Beginning the Journey
Every journey begins someplace. Mine began in Oxford, almost three weeks ago. I was actually pretty nervous about leaving for a round trip to Key West, Florida and back. Even though I was excited to go, I was nervous about leaving. There were all these questions I needed answered, for some reason. Where would I stay? What if I get lost? What if I break down? What if I run out of money? On and on the question went until I had to leave.
The bike was checked out by a really good mechanic. I had saved all the money I was going to need. And, my folks let me borrow a gas card as an early birthday present (thanks Mom and Dad!). So off I went. As soon as I got into Toledo, I got lost. Trying to avoid highways requires a lot of turns and, well, that was all I needed to get lost. Getting back on track took me off schedule, but hey, I’m having an adventure. Anyway, back on the road, a big storm was coming through. Something flew into my eye and it wouldn’t wash out. I couldn’t find my goggles for driving at night, and my left eye was swelling shut. I was putting on my rain suit at an abandoned gas station, with nothing else for miles. I couldn’t find my night goggles so I was driving down the road with a swollen eye, at night, in the rain, on the highway (yes, I know…what was I thinking?) I find a hotel and get set for the night. Which, by the way, caused me to spend almost all the money I had alotted for the week.
That was just the first 150 miles. Since then my battery died and I had to walk a mile and a half to get a new one, the spring fell off my kick stand, and my place to stay in Key West fell through.
Another thing that I noticed was I got focused on the destination and not on the journey. I didn’t stop for pictures. I didn’t stop along the way just to look around. I just kept going and going and going. I felt like an energizer biker bunny or something. One of my friends told me to slow down and enjoy the trip. It was good advice. Now I stop to take pictures and smell the roses, or hybiscus. And, I am taking the time to enjoy all the things that make an adventure an adventure.
What is keeping you from going on your adventure? Is it not knowing what will happen down the road? Trust me, all the preparation and you will still not be ready for all the things that will happen. Heck, everyone told me to take an extra clutch cable, they never mentioned an extra spring for the kick stand. Problems are going to come up and you will deal with them. Over the course of these miles, I have had to ask directions and get help from strangers. It’s hard to go on an adventure without letting people in to help. That’s part of the fun.
So what’s keeping you? Everything I was freaking out about happened, and more. And this is the greatest trip I have ever taken. I have gotten to be in downtown Jacksonville, on the James River, with great friends at night. I have met and stayed with complete strangers that cooked me breakfast. I have seen alligators swimming in a canal, iguanas running across the road, and a huge variety of birds I never knew existed. None of which I would have seen if I didn’t take the first step and get going on my trip.
I stood at the end of US 1, mile marker 0, and there are two signs right across from each other. One says, US 1 End. The other says, US 1 Begin. Every journey begins somewhere. My goal was Key West, but then another journey began where the other ended.
If all of this happened on a simple trip to Key West, what kind of things can you expect on your spiritual journey? Probably a lot of the same things. You will have troubles, trials, and tribulations. You will have to trust strangers and ask for help. But, you will have the time of you life, if you just get going on the trip. It will be a riot, I promise.
The Journey Begins