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How lessons I learned while traveling have helped me through family tragedy (and can help you)

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

While this is my story, I’m sharing it because we all have family and those that we love. When we least expect it, tragedies happen and the skills that we hone while traveling can be invaluable in getting us through.

Camping in Siberia en route to the Arctic Circle (-43C)

Truth is – this year has been a roller coaster of euphoria and darkness. In February, I rode a Ural motorcycle through some of the harshest ice roads in Siberia and into the Arctic Circle. Hitting the finish line was exhilarating – an accomplishment that I will remember forever. Just hours after reaching Salekhard, I was faced with some devastating news – that Al, a man who had been a mentor and a father figure since I was 16, was gravely ill. I immediately began planning my trip home, so that we could spend what time was left together. By the time I hit Moscow, however, I had learned that he had passed. I’ll tell the story of that night another time, but suffice to say – I’m glad that I was in the company of fellow travelers (thanks Dalbs, Dylan and Karan). After returning home and helping with his arrangements, I was also faced with the challenge that both of my grandfathers are fighting terminal diseases.

Now, this may sound like the pit of despair – and that I’m likely kept from all sharp objects and belts – but the truth is that I’m doing as well as can be expected. Of course, some days are better than others – but the lessons that I’ve learned while traveling have been key to putting all of this in perspective.

Face difficult things

Many of my travels have included an element of danger – from surviving sub-zero Siberia to breaking down in the middle of the Gobi Desert. Time and again, I’ve been taught the value of facing difficult situations head-on. I’m not perfect – all I wanted to do when I learned about each of these tragedies was to put my head down and ignore what was happening. If I don’t acknowledge it – it isn’t happening, right? Wrong – ignoring the problem only allows it to grow larger or saps away the time we have left with those we love. As conscious beings, we can’t control what happens, but we can control our reactions. Regardless of what I “wanted” to do, I chose to face reality and accept the situation as it stands – which then gave me the freedom to act upon it, instead of hiding from reality.

Freedom to move

Once I had accepted the situation, the next step was to travel and spend time with my family. To some, this may seem trivial – but many people (including myself a few years ago) are mired down with false responsibilities and material possessions that keep us cemented in place. One of the greatest benefits to the Vagabonding lifestyle is the freedom it creates to follow the next adventure and travel as you desire. In this case, that power allowed me to immediately fly to El Paso to help Al’s family and then up to Washington to spend quality time with my grandfather. Soon, I will ride to Missouri to do the same with my other grandfather. This doesn’t mean that I dropped everything, but simply that my lifestyle allows me to work wherever I am and my “home base” is wherever I happen to be. I know that years from now, I’ll be able to look back on this time and realize that this flexibility is one of my greatest freedoms.

Enjoy the moment

When I’m in the middle of an adventure, I’m much more in the moment – my thoughts are nearly all present, rather than lingering on the regrets of the past or stuck on the fears of the future. There’s a lot of research around this state (being in the zone, mindfulness) and ways to achieve it (meditation, focus, etc) – but put simply, it is a practicable state and the more you experience it, the easier it is to achieve. When I’m spending time with my family, there are a lot of emotions that try to pull me out of the present, and into past memories or anxiety about the coming days. The truth is, neither of these are the right place to be – instead, the right place is here and now, while we are together and enjoying each other’s company. For us, sharing meals and playing cards at night, while joking with each other is a special time that I’m grateful for.

The journey is long and ever changing

One of the greatest lessons that my adventures taught me is that he terrain change down the road. So – no matter what is happening and how dark the times in front of you may be, with persistence and endurance, you can make it through. This is a lesson that I often need to be re-taught, which is exactly what happened while I was in Siberia. I’ll share the full story another time, but the core of it is – on the first night camping, I spent several hours waiting for the sun to rise, while manually flexing my feet with my hands in order to stave off frostbite. It was a long, torturous night that I wasn’t sure I’d make it through. Minute-by-minute and flex-by-flex I did. Eventually the sun rose and I can say that all of my lil’ piggies are warm and pink today. This lesson helps today when days get tough and emotionally dark. I know that if we just endure and continue on, that there will be lighter times ahead. Sure enough, there always are.

Knowing my life will be full by the time I get there

As I watch my grandfather’s body get weaker and as he becomes more dependent on the rest of us, I can’t help but realize that there will be a time when I reach the same point. We all will. It’s inevitable – we get older and die — quickly, quietly or slowly. I do find comfort knowing that, like my grandfather, whenever I reach that point – my life will have been as full as possible. Sure, there are opportunities that I didn’t take, too many hours spent in front of a television and potential lovers that I shied away from — but on whole, I can look back at my life satisfied. I know that I took advantage of the time I had and made a difference in the lives of those around me. Like the boy scout motto – try and leave this world a little better than you found it.

