Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
– Robert Frost (1874-1963), The Road Not Taken, from Mountain Interval (1920)
Everyone’s life has a number of turning points, of choices made that set us of in different directions. Sometimes we’re conscious of this choice, sometimes it is thrust upon us and we’re forced to adapt.
My life has had a huge shakeup in the last 12 months, from which I’m just starting to return to normalcy. As a part of this process, I’ve developed a severe case of wanderlust. I traveled fairly widely when younger, including living in France for a year, but as I grew older other priorities got in the way. I also love motorcycling, which provide a freedom and escape from daily life that non-bikers don’t understand. Combining these two seemed like an obvious choice of a way to see the world, on my own terms and relatively cheaply. I want to take the path less ridden, through strange parts of the world; following my whim and my front wheel.
This blog is admittedly self-indulgent, but I hope to document my preparation and travels not only to preserve my memories, but also to help other travelers, motorcycle adventurers, and those living vicariously in understanding this world.
