The Forces of Nature Tour is now but a memory … and what a sweet memory it is!
Transcribing journal entries and notes along with curating/editing the many
photos taken has seemed a bit overwhelming at times, to the point of being
somewhat of a chore. But ultimately, I believe it’ll prove worthwhile because
as memory fades, I can bring it all back with the aid of this blog.
In
fact, while creating the blog I was somewhat surprised to find that a number
of experiences had already slipped from my recall! I chalk it up to having
crammed so many wonderful experiences into a relatively brief period. But there
was nothing else for it: this was a much more ambitious trip than last year’s Grand Adventure. We really needed to get the most
“bang for our buck” as the old saying goes. If you’ve already driven a couple
of thousand miles, just to get to a place, you’d probably better wring everything you
can out of being in the place, right?
And
yet I know that we left so much unseen; I’m already talking about “Next time … ”
Fourteen
US states and three Canadian provinces – over seven thousand miles of driving! You
may be wondering why we did not fly. Short answer: Both Sue Aughey and I are “journey,”
rather than “destination,” people. By flying we would have found ourselves
limited to a single destination or perhaps two; certainly we would not have
seen Badlands AND Yellowstone AND Glacier, not to mention the sights from our
brief time in Canada.
We would have missed the weird and wonderful BoatHenge!
We would never have discovered Forget!
We’d never have seen Niiemii of Bemidji!
We would have missed the fun and the randomness promised each time someone yells, "Road Trip!"
Worst
of all, for me at least, would have been not being able to travel with my
beloved little adventure dog, Henry.
He really seems to savor the experience of new things, and when he stops – for what
sometimes seems forEVER – to investigate a new smell, he makes me stop and
appreciate the simple pleasure of Being.
The
Forces of Nature Tour was one of those “trip of a lifetime” events, portions of
which I’ve spent practically a lifetime dreaming about. It was awe-inspiring
and humbling and exciting, providing insight and, often, profound reverence. It’s
changed me and my attitude.
I’m
pleased to share the adventure with others. Whether you take it as an armchair
adventure, or it motivates you to take a similar adventure or your own, I hope
that you enjoy!
More photos from the Forces of Nature Tour at Flickr.