Look – there is no silver bullet when facing family tragedies. Nothing is going to make all of the pain go away or magically make it better. Like every test, however, you control how you perceive and respond to difficulty. Every challenge has a silver lining and in the case of mine, I’m fortunate to have the freedom and wherewithal to make the most of our time together. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Neither should you.

Original article can be found here: How lessons I learned while traveling have helped me through family tragedy (and can help you)

Is the phrase “be careful” making us less safe?

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

There is a moment on every trip where I recognize just how embedded in my being the cultural norms from my home country really are. Like most travelers, I seem to see norms revolving around eating, social interactions, personal space, even pace of walking pop up around almost every corner as I explore foreign streets. But every once in a while a “bigger” norm comes into focus and I start pondering whether I am happy with the price I am paying to have it rent space in my brain.

One of the concepts that has been embedded the deepest in our collective American psyche is fear.

Fear of strangers, fear of immigrants, fear of change, fear of accidents, fear of pain, fear of sickness, fear of being taken advantage of, fear of being judged. We seem to love our fear, wrapping it around our language, our interactions, and our opinions like a much-loved blanket. We base our biggest and our smallest life choices around the concepts of “fear” and “safety”- it’s not even just a concept or a feeling anymore, it’s a way of life. Where to buy a house, which school to send our children to, what car to buy, what advice to take, which job to accept, how to treat our illnesses, who we interact with, even what clothes to buy are all decisions we make on a daily basis, out of fear. By far, the #1 reason I hear from people as the reason they do not travel, especially long term, is fear- fear of the unknown, fear of danger, fear of things that are different.

Perhaps worse than the understanding that fear is a big part of our culture is the realization that we communicate our fear continuously in the simplest of ways. Take for example our constant need to shout, “be careful!” to any child climbing a jungle gym, running in the park, wrestling in the grass, digging furiously in the sand, climbing a tree, eating an ice cream cone with gusto, turning cartwheels, jumping on a trampoline, balancing on a curb, or otherwise using their bodies and exploring their own limits.

What is the constant reminder from an outside source to “be careful!” doing to our kids? Could we possibly be making them LESS safe? I think so.

When we shout “be careful!” we instantly divert a child’s attention from the task at hand. They are no longer paying attention to that last rung on the ladder, they are paying attention to us and trying to dechiper what we want them to do. Every time we say those two words we rob them a little bit more of the freedom to assess their own ability and push themselves just a little further. Soon thoughts of escapades involving far off lands, climbing very tall trees, and balancing on curbs that are obviously really Olympic balance beams, turn into thoughts about what may or may not be “safe”. We are wiring their brains to look for danger instead of possibility and to seek outside understanding of “safety” and fear instead of looking within to find their own compass on their individual limits.

So, why does this matter to a traveler? Because if you really think about it, most of us carry around the accumulation of all those adults yelling “be careful” as we climbed, explored, and got just a little closer to breaking free. It holds us back, if ever so slightly, from fully engaging. Many long term travelers are re-wiring our own brains. We are taking stock of our culture and the baggage it brings- both positive and negative- and learning to listen more to our guts than to our embedded culture. We are starting to recognize that bad things (and extraordinary things) can happen anywhere and that a culture with a strong basis in fear might not get us as far as we want to go.

But what about everyone who is too scared to venture out? Could all of those exclamations of “be careful” be a part of the weight that binds them to their “safe” corner? What if one of the best ways we could encourage a new generation of travelers was to hold back as many “be carefuls” as we could?

Don’t get me wrong, I have fears too. Like most people, I have fears about difficult journeys and “dangerous” places that need to be almost continually unraveled so that I can enjoy and participate fully in my own journey. I’m not immune to fear, I am just starting to recognize that a good portion of this fear may not be mine. But what I am most afraid of is communicating to our children that this world is too scary to explore and perpetuating the thought that we should be focusing on being careful and not on the experience at hand.

I wonder, could creating a culture based on exploration rather than fear be as simple as reflecting on the language we use and changing it where appropriate? It just might be. We can argue that there are so many other factors involved, and there are. But considering the fact that one of the most common expressions of our culture is our language, it’s probably a good place to start. We control our language. We choose what we communicate and how we influence our youngest members in society. It’s a choice- a choice that is adjustable on an individual level.

So, to all the climbers, jumpers, dreamers, tumblers, diggers, runners, and explorers I say this…. be engaged, be confident, be dedicated to discovery, be wildly idealistic, be adventurous, be creative, be free, be brave enough to listen to your own inner voice, and as much as you can, be consciously aware. But whatever you do, don’t “be careful.”

How have your fears affected your journey? How have you overcome them?

Original article can be found here: Is the phrase “be careful” making us less safe?

Vagabonding Field Report: Crossing two Borders in one day (and running out of money)

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Cost/day: $100/day

What’s the strangest thing that’s happened lately?

