2007 Resolutions
Knowing that I'll be on the road and away from friends and family for nearly all of 2007 has thrown my annual New Year's goal-setting ritual into a state of disarray.
Standard resolutions, like "spend time with family" and "get files and photos organized" will have to stay on hold for a year as I'll be far from the people in my life and from nearly all of my worldly possessions for most of the new year.
Some of the obvious travel-related "rezes" sound kind of silly. "I resolve not to tailgate," for example; and "I’ll signal before changing lanes" seem rather trite.
Other candidates make me feel a bit selfish: "I won’t pick up hitch-hikers," for example; and "Don’t exceed the speed limit no matter how many cars line up behind me" certainly seem to be in conflict with the Golden Rule.
The idea of taking this kind of road trip actually came from watching television shows like "Route 66," "The Fugitive” and "Highway to Heaven." The heroes of these and other dramas of that genre were constantly finding adventures and ended up saving the day – at least once a week – and rescuing a lot of damsels in distress.
I’ve decided that, except in some dire circumstances, I'm going to limit my Good Samaritan acts to making a cell phone call for help. The roads aren’t as safe as they once were; nor am I as capable of changing the flattened tire – and I've never really known what to look for under a stranded motorist’s hood.
I will be looking for adventure, but with considerably less abandon than while on the road trips of my youth. I've even decided to limit most of my sightseeing to daylight hours and fairly well traveled roads. After all, this trip is a marathon, not a sprint; I'll need good nights’ sleep to maintain the pace.
Gee, these resolutions are making the trip sound rather subdued, maybe even a bit staid. Have my months living among the eighty- and ninety-somethings at The Hampshire have made me over cautious?
Perhaps. But if I'm going to complete this nonstop solo journey, I’ll need to stay healthy and avoid trip-ending mishaps. So, a stepped up level of applied common sense seems only prudent for 2007.
I also resolve, within the constraints I've imposed here, to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm going to pay attention and to drink in the tapestry of landscapes and cultures I will encounter during my 15,000-mile (maybe even longer) odyssey.
And, as I'm saying in all of my podcasts, newspaper columns and radio spots, "I hope you’ll ride along with me at WanderingDave.com."
8 comments:
I'm glad to see the mention of Route 66. Great show, and the one that helped to inspire our little family (husband, wife and dog) to wander for several months back in 1986. George Maharis told us in an interview that back in 1960-62, the places they went really were very different from one another. "Now you can go wherever you like," he said, "and it's a Denny's."
(Here via Chuck.)
Good luck Dave. I look forward to following your progress and reading about your experiences.
Any chance you could set up an RSS feed (Feedburner might help) so regular readers can have the updates drop into their feeds?
Mr Wandering Dave... I saw your comment on my blog. I don'y know what steered you to mine, but I have traveled extensively. Many of my blog posts, (from an earlier blog) were about trips I had taken.
Feel free to contact any time. You mentioned Wisconsin and I live there, but to mention anyplace to suggest you go there would be unfair unless I get an idea of what you're looking to see.
My rules are not as specific as yours. Mine were simply to make the journey everything and any destination is where the journey has taken you. I didn't look for things to see, but rather they showed themselves to me as I traveled.
I also did not endeavor to use media other than tell my personal experiences that I wanted to share. In other words, I have written about less than 100,000 miles driven, but have been on the road for well over 2,000,000. I'm just spinning yarns as I feel like telling them.
Good luck. I'll follow along as things get revved up for you. Feel free to keep in touch. My e-mail is posted on my blogger profile.
Peace and safe driving.
I'll come along, Dave! It sounds like fun.
You commented on my blog the other day, but you did so on a year old post - which is fine, but still..
Since your blog won't let me post with my new username, go here -
http://theinnerdoor.wordpress.com
to see more updated bits...
Sounds like fun, but also a little scary. I don't know if I would do it all alone.
Drive safe. And I agree with the no hitchhikers thing.
Sounds like a fun trip. Good luck.
Hey Dave,
I'm here via your comment on my blog. Looks like an interesting trip and I'll plan on keeping an eye on your travels. I live on your designated route, so you got that going for you!
Good luck with the final preparations.
Thanks for stopping in, and for your good words! I haven't the time just now to read your blog in full, but will very shortly. I will also drop you an email first of the week to catch up.
D.
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