Wanderlust

The allure of distant lands, strange and exciting sights and smells, new people to talk to, history come alive before you, wild animals in their natural splendor, all are a part of the dream of travel. Part of growing up for me was reading National Geographic from cover to cover, endless poring over maps. I even enjoyed Geography courses in school.

I started touring at 16 on a Ducati 250. My first tours were only a few hundred kilometers, but gradually expanded, taking in all of my native British Columbia, Canada, and eventually most of North America. With my wife Susan, I started to fulfill my dream, around the world by motorcycle, in the spring of 1987.

Over 13 years later, we are still expanding our horizons, having now travelled to over 50 countries, 39 with the bike, a 1986 BMW R80G/S that fell off the back of a truck when new. We have lived in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, USA and the UK. We have "completed" the initial dream of around the world, having done a North to South route, from North Cape to Cape Agulhas, South Africa, and from Ushuaia, South America to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, taking in New Zealand and Australia as well. But the wanderlust is still in our blood, we still have a lot of places to see and things to do, new people to meet, new friends to make, and a host of adventures to experience.

We were about to leave on our first trip around the world, when my mother asked me "Why don't you travel around this country more first?"

The flaw is that by the time you've seen all "this country," no matter where your home is, you may well be unable to get to some of the other countries that require a little effort to see.

I need to see the WORLD, not just one very small corner of it. What I have seen has enhanced my understanding and appreciation of what makes this planet and its diverse people such a wonderful and interesting place.

Fear is the number one problem we all have when facing the unknown, and another country is a big unknown until we've been there. I think most people who have "been there" will tell you it's great, go - and have a good time! (see the comments on the right)

Some places require a greater degree of care and attention than your hometown, but so does the big city just down the road from your home. You simply need to be alert, and use common sense.

Remember, "home" will still be there, unlike the wild animals in Africa, the fascinating culture of the people of Bhutan, and the unspoiled beauty of places like Sipadan or Namibia.

What's keeping you?

Grant and Susan Johnson, your hosts here on Horizons Unlimited.