We left El Salvador and crossed the Honduras AND Nicaragua border in one day with our five kids (and ran out of money at the Nicaragua border.) Oh, and I’m six months pregnant.

Describe a typical day:

This was an untypical day…  after being unable to find a house we wanted to rent in El Salvador, we decided to head to Nicaragua to find a place. Since there was only a small portion of Honduras we needed to pass through, we opted to cross both borders in the same day.

What do you like about where you are? Dislike?

Like: There’s something special about being on the road, on the move. It feels good to see new places.

Dislike: Literally, the moment we crossed the border into Honduras we were stopped by police who attempted to get us to pay a bribe. Then we were stopped 5-6 more times that day before reaching the Nicaraguan border… not cool. (But we refused to pay one single bribe, so that’s good.)

Describe a challenge you faced:

There was a little bit of cash left in our wallet, but most of it had been spent on groceries. If necessary, we planned to withdraw any money we would need at the border. When we arrived, the entry into Nicaragua was more than we had remembered/expected ($12 per passport, and there’s seven of us.)

My husband attempted to withdraw money from the ATM to pay the fees, but the machine ONLY accepted Visa… and the only cards we had were Mastercard. We could not access our money, and the nearest ATM that accepted Mastercard was an hour into Nicaragua, or a couple of hours back into Honduras. What were we going to do?

Soon my husband spotted some European backpackers and thought he better take advantage of any opportunity he might have. He struck up a conversation, then asked them if he could offer them a ride to León, Nicaragua, in exchange for a loan to pay our visa fees (and a promise to pay them back as soon as we found a Mastercard ATM.)

Thankfully, they agreed. We paid the fees, then made room for our new friends and drove into Nicaragua. By this time, however, it was getting dark and starting to rain. The drive was a little intense, with lightening flashing, pedestrians walking in the rain, and the reflection of headlights off the wet asphalt.

At last we made it to León, made a withdrawal at the first ATM, paid back our friends then dropped them off at a hostel.

What new lesson did you learn?

Always have enough cash on hand before you arrive at a border crossing.

Where next?

We’ll be renting a house in the beach town of Las Penitas

Download 101 FAQs about our travel lifestyle, connect with me on Facebook, or learn step-by-step how to fund travel.

 

Original article can be found here: Vagabonding Field Report: Crossing two Borders in one day (and running out of money)

How to buy camper van in Australia

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

When you’re Down Under on a working holiday visa, taking some time out to explore the varied landscapes of the largest island on earth is an essential addition to your itinerary.

Those with the benefit of time to explore but the restrictions of a small budget, should avoid organized tours and internal flights and instead consider a cost effective and rather more quintessential, Aussie road trip.

Often negating the need for additional outlay on accommodation and public transport, a road trip can provide the opportunity to travel on your own terms and at greatly reduced expense.

In this two part series I’ll be walking through the process of both buying a suitable campervan, and selling it on once you’ve completed your trip.

Understanding the market

Taking some time to research the current market value for a standard campervan prior to your arrival in Australia may help to determine how you much you will likely need to invest, and where to find the best deals.

There is some debate as to the correlation between geographic location and selling price. Cities such as Darwin and Cairns offer the potential for a more competitive market than the overcrowded tourist centers of Sydney and Melbourne, so you may find prices are more accessible. Having said that the increased number of travelers looking to sell before they fly from the major international hubs can facilitate some good deals.

Wherever you plan to buy be mindful that price is not the only factor that should determine which van you purchase.

Searching for your campervan

Buying from a private seller or at an auction is the best way to secure a good price however a guarantee of title, legal protection and a warranty is provided when purchasing a used vehicle from a licensed dealership.

There are three main outlets for second hand vehicles; Classifieds, used vehicle sellers and car markets.

Classifieds

Gumtree


Trading Post


Car Search


Car Sales


Motoseller

 

Used Campervan Sellers

Travellers AutoBarn


Backpacker Auto Sales

 

Car Markets

Sydney Travellers Market

 

It is also worth keeping an eye out for adverts on community noticeboards in supermarkets and hostels. A bargain can often be found when travelers leaving the country list their vehicles for a quick sale.

Getting to grips with second hand vehicles

Whether or not you to choose to buy a standard ‘Backpacker Van’ (a converted Toyota HiAce or other Kombi style van) there are a number of things to consider.

The first is the age, history and condition of the vehicle.

Always inspect the vehicle during the hours of daylight prior to purchase. Ask the owner to demonstrate that every aspect of the van is in full working order and that the engine is mechanically sound.


Check that the VIN and engine number match up with the registration document.


Check that there are no outstanding debts owed on the vehicle, that it has not previously been written off or reported as stolen by referencing the VIN number in a REVS Check.


