I got back home about 5 weeks ago after a 25month trip through the americas on my old XT and later, when I had to sell what was left of it, a smaller bike that I picked up in Chile.

I can´t possibly explain how incredibly bored I am with being back "home". Im working 40hours a week... learning new stuff... and everyone I meet, that somehow heard about my trip is telling me how awesome that sounds and how much they´d love to do something like that but they probably never will because of whatever reason.

Same with the sharing of my experiences. I think I´m a completely different person.. I took about 18.000 photos in those 2 years+, and I havent looked through any of them, and when people (even close friends) ask me to show them pictures I usually tell them I lost them (partly true) or that I haven´t bothered going through them yet.

Reading other peoples experiences on this seems to show that its gonna get better but right now living here seems so pointless. Just kinda felt like ... making progress or something ... getting somewhere... being able to just hop on the bike and leave... go somewhere else where youve never been.

Ah well... even thinking about deleting this after thinking about "replying" to this thread for a good 5minutes.

On one hand you´d think you´d become a more experienced/better/whatever person so the trip must´ve improved you somehow but then again if I wouldn´t have left I would´ve always kept looking forward to it but guess I woulda never noticed how pointless shit is here.

Worst is, tho, that for several reasons I know that I cannot travel again, for longer than 2 weeks at a time, for AT LEAST the next 4years. Gonna be interesting how I´ll get through that.

Oh, and it´s good to know that "it´s all in your head" but I think I´m somebody that doesn´t get any help from a statement like that. Not just because its so obvious but also because theres never really an explanation on how to get it out of your head, even though Im not entirely sure I even want it out of there....

It gets easier after the first year or so

You will find a way to make those two week holidays turn into two month holidays... If you REALLY want to !

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Its been 5 months since I got back after 4 and a half months on the road. Some things have changed, my expectations now are way beyond that of a week here or a week there.

It took me 6 weeks to get into it in the first place, I still had my head in work and other responsibilities. The shedding of worries about stupid work things and small stuff at home was the most liberating. The day then consists of finding food petrol and somewhere to stay, in the meantime having a simple purpose of heading in a general south east direction.

Now I have all those small stupid things to deal with again. This time, though, I know what to expect in future but I still feel rather down with normal life.

Another thing, after living this way for only a few months you'd expect to be able to share it with many people, this is sometimes not the case as not many are really interested in the adventure. As my mate said, "they ask you about your holiday so they can tell you about theirs"! Not many go on 4 month holidays. Despite this I occassionally get to relive some of it working on the video. Yes still working on it after 5 months. Next time I'm not taking a bloody video camera.

I have a picture of my bike in the desert in Pakistan on my screen at work. Not sure if this is a distraction to make me happy or getting me down.

Still counting down the days to the next one 677 days till Alaska to Argentina

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Steven
Perth to Perth 2012

My name is Peter and I am a recovering travel-holic...

Last trip, 9 months, 21 countries. I haven't added up the financial costs, but whatever the total, it was worth it. Adjusting to the post adventure life is difficult. Been back 4 months now, having spent large portions of that time looking for work. The energy and excitement to be back was slowly pushed down with struggling to find work. Started a consulting contract a few weeks ago, which could lead to a full-time position. I am very grateful to be back to work, but to be honest, I would rather be on the road again. Adventure travel will happen again, but its depressing to think it will be several years in the future before I can ride off into the sunset towards a new horizon. I guess its buck it up time.

Make a new goal and work towards it. I think that will help with my post adventure blues. I appreciate all the posts to this thread.

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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

I have been fortunated to be type of persons number 3. a flexible work that allow me to go abroad twice a year just for the sake of travelling. on the other hand my longest journey ever last 110 days and it the final days I was longing for home.
I will try to keep my life style always like that. Always based in my hometown but keep travelling aborad and aroung my country whenever possible.