OMD Travelogue | Day 180 – Mallory Paige

Athletes always say the most intense muscle soreness happens two days following an event. I find the same to be true of heart pangs. The day you depart is full of rushing, packing, action. The day after is still fresh and exciting. Two days later there’s a moment where loneliness looms and you want nothing more than to return to the familiar.

Morning sun peeking through the swampy underbrush, I find myself longing to turn around and head back north. Wishing for the ease and fun of riding passenger, of conversations spanning the gamut from profound to hilarious, of lovingly made meals, of community, comfort and fun. Between Thanksgiving with my newfound Auburn family and off-road shenanigans with Matt and Rich, the past week has felt like a bonafide holiday. It’s surprisingly difficult to get back into the swing of things.

I run through all my pep talk fodder. This isn’t supposed to be easy. But it is worth it. OMD is not a vacation. Change and see ya laters are always challenging. Countless undiscovered opportunities lie ahead.

When that fails to thoroughly motivate, I accept that sometimes it’s okay to just roll along in a funk. Not every emotion needs to be solved. Waiting for the neon polish to dry, I carefully set my hands down. Kick up into a handstand. If nothing else at least I’ll have flashy nails and better balance.

Bike packed, we wander to the edge of the blue pool. Keep a hopeful eye out for the park’s namesake sea cow, a fearful eye out for the alligators we’ve been warned about. Seeing neither, we entertain ourselves enjoying the beauty of the water, harassing statues and snapping pics.

Walking across the campground, I have a moment’s deja vu. Realize that the spot we stand is the place we called home for the night a little over two years ago. The very spot I watched a youtube video and performed my first ever oil change. At the time a simple oil change seemed nearly impossible, traveling and sleeping in a van immensely challenging. I smile.

At this rate, who knows what will be doable two years from now?

180 days down. Many to come.