Enquire about the vehicle’s history and look over all available paperwork regarding recent mechanical work and new parts.

 

Ask the seller to show you:

A current certificate of registration proving ownership.


A recent vehicle inspection certificate.

 

If you feel it necessary you can carry out an ownership check yourself using this state specific transport resource.

If the vehicle appears to be what you’re looking for;

Consider the age of the vehicle and the availability/cost of new parts. Remember the further out into the bush you get the harder it will be to find parts for obscure makes and models.


Contact some insurance companies to get a rough idea of coverage costs, remember you will need to add this to the sale price of the vehicle when considering your budget. Don’t forget to find out if you will have any excesses to pay and if the cost includes contents insurance.

 

If you are considering a purchase take the van to a reputable garage for a full mechanical inspection. The $100 or so you spend on this may save you the expense of future breakdowns and repairs.

Always take a test drive.

State Specific On-Road Costs and Registration

There a number of costs associated with the purchase of a second hand vehicle and you should factor these into your budget.

REGO

The first is registration. All vehicles sold within Australia must have a valid registration certificate. Each state enforces slightly different regulations and as such the costs involved when buying and selling vary too.

In terms of registration or REGO as it is commonly referred to, vehicles registered in Western Australia are the most cost effective to purchase and those in New South Wales the most expensive. Full details pertaining to each state can be found below.

Victoria – www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

New South Wales – www.rta.nsw.gov.au

Queensland – www.tmr.qld.gov.au

South Australia – www.transport.sa.gov.au

Western Australia – www.transport.wa.gov.au

Tasmania – www.transport.tas.gov.au

Northern Territory – www.nt.gov.au/transport/mvr

Australia Capital Territory – www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au

Once you’ve bought a campervan you must transfer the registration into your name within 14 days, and it is worth noting that you can choose to register the vehicle in a state different to that which it was registered in when you purchased it. To do this you must register it with the local transport authority in your desired state by providing your passport and driver’s license, proof of your residential address within that state, and proof of CTP/third party personal insurance.

Note that there is a fee associated with the transfer of registration.

If like many travelers in Australia you do not have a residential address, a rental receipt in the form of a campsite/hostel receipt on letter headed paper detailing your name and the number of nights you stayed there will be accepted.

Stamp Duty

You will also be required to pay stamp duty on the purchase. A government tax it is mandatory and varies based on the state in which you register, and the cost of the vehicle. You can utilize this resource provided by the Australian Government to calculate stamp duty here.

Vehicle Inspection Certificate

Commonly known as a ‘pink slip’ or ‘blue slip’ depending on which state you’re in, this is essentially a certificate of road worthiness. In some states it is a requirement that all second hand vehicles have an inspection certificate no more than 28 days old and it is recommended that all buyers ask for this regardless. This is not a cost applicable to you during the sale however you will be responsible for renewing this when you come to sell.

CTP Insurance

To transfer the registration of a vehicle into your name you are required to hold third party personal insurance as a minimum. It is worth calling the major insurance providers to find the best rate as the quoted cost can vary significantly.

Agreeing a Sale

When you’ve finally found a road worthy camper at a great price the next step is to agree the terms of the sale.

Write a receipt detailing any agreed terms and be aware that if the owner is selling the vehicle privately and states that it is ‘sold as seen’, you will have no comeback should the wheels fall off 5 minutes after you hand over the cash. Double check the condition of the interior and engine and then check again.

For those who invest time into finding the right campervan at the right price, there is the possibility of financial reward. Once your Aussie adventure is over, if you’ve maintained it well you might just be able to sell it on for a small profit recouping your initial investment with a small rebate for the fuel you’ve bought along the way.

 

What about you? Have you purchased a camper van in Australia? What was your experience? Do you have anything to add?

Original article can be found here: How to buy camper van in Australia

Kindness and respect can open doors on the road

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

“I think when you show genuine curiosity, and when you’re confident enough to walk alone with a smile on your face, people think, he really wants to be here. And you ask a question, and all of a sudden you’re getting invited in for tea and food. If you’re polite and show due respect, I think people get it. When you’re being disingenuous, they get that, too. But when you’re being genuinely kind, it’s so disarming.”

–Henry Rollins, “Punk Rock World Traveler,” World Hum, November 2, 2011

Original article can be found here: Kindness and respect can open doors on the road

How to combat jet lag and win

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

It’s the worst part of traveling: being so tired that you miss the amazing sights you traveled miles to see. Instead, you spend your first few days of your trip, curled up in your bed, sound asleep. Have you ever landed in the new country only to feel bone-tired, pounding headache, and an overwhelming apathy?

Welcome to jet lag. This is your body complaining about crossing too many time zones. Jet lag naturally takes about three to four days to overcome. Thankfully, there are a couple proven ways to lessen jet lag to avoid sleeping away your trip.

