How its been rolling so far…

I have been so bad about blogging and or just writing about my travels thus far. It’s sad to say that because I just made a list places camped and the route taken over the last two months and man have I gone nowhere but gone everywhere. I have seen nothing but yet seen so much. It much more difficult to catch up on things instead of keeping current with them. Even after 27 years of school I sometimes forget that. I have decided I am going to make it a part of my daily/weekly practice to at least write the bullet points of my travels, camps, fishing, food, etc. It is just so easy to move onto the next thing without actually reflecting on the recent doings. Good, bad, indifferent, it is important, for me personally, to do so. I have to remind myself that I didn’t start this blog for anybody but myself when its all said and done but I did make a commitment to a few people, as well as feel an obligation, to keep current on this page.

With that said here it goes… Up until this point, December 15th, 2019, two months and 2,500+/- miles I can say that I am the luckiest guy I know. I have had zero big hang ups bike wise or travel wise. No flat tires in the middle of nowhere and no lost or stolen credit cards or passports. In fact I am finally hitting that “flow state” when it comes to my touring, camping, navigating etc. I am currently in Coyhaique, Chile and my camp is dialed in and everything just kind of fits and flows. I am finding my speeds and gears one could say. The last two months has blew by but at the same time also gone so slow. I find myself in a place of contentment and gratitude a majority of the time. Of course there is an off day, morning, afternoon, hour, minute that my attitude sucks and nothing but the work “Fuck”, or some form of it, comes out of my mouth. I broke camp and was on the road before 9:30am for the second time in these two months just the other day. The only reason that happened is because I did a little gear check up and maintenance the night before so I was about 3/4 packed. I wake up to no alarm, put the kettle on for a hot cup of coffee, usually smoke a cigarette, and ease into my day. Up until this point I have had no deadlines or timelines so its really brought an ease to the whole thing. I don’t have to make a certain place by a certain time. I don’t have to hike, ride, see, do, anything really. It has made my last two months so peaceful as well as fulfilling. Of course I still get anxious, sad, confused angry, etc. but the highs seem to come more frequent and last longer and the lows less often and are usually short lived. Honestly they are usually all just me getting into a shit mindset or attitude and being an ungrateful jackass. As a guy, a great guy, once told me, “its amazing how far you can get with a smile and a thumbs up”. So fucking true. I don’t go out of my way to talk to every person I cross paths with but I try to always be of service and ready. Ready for what who knows, but I try to stay ready. There are these moments, lots to be exact, when I am ridding along on Lily, fishing, setting up camp, picking up trash, waiting in a huge line at the grocery store, and I start oozing with gratitude. I really just cant say how fucking blessed I am. I am of sound body and mind and all my faculties work. God damn I am off to a great start! This trip could end tomorrow for some wild reason and I would have zero resentment. I have gotten to ride, fish, camp, eat, etc. at some of the places I have always dreamt about. I wont say they are the best because you may want to be at the top of a high rise in New York eating caviar. Go fucking do it baby! I am doing what I do, how it best fits me, and its fucking amazing. I wish it on everybody!

The route after 2,500 miles, and 2 months.

“Keeping the shiny side up!”

Like I have said, I have ridden 2,500 miles, been in and out of 2 countries, camped at 5 lakes and 8 rivers, about 4 city campgrounds, and I have typed/written nothing! What an ass! From here on out I will be better about it. There is no reason why I cant update at lease once a week. I will be better about it for myself and hopefully by doing so you get something out of it.