactly what I'm saying. See - with friends... Ok, so Antonio was a new friend, but the social part was working out well and I had a really great time. I'm not at all saying that you need a plan - I certainly don't most of the time - but you need some people who have time to have fun be flexible. Sure, I make new friends along the way. Also, I'm sure NOBODY thought that your adventures came easily - I certainly didn't assume that. If learnteach is feeling like coming home, having more local adventures or planning the next far adventure, I'm certainly not going to discourage him.
They can be. Unless staying local means that you can't see past the issues you are trying to gain perspective on. See my original comment to learnteach's original post. Sometimes you do actually need to move to a spot physically and mentally far enough away that you can see things in a new way. Hanging around here was not doing that for learnteach as he has stated some number of times.
Everything I am saying relates rather specifically to things he has told me or that I have read in his journal. Different people are different and I don't assume that what is good for me is good for him. But I have been paying attention and I know one or two things about getting out of ruts. These are the issues and thoughts I am trying to bring to light. I worry that if he loses his current momentum, it will take some time for him to get to the things he needs to get to. Those are not things that I define. These are things he has already defined. And maybe he has redefined them. But I do not know about that.
Again, all of these issues are for learnteach to take into consideration while making his own decisions. They are little nuggets of thought to ponder and that is all.
I give up. You obviously know him WAY better than me. No, I haven't been paying close attention, and I don't have a good enough memory if I had been. I was just going off things that I feel and things that are good from my own perspective. But I don't think he's been "hanging around here" for long since having more free time though. And I don't see him as a type of person who loses momentum - he always seems to have some. It doesn't take long before he's bored with sitting around and off to the next adventure.
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timeasmymeasure
This ain't no party. This ain't no disco.
Date: 2004-05-02 09:32 am (UTC)I came North for the adventure, and adventure isn't as fun when it's cold and wet (and by cold, that's 40 degrees; with wind chill and the gear I have...) and that's enough to take away any wandering attention.
The bike is fine, but there's no one to share ideas/thoughts with. The event is ok, but I didn't bring my armor, so I don't get to play; I can dance, but I'm the only dance teacher so I spend the time calling, and I didn't come up here to chase women. (Even if I did, all the single ones are under 16.)
Going north to Anchorage is 4 10 hour ride days, if the road is good and the weather clear, and would be cold and rather boring--either winterbrown and dark conifer green, or winterbrown and muddy water. And while there are friends in Alaska, I didn't arrange to be there ahead of time, so I'm more incidental.
It also costs $120/day to be on the road, when you include gas, lodging, food, incidentals...that's too expensive for boredom!
I'm going to take sites in and head south. It's not fear, it's lack of need, and boredom...
no subject
Date: 2004-05-02 10:08 am (UTC)Re: This ain't no party. This ain't no disco.
Date: 2004-05-02 12:26 pm (UTC)Remember, you went on this trip for a reason. From my POV in the nickel seats, it sounds like this is no longer important to you. The going got rough, so you are going to just turn around and come home? Are you considering other options? Surely there are other, interesting places one could go.
Please don't tell me I'm wrong because one day I plan on loading up the bike and heading out. I must be able to believe that even when the riding is long, the scenery boring, and the weather inclimate; there is something on the other side worth perservering for. Or are adventures only worthwhile if they are scripted or event oriented? I don't believe that. I know it's not true. In fact, even if you tell me that, I won't believe you.
I won't believe you because had I stopped every time the going got tough or I didn't have a real plan, I'd have never gone anywhere or done anything. I wouldn't have seen penguins in the Straights of Magellan (the weather there is similar to what you are describing and probably worse out on the water). I wouldn't have made it to the parties in Hong Kong just prior to Turnover. I wouldn't have freedove in Bohol. I would not have seen Aconcagua. I would never have been invited to a formal tea in Wick. I would never have competed at Nationals in spearfishing. I would not have met a great number of fascinating and terrific people all over the world.
No, adventure is not scripted. Adventure is what you have when you stick things out, are open to your options, and are flexible enough to make your own options from time to time. In the end. It's all up to you. Stay out there, come back, come back the long circuitous route. It's all your decision.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-02 02:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-02 03:07 pm (UTC)The decision of course must be the one
no subject
Date: 2004-05-02 04:57 pm (UTC)Adventures come to you
Date: 2004-05-02 05:33 pm (UTC)Re: Adventures come to you
Date: 2004-05-03 12:07 am (UTC)Quite a tempest in a teapot you've got brewing here, eh? :):):)
no subject
Date: 2004-05-02 04:53 pm (UTC)If these things are true (and I recommend
I think many others have been listening and reading as well. Just look at the comments prior to the disco comment. These are all reminders to
I am not saying that he should go out and duplicate my experiences. Certainly, that would be a huge mistake. And besides, he's in the wrong part of the world to try at most of the ones I mentioned. On the other hand, I know that he admires some of the things I have done and I don't think he realizes that these things that I have done, the really worthwhile adventures that I have had, have come with some large amount of work, a good measure of perserverence, and a large dose of flexibility. They did not just happen because I walked out my door and decided to have an adventure.
They also did not happen without the help of others. While I do often travel by myself, I always meet people wherever I am at. I am a terribly social person. Meeting new people and interacting with them is the best way to learn, in my opinion. You learn about them, their lives, and how they are. And you learn about you, your life, and how you are. It is all about learning about new perspectives. Bingo. That's what
The choice, however, is his. It must be his.
Adventures need not be big
Date: 2004-05-02 05:08 pm (UTC)So, there's an example of an adventure that was bourne of three people deciding to do something, yet nothing in particular. I don't know about you, but I had a lot of fun that day, even if it was an adventure in my own backyard. (:
And they can be local....
Date: 2004-05-02 07:00 pm (UTC)Re: And they can be local....
Date: 2004-05-02 09:36 pm (UTC)Everything I am saying relates rather specifically to things he has told me or that I have read in his journal. Different people are different and I don't assume that what is good for me is good for him. But I have been paying attention and I know one or two things about getting out of ruts. These are the issues and thoughts I am trying to bring to light. I worry that if he loses his current momentum, it will take some time for him to get to the things he needs to get to. Those are not things that I define. These are things he has already defined. And maybe he has redefined them. But I do not know about that.
Again, all of these issues are for
no subject
Date: 2004-05-03 10:33 am (UTC)