Since there are varied approaches to combating jet lag, I’ve broken this post down into three main categories: jet lag apps, sleep aids, and natural methods.

Jet lag apps

Focused on light exposure, these apps help you maximize your exposure to sunlight. The amount and quality of sunlight readjusts your circadian cycles or your biological clock.

Entrain

The newest jet lag app. Based on the proven idea of light exposure to help re-adjust sleep schedules, this app was invented by the scientists at the University of Michigan. The app gives you a schedule to follow to maximize the brightest and darkest times of the day so you adjust to your new time zone better. Sounds like they’re already working on tweaks, like if men are differently affected than women.

Cost: right now the app is free, so the scientists can test it.

JetLag Genie

One of the more popular jet lag apps. This also tracks your sleep schedule and exposure to sunlight. From what I can tell, it also spits out a customized daily schedule for when to wake, seek bright light, and exercise so you adjust faster.

Cost: $2.99 on Apple.

Sleep aids

Trouble sleeping at the right time? Perhaps your body needs a little nudge to get the hint.

White noise machine

Drown out ambient noises and create a peaceful environment while you sleep. If you plan ahead, you can train before the trip to fall asleep with a white noise machine on. Once you get used to it, you’d be surprised how quickly sleep comes when you switch the machine on. I’ve heard using a white noise machine while traveling with children and babies works especially well for helping them sleep.

Cost: $40-150. I like Marsona Travel Sound Conditioner TSC-330 due to its lightweight, slender design, and voltage that’s suitable for any country.

Melatonin

A hormone that helps alter your circadian cycles, this supplement will help you adapt to a new timezone quickly. It tricks your body into thinking its bedtime. Doctors recommend taking a higher dose if you’re heading into the future (or east), and a very low dose if you’re heading west. It’s recommended to take this two hours before bedtime and don’t go take too much or you’ll wake up foggy the next morning.

Cost: $7-20.

Ambien

America’s favorite nighttime sleep-aid that will help you get to sleep and stay asleep. Be forewarned, it doesn’t help you combat jet lag. It only helps you sleep when you should. This is not my preferred option since I don’t like the morning-after drug fogginess. But it could help you sleep on the long flight to your destination and calm the jittery excitement. You might need a doctor’s prescription to get it.

Cost: $24-40

Natural methods

Not a big fan of drugs or using technology on the road? Don’t worry, there’s a few natural ways to combat jet lag.

Hydrate

A common cause of jet lag is dehydration. Start drinking water before your flight, during your flight and afterwards. Experts recommend drinking 1 liter of water for every hour you’re up in the air. Yes, you’ll probably be up and down for the bathroom a lot, but moving around on long flights has another benefit: avoiding blood clots. So you tackle two birds with one stone with this option.

Cost: refillable water bottle (about $20) and water fountains (free).

Exercise

Rumored to be the best way to combat jet lag. Exercise helps reset your body’s circadian clock. If you exercise the morning after arrival, your body will naturally and quickly adjust to the new time. Don’t just exercise during your trip — also exercise before your trip to get the biggest benefit.

Cost: running shoes ($30-80). If you’re not a runner, do exercises using your body’s weight like yoga or calisthenics, or stay in a hotel with gym access.

Essential sleep oils

Occasionally sleep won’t come because your thoughts are racing. If you’re not a fan of Ambien or other drugs, try essential sleep oils. Essential sleep oils help calm your mind for sleep. You apply a few drops of oil on your wrists and soles of your feet. On the road, I’ve used an essential oil blend with the white noise machine for deep sleep in new beds. Also awesome is the bottle is usually only 15 mL or so — well below the carry-on liquid limit.

Cost: $10-40 a bottle. I really like Doterra Serenity Calming blend.

Laura blogs at www.lauralopuch.com where she explores the benefits of reading and traveling, makes tons of lists, and writes book reviews with actors cast as main characters.

Original article can be found here: How to combat jet lag and win

We don’t (really) know Jack

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Image credit

Of all the throwaway lines I’ve fed into my travel-writing biography over the years, one creates the most fascination with readers. I am, according to a major American newspaper, “Jack Kerouac for the Internet Age.” This little quip, which appeared in USA Today when my book “Vagabonding” was first published in 2003 (and has since been referenced in a number of other venues), has long been a source of both flattery and bewilderment for me.

I’m flattered, of course, because Kerouac was an innovative literary superstar, and “On the Road” was an iconic 20th century road book; I’m bewildered because Kerouac lived a conflicted, unhappy life—and because, 50 years after its publication, “On the Road” stands out as a startlingly bad blueprint for travel.

