Over the last 3 years of talking about this trip
I have frequently been asked two questions. How can I spend 3 months
taking a trip like this and do I really think we will make it for
3 months on the road? Well honestly the more time I spend on the
road the longer I want to stay out here. This country is so rich
and full of places to explore and experience that it seams like
I could keep going indefinitely. Everywhere we go and connect with
people everyone is so open and friendly it is like a different world.
I expect a lot of it has to do with our mind set as travelers but
it is so different then the stress and challenges that the day to
day life back home can sometimes bring. People love to talk and
share their experiences, their favorite destinations and their cherished
memories and they love to hear about our adventure.
In response to the second question I used to have
a long winded answer justifying this dream but now it is very simple;
how can you not take the time at least once in your life to spend
with yourself and or your children taking the opportunity to live
and experience life and each other to the fullest. I didn’t
realize until a few weeks ago that I am the only person I know that
will have spent this much time basically living 24X7 with and dependant
on one other person. Really, is life, a carrier or whatever it is
that you do that keeps you from doing something like this so important
and so rewarding that you can afford not to make such a journey?
Haley has been a real trooper. In the beginning
she struggled with missing Mom and her friends but she learned to
deal with it and I must say that every time we have been faced with
a tough decision like turn around and head home, ride in the rain
or push on to the next town she always chose the tough decision
and virtually never complained. Our patience with each other has
been tested and we have learned to give each other space when needed.
She gets stressed in the mornings and I go there after a long days
ride. The bottom line is that we are learning to communicate better
and most importantly we are learning to respond with love and a
deeper level of understanding and compassion.
In conclusion here are a few things that we have
learned or recognized so far and hope to work on during the second
half of the trip:
I have the rare ability to take a 3 month vacation and never have
a free moment.
I enjoy the journey most and Haley enjoys the destination.
You can spend all the time you want together and until you choose
to connect you can be as alone as you want.
You have to choose to be intimate; it is not an automatic response
to being alone with someone.
You can best see the areas of yourself that need work by noticing
the things you most want to change in your children.
Whoever you are, whatever you do, regardless of
your life challenges please, take the time and give yourself a gift
like this at least once in your life. You never know when the end
may come so don’t wait, take a chance and experience life.
John and Haley
