Traffic Tickets

Travel Report from my Road.

Over the years I did my share of traveling and many people ask if I have my experiences written down.
I sat down many a time to share what I saw, what I felt or how I thought about certain things, issues or situations. I keep a journal when I go on trips and write down the daily events however small they are.
Yes, I even go back once in a while and read over my notes to refresh my memory and it certainly helps because I do forget details. But writing it, as a report, is different. Small feelings must be explained to the reader that seem obvious to me. Writing seems to me like a Zen exercise, very focused and detail oriented. Writing is laborious.

I walk into Barnes and Nobles and cannot believe the many words that have been printed and put into books. Everybody has an opinion and everybody seems to be talking about something or somebody. Do the writers know their stuff? Not really! It is always just one man’s point of view. It is the road report of the road he travels on. The best way I can look at his writing is to use the words as ‘Road Signs’.

I often wondered what happens on the road parallel to the one I am taking. While my road seems boring sometimes there might be something exiting or new just around the corner. But how would I know? How could I find out? By going to the other road I wonder what would have happened had I stuck to the original road? Life seems always better or different from far away, or just around the corner. It is an art to live life as it is and enjoy and accept what is in the ‘now’. Each of us travels his own road no matter what. No matter how we try to live somebody else’s life or try to be on two roads at once, we are stuck in the ‘now’.

So while I will try to write some of my experiences down on paper I will warn you that most of it is benign. The most exiting things seem to happen on the road around the corner from me. The road you are riding on is as exiting or as benign as mine. Take my words only as ‘Street Signs’. Words you may or may not follow. The words you read are the street signs I left behind on my road through life.

Enjoy reading what I have to say. Remember these are just my road signs along my way of travel. You do not have to follow any of my signs. They could prove useful if you travel along a similar path but have no real meaning to you since your road is very different. It is your choice to obey my road signs or not.
I do not give out traffic tickets. Life, your life, will give you all the violation tickets you need.

Arong Qi - Inner Mongolia 

Motorcyles

Adventure Motorcycle riding is what I like best. Of course it depends what the definition of an Adventure is. Riding in New York City is considered for some an Adventure. Some think nothing of riding through 8 inches of snow yet do not call it an Adventure at all.
So how do I define this word " Adventure."

How about riding with a feeling of uncertainty ?
If I am certain that all is well, that all will be well and that nothing really changes then that is NOT an adventure. If uncertainty is present it can come in many ways. Is my bike ok ? Will the weather hold out ? Do I have enough water ? Will I make it before night fall ? etc.
I depends on the location on this globe that water matters most. Or that rain will make it impossible to go on, or that the bike better make it to the next town or I'll be stranded miles from anywhere without 'ever' getting help.


How about being in a fool hearted situation ?
Facing a mad elephant in the bush ? A blocked road in the mountains, a sheer drop to one side and no place to turn around ? Without water in the desert ?

Adventure depends on the place, the time and the situation.

Do I look to get into above spots ? NO !
But knowing what to do, just in case, helps me feel alive and that is what I seek.
Getting to know strange people, strange places and strange customs WITHOUT getting into dire straights is for me an 'Adventure'