I first read “On the Road” when I was 21 years old and preparing for my first vagabonding journey—an eight-month sojourn across North America. Like many young people dreaming of travel, I shared the giddy impulse at the heart of Kerouac’s book—the intoxicating compulsion to leave, to move, to go. At a practical level, however, I discovered that the novel’s Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty characters weren’t the best role models for mindful, life-enlarging travel.

Sure, spontaneity is good and holy, but there is something unhinged and aimless about Sal and Dean’s Benzedrine-addled wanderings. Dean is a compulsive hustler with serious attention-deficit issues; Sal is a boozy brooder who rarely exudes any lasting satisfaction with his experiences. Granted, Sal’s solo adventures early on in the book vividly portray the joys and challenges of hitchhiking—and one can feel the ecstatic energy of his house party with Ray Rawlins and Tim Gray in the mountains above Denver—but once Dean fully enters the story, the pair’s travels turn sloppy.

Indeed, Sal and Dean cover a lot of miles between San Francisco and New York, but their adventures along the way are rarely more remarkable than what one might encounter in the freshman-pledge wing of a fraternity house: booze is swilled and dope is smoked; money is borrowed and hoarded, then frittered away on dumb indulgences; women are longed for, seduced and abandoned. In the third section of the book, which starts off with Dean leaving his pregnant wife in California, Sal and Dean repeatedly fantasize about running off to Italy, strangely oblivious to the American surroundings racing past outside the car window. When the pair later travels down to Mexico, their sojourn ends up less a quest for beauty and discovery than dope and hookers. Along the way, the Sal and Dean experience occasional moments of jubilation, but, asWhy Kerouac Matters author John Leland and others have pointed out, “On the Road” is at heart a morose book, laced with refrains of disappointment and sadness.

Why, then, does “On the Road” remain such a potent romantic metaphor for the joys of travel? I’d reckon this has less to do with its actual content than with the myth that surrounds it.

Read Kerouac’s daily journals from the time he was experiencing what would later become “On the Road,” and its clear that this myth was no accident. As scholar Douglas Brinkley points out in the introduction toWindblown World: The Journals of Jack Kerouac, 1947-1954, Kerouac intentionally embraced “the autobiographical impulse to create fiction out of one’s own myth.” Enamored with cowboy movies, hobo tales and the notion of the American West, he cast the madcap Dean (based on the real-life Neal Cassady) as a folk hero to balance Sal, his own, more subdued alter ego. This mythic “On the Road” pairing proved so effective that Kerouac spent the rest of his life trying to convince young fans that he wasn’t the charismatic figure of freedom and rebelliousness they’d idealized in his book.

Just as potent as the myth of his characters is the legend of how Kerouac typed “On the Road” on a long scroll of butcher paper in one frenzied, three-week burst in April of 1951. Though this tale is only partially true (the typing session followed years of fragmentary, journal-based drafts and later went through meticulous rewrites), it underscores the ethos of spontaneity that surrounds “On the Road.” Add to this Kerouac’s photogenic good looks—as well as the 1960s counterculture revival that his Beat cohorts inspired—and “On the Road” becomes more than the content in its pages: It becomes a symbol for impulse, for restlessness, for youth.

I suppose it was because of my own relative youth, then, that I merited a Kerouac comparison when my own travel-themed book came out four years ago. And while I certainly pay tribute to Kerouac in the pages of “Vagabonding,” “On the Road” has proven less of a template for my own U.S. travels than the work of frumpier, middle-aged fellows like Walt Whitman or John Steinbeck—writers who knew how to slow down, to linger, to listen.

In the end, of course, it doesn’t really matter that “Leaves of Grass” or “Travels With Charley” hold more useful day-to-day travel cues than “On the Road.” Through their very compulsion to ditch home—to go anywhere, to do anything—Kerouac’s Sal and Dean do us one important service: They remind us that the most important step in the life of any traveler is that initial desire to be someplace else.

This article was originally published September, 2007 by World Hum.

Original article can be found here: We don’t (really) know Jack

Vagabonding Case Study: Kristina Perkins

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Kristina Perkins

KPCreates.com

Age: 28

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Quote: Don’t mock the wanderer, unless you too have wandered.

How did you find out about Vagabonding, and how did you find it useful before and during the trip?

I found out about Vagabonding after my journey had concluded but now I can’t stop reading. I love the travel tips and reading about all of the other vagabonds out there!

How long were you on the road?

30 days

Where did you go?

I traveled to 37 states during my trip, totaling approximately 300+ hours of bus time.

What was your job or source of travel funding for this journey?

Though I did not have a job during my travels, I was working as an optometric technician leading up to my trip—thoroughly hating management and the lack of creativity in that particular office. I was fortunate enough to receive donations from friends and family to help supplement my month on the bus and I received a FEAST MPLS grant to support the exhibit of my photographs and stories upon my return.

Did you work or volunteer on the road?

