2023 – 2024
So, when I first started telling people about what I would be doing, some of the same questions where asked. People were really inquisitive and I didn’t mind answering any questions. The most important ones were the why, the when and the where. Two of those were easy to answer. One of them not so much.
Let’s begin with where. I had a few options in mind. One was getting my gear together and going from Korea to China by boat and then starting there and heading to Europe. Another option was flying to Europe and then cycling home through Africa. Something I felt I was not ready for. Another option that definitely intrigued me and was relatively popular was the Alaska to Argentina route. I had watched Mark Beaumont complete and then was probably the inspiration of doing a ride like this. For various reasons, mostly just the length and coast I decided it was too far. A shorter version starting in San Deigo started to become more and more feasible and I decided this was the best option for me.
The when was also relatively easy. My contract was up at the end of February and with how the school year worked, it gave me a lot of time to plan and prepare for my journey. This was also a good time to be cycling through Baja. It would be near the end of the dry season but hopefully I would have good weather the whole way through. Part of the when is the how long. And I would be comfortable with any time between a year and a year and a half. Though this is for the future to decide.
And now for the hard question. The why. To be honest there is not specific one reason or event that led me down this path. And I think for most of us this is the case. Big decisions are never made in isolation and there is almost never a clear cause and effect. What I can do is mention various nudges throughout the years that have pushed me to head in this direction.
When it comes to books, blogs, social media and documentaries I have always gravitated towards stories of individuals doing amazing journeys. I am always enthralled by what people are capable of doing. It amazes me how people can step out of their comfort zone and make a conscious decision to go for it. Although I love reading fiction, I am always initially drawn to autobiographies.
I am lucky to have lived an amazing ten years in Korea. Between amazing friends, a convenient lifestyle, hobbies that are easy to pursue and a job I enjoyed doing, there was no pressure to leave and do something different. Many times, we all spoke about doing something different and then sometime last year I decided lets actually do it. I am not an extraordinary person but I would like to do something extraordinary. And this is my chance.
I hope I was able to at least partially answer these questions. I will probably come back to the why at some point in the future.
Dancing Saddle 