It’s hard to believe that one year ago today I had only just gotten a motorcycle license. That I owned a bike and a sidecar, but had no clue how to put them together. That I had a super cool furry sidekick, but no idea if he’d like riding in a sidecar (he clearly did as you can see from the below picture of his first test ride). I was full of doubts, worries and fears.
More importantly, though, I was obsessively committed. Determined to figure it out. Not for fame or glory. Not to go the fastest or the furthest. Not to set a record or win an award. Simply because I knew how important it is to keep personal commitments. That sometimes, particularly in this cushioned, fortune-filled life, we need a challenge. A reason to push past perceived limits; to embrace the fear and seek adventure. An opportunity to give it all we’ve got. To try & fail. Learn & pivot. Try & succeed.
Now we’re nearing an entire year lived on the road. More than 20,000 miles covered, huge swaths of North America visited. It feels like that moment when we reached Alaska – I’m a bit excited with all we’ve accomplished, but mostly focused on all that is to come. Because we’re not done yet. There’s still so much to see and discover. Places to visit, people to meet.
And in case you’re wondering what we’re up to, why we’re not zipping around taking full advantage of northern summertime temps, here’s a bit of an update. We’ve been blessed to have a few weeks off the road spending time with family and loved ones. I’m beyond thrilled to get to be an Auntie and have the opportunity to spend time with my sister and sweet baby niece. Plus it’s clear, in retrospect, that having a small break from the road has been good for my sanity and morale. Having had the chance to bask in the love and comfort of familiarity, I’m now gearing up to get out there and go for it.
As for where we’re headed? Well, if you’ve been with us for a while you know that planning ahead isn’t really my style. I far prefer letting the whims of adventure lead us. I can say we’ll be focusing on the covering the North East. There will most certainly be ample time spent exploring National Forests, stops made to visit friends new and old, and plenty of dog cookies. Lots and lots of dog cookies.
Here’s a map showing a very (VERY!) tentative plan.
In some ways heading out for this next phase of OMD is much harder than the initial departure. Back then I didn’t know what to expect, was jumping into the pool without testing the waters. Now I’m wading back into the sometimes cold waters. Stuck in that breath-catching moment before you get the nerve to dive under.
And while it’s scary knowing that there will be times I’ll sit in the tent shaking with the heebie jeebies, that I could very well once again stand on the side of the road fighting back tears, that sometimes life on the road proves lonely, stressful, boring, worrisome, overwhelming, and less than glamorous, I take the leap wholly confident that I’m not doing it alone. That the can-do community we’ve found here has the strength of an entire lifeguard brigade. So thank you. For keeping us safe and sane. Educated and assisted. Connected and invigorated.
In the beginning I could not have imagined you’d be along for the ride. Now I couldn’t imagine doing it without you.
Onwards,
Mallory & Baylor