Because of the pace of my travels and the amount of land covered, I was not in one location long enough to have a job. With that, the only volunteering I did was photographing an art exhibit event in Baton Rouge when I passed through town.

Of all the places you visited, which was your favorite?

Of the cities I hadn’t visited prior to this trip, Louisiana and Utah were my favorites. Louisiana for the incredible people and Utah for the stunning landscape.

Was there a place that was your least favorite, or most disappointing, or most challenging?

Atlanta Greyhound station holds the bulk of my travel frustration. This is purely because that stop marks just about the three quarters mark of my journey; the point at which my entire body was starting to shut down from lack of sleep and lack of proper nutrients. That, combined with an overwhelmingly crowded bus station of noises, smells, and attitudes. All things that originally fueled my inspiration.

Which travel gear proved most useful? Least useful?

I brought my North Face MG-45 Pack and a smaller shoulder bag to carry my cameras and laptop. Even those two bags felt like too much to carry for an entire month. The physical packs were great.

I only wish I would have been more in tune with tablet technology for image back up. It would have saved weight and space, being able to leave my computer at home.

What are the rewards of the vagabonding lifestyle?

Learning, in every sense of the word, and self reflection. Every experience you have as a vagabond broadens your understanding of the world and propels your consciousness of not only where but how you choose to contribute to this world.

What are the challenges and sacrifices of the vagabonding lifestyle?

You sacrifice material luxuries, but vagabond’s aren’t fueled by those things anyhow! The other challenge you will encounter consistently is confusion, questioning, and disapproval by family, friends, and even strangers regarding your lifestyle. It can be difficult to brush that off from time to time but it feels really great when you are secure enough in your path to do exactly that

What lessons did you learn on the road?

Be patient. Be smart. Delete Facebook.

How did your personal definition of “vagabonding” develop over the course of the trip?

My love for the vagabond lifestyle quadrupled over the course of my journey. I realized, more than ever, that I am absolutely captivated and inspired by life on the road; having the luxury to create photographs and stories of the journey only added to my attraction to it all.

If there was one thing you could have told yourself before the trip, what would it be?

Don’t be a fly on the wall. I initially went into the experience with an open mind and a goal to maintain a “fly on the wall” mentality. I thought this would allow the stories to come to me, so that the material was authentic and not forced. And it did! I just wouldn’t mind going out on the road again now, with a stronger creative confidence to approach strangers more often and with greater intention and purpose to learn their stories.

Any advice or tips for someone hoping to embark on a similar adventure?

I recognize that it is easy to dream but often difficult to turn those dreams into reality. Taking action towards those dreams can be quickly squashed by responsibilities of the now. The most significant realization I have had in my young life is that if I made every decision based off of fear that I might change my mind later, I would have traveled no where, experienced nothing, and loved no one. So, my advice to aspiring vagabonds is simple: Go. Do. Create.

When and where do you think you’ll take your next long-term journey?

I am hoping to mimic a similar journey around the country, except this time on Amtrak Trains. I imagine the comfort of my travels will be upgraded from the Greyhound but I am hoping to still be surprised by the characters I meet and the situations I find myself in.

Read more about Kristina, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Website: KPCreates.com


Twitter: @kpcreates

Are you a Vagabonding reader planning, in the middle of, or returning from a journey? Would you like your travel blog or website to be featured on Vagabonding Case Studies? If so, drop us a line at casestudies@vagabonding.net and tell us a little about yourself.

Original article can be found here: Vagabonding Case Study: Kristina Perkins

Does travel ever scare you? 5 thoughts on finding security as a nomad.

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

About a week and a half ago my train pulled up to the platform in Tundla, India where a sea of Indian military men were waiting for it. There was a rush of commotion as we all pushed towards the doors- a commotion which only grew when we discovered all the doors were locked. The train sat there with its locked doors for 5 minutes while the military men grew angrier and angrier, beginning to bang on the doors with their fists, sticks, muskets, anything. I kept thinking that surely someone would open the door. We’d paid for tickets after all. We’d reserved cots for the overnight train.

Then, the train started to pull away without us. Hardly thinking, we rushed through the crowds to the one door that someone had managed to open a few yards away and with our heavy bags in hand, we jumped onto the moving train. The rush of frantic soldiers crowding behind us carried us like the current of the river onto the train.

I laid in my cot and felt what would have been homesickness if I had a home.

So my question is this: what do you do when this whole “travel thing” scares you, exhausts you, bewilders you in a way that leaves you in need of something secure? What gives a nomad security?

In attempt to wrestle with this question, I’ve come up with a list of 5 things that help me cope with the moments that scare me.

1.) Writing.

Writing is not only a great way to process your thoughts, it’s also a way to record the feelings that may likely evolve over time. At one point in time I did this by keeping a travel journal, but my laptop has since replaced it. I have documents upon documents that I may never read again, but the act of formulating my thoughts was all I needed at the time. Not to mention, it helps me to see the experience as the story it will be tomorrow, when I’ll feel it less dramatically and see it more logically.

