I’m “Over” Adventure

I write this post in a sardine can (or anchovy can, you pick) cruising along at 37,000 feet somewhere over Georgia, USA.  Literally elbow to elbow with my seat mate, I can’t type without inadvertently elbowing him.  There are over 200 people on this flight and all of us have one thing in common.  None of us wants to be here.  We’ve a destination to reach, places to be and people to meet.

Yet, here I sit, in this compressed air, high speed tube, hurtling through the atmosphere at over 500 MPH, wishing I was down on the ground, doing some of the things I now have the chance to do.  There are indeed many people in close proximity to me with whom I might share and learn.  The thing is, in this environment, what can we share and learn from each other?  How to live with each other in close quarters?  How not to annoy the crap out of each other?

Perhaps it’s best to find some common ground and at times I’ve been able to do that.  In fact, I’ve met some really nice people on airplanes.  Made good friends, connections for business, and even helped a person or two out of a jam.  That’s been satisfying.  But it’s not the same.

I just sit here thinking about all the people below and what they are doing.  How they live, what they do, and how we can interact.  It’s different when you can sit face to face, meet them in their own territory and be in their environment.  People are more themselves on their own turf, and I really, really like that.

So while this high speed, high flying, compressed air tube is a rather efficient means to cover long distances, it really misses the point for adventure riders doesn’t it?  We cover a lot of ground, but miss a lot of its essence.  It’s why we adventure ride.  So while I’m trapped in this jet, I am literally “over” potential adventure.  But for those of us who adventure ride, the adventure begins, as bush pilots are known to say, “low and slow”.   I for one am happy to call myself one of that group.

If you are a high flyer streaking through the world, I heartily recommend that you don’t find yourself “over” adventure.