2.) These are the times I’ll make sure I can find a more secluded hotel with an environment I can really find relaxing.

Getting a hotel right in the center of activity can be wonderful when you’ve got the energy for it. But the exhausting moments leave me wanting space and quiet. As much of a clean slate as I can get. This has been especially true in a place like India. For this reason it’s a great idea to have some kind of rainy-day fund of either money or hotel points.

3.) Something from home, even if it’s McDonalds or Pizza Hut!

Never again will I judge a traveler for eating at McDonalds. (Is it sad that the McChicken is my home away from home sometimes?)

4.) Good Internet.

These days internet is the most basic necessity for contacting loved ones back home. The days of calling cards and pay phones are on the way out. This involves point number 2- finding a hotel you can relax in means, in my case, finding a hotel with good internet. Preferably this is in-room internet I can use while curled up in bed in my own space.

5.) A few days of nothing.

Sometimes the main attraction in any given destination is just not worth pushing your nerves past what they can handle. In our case, we found a quiet place in Katra where there happened to be a popular mountain temple. It was a very popular spot for Indian tourism… but we let it go. And I don’t regret that. I needed some time to clean the slate and regroup.

 

Conclusion

These are some things that helped me get back on my feet and face the vibrant and intense world that is India again, despite the fear I felt at the thought of all the things that could have gone wrong in our impromptu train-hopping experience.

But I’m curious, what are the things that help you feel secure?

Nomads and vagabonds, and all long-term travelers are in a unique position of transient-ness with an almost ephemeral concept of home rather than a permanent one. This is at least the case for myself as well as a few other travelers I know. So we’re faced with an interesting challenge when we need the kind of comfort a different person may find in their stationary routines and their permanent homes. So I’d like to learn from the creative ways other travelers have found comfort in moments of fear.

Original article can be found here: Does travel ever scare you? 5 thoughts on finding security as a nomad.

Vagabonding Field Report: Exploring Luang Namtha, Laos and overcoming sickness

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Cost/day:  $20-25 per person

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen lately?  There is a type of vehicle in Luang Namtha that I have not seen anywhere else in Laos or Southeast Asia. The locals call it a tec-tec, which I’m assuming is onomatopoeic because that is the sound the extremely loud, water-cooled engine makes.

Describe a typical day:  As with all of our days, no matter where we are, the day usually starts with work and homeschool. On the days I wasn’t sick, we would ride a motorbike outside of town to explore rivers, mountains, waterfalls or temples on our own. Riding a motorbike outside the town to the local villages was the highlight for us. Just watching daily life along the river, being invited for dinner into a home or watching children play with toys of their own creation were special moments. We also spent time with guides kayaking and hiking through the Nam Ha, a protected forest with small villages and stunning mountainous and river scenery. We had no means to cook our own food so all meals were eaten at one of the local restaurants, including the night market where we would eat dinner. We had no problems sleeping in the surprisingly cool night temperatures after all of the exploring we did during the days.

 

Describe an interesting conversation you had with a local:  Our guide on a kayaking trip explained that often schools are very far from some of the villages, requiring children to spend a considerable amount of time away from their homes. In his case, he lived so far from his school that he and his father built a hut next to the school. He slept in the hut during the week, only to return home on the weekends. This, he said, was not all that uncommon in the area. 

What do you like about where you are? Dislike?  I liked the food. Laos food is seriously underrated. It is some of the freshest, healthiest and tastiest food we’ve had in Southeast Asia. I liked the beautiful scenery all around, surrounded by mountains and villages of various “ethnic minority” tribes (Lanten, Akha, etc.). The people were incredibly kind and welcoming.

The only thing I disliked was how difficult it was is to reach any other location in Laos. The distance itself was not so bad, but the road conditions made for some seriously sketchy moments.

 

Describe a challenge you faced: I mentioned this in my last field report, but this is a continuation of the same theme. I got seriously sick from food in Thailand prior to arriving in Luang Namtha. I spent several miserable days unable to enjoy any of the beautiful surroundings due this sickness. To be that sick that far from home is really an unsettling feeling.

What new lesson did you learn? This one should have been obvious, but sometimes we just forget the simplest things. Our first day in town, we were dropped off by the bus several kilometers outside of town late at night. Luckily there was one guy with a van offering to take anyone to town. It was only after I started talking with him about price that I realized I had no Laos currency. He was kind enough to take Thai Baht…for an extra price, of course.  Lesson learned: don’t forget the small things.

Where next? Nong Khiaw, Laos

 

Original article can be found here: Vagabonding Field Report: Exploring Luang Namtha, Laos and overcoming sickness