Ah yes , but hopefully you can lose some of it along the way .

> The trouble with any type of travel is that you always
> take lots of baggage with you.
Get a GoldWing :-)

Serious:
Hitting the road does not solve problems but makes it easier to deal with problems.

When I feel things are growing over my head, I take a day of work, get on my bike and drive a few hundred km's and that helps.
Every year, I go away for a longer period. Sometimes a week, sometimes four weeks and always alone on my bike. last month I did a two weeks and +8000 km trip to the North Cape in Norway. Now my battery's are charged again for a few months :-)

Journey
 

In my opinion, travel does not sort anything, but it helps to put things into perspective. Realise that your problems back home are not insurmountable. For some people it may make them grow "stronger" and hopefully "better", if you see what I mean. And hence give them the ability to confront, overcome or deal with their problems.
I don't see the Journey as getting away from anything. More like a journey of discovery. Discovery of the world, but also of myself. I do expect it to be a big challenge, but what would be the attraction (and achievement) if it was easy?
It's also an opportunity for reflection, far away from the 9 to 5 hectic life, running around like a headless chicken. Suddenly, so much time in those long stretch of roads. What will come to mind, then? Memories, undealt issues, conflicts, hurts... maybe finding some sense to senseless events that life throws at us. Maybe finding strength that we didn't know we had.... In the end it's about growing up, and that's a never ending process.....

Escapism, fantasy and just a reminder of what real life is/should be
 

Any adventure that involves removing yourself from your current situation and depositing yourself somewhere else will include a fair amount of escapism, and probably a fair amount of fantasising about the green, green grass on the other side.

I usually find that escapism works for a little while whilst your senses are overwhelmed by exotic new environments, but when the sun sets and the earth quietens, often the mental chatter doesn't. I own my problems, and whether I like it or not, I am the one who has to sort them out... and unfortunately I can't outrun myself (would be funny to try though)
:)

The thing about travelling though is that it gives me an amazing new space and unrepeatable experiences that allow me a completely different perspective. If I am smart I am able to use these little lessons from life to change some of my own approaches and outlooks, and in so doing, come up with some solutions or at least recharge and be able to tackle things with new energy on my return (or hopefully before).

Thankfully, though, I don't find that I need to be running away from or escaping from too much (phew!) and prefer experiencing my time away from the big city and often insane western life as more of a back-to-basics time. I love travelling and being able to get back to what is really important - the human interactions: a wave or smile from a stranger with whom you don't share a common language, but don't need to; interacting with nature and being subject to the vast power of the earth: you can't deny it when you're stuck in the middle of a hail storm!
I love the simple things that I can completely absorb and be a part of - the things that are often forgotten or just squashed in the busy, very hectic rat race back in London.
I suppose it's a kind of purposeful escapism... and a reminder of what is important to me and who I want to be.
:)

Some times i liek the travel and the bike to get the simple view on the Want's and the Need's so upon return to the local world i can review from a more removed position.. see things maybe clearer or from a point being in less effect of the energy of the item or the question I have. There is always the pure joy of the ride, the magic i have in my helmet.. sometimes a few moments of clarity, many moments just admiring the tread on the back tyre from a new angle.. sometimes its when im lying in the mud looking up!!

Hitting the road
 

Hitting the road IS the problem...

:laugh:

unless you bounce.

I intend to get myself some personal problems before I leave and will let you know if they've all gone by the time I get back...

If you need a personal problem :
An irate father [of the girlfriend ] brandishing a shotgun will usually get a fellow on the road fast enough .

I imagine when he asked you what steps you were taking to solve the "problem" you answered "F#^&in" big ones!!!!!

the list
 

i had a motorcycle accident and while laid up i thought about my "have to do in life list" and realized that if i didn't start doing some of those things that i might never.. traveling to another country by bike for a long trip was on that list..so....

I've a load, but I reckon my drink problem is the most fun, I'd go with one of them... ;)
Matt

What a great subject!
 

Many friends keep asking why I was doing my upcoming trip to Central and South America on a motorcycle or my 2 year backpacking trips through Asia. Some think I am crazy, others think I am courageous. Maybe I'm abit of both?

This topic of "riding away from" or "riding in search for" has been part of many of my conversations. I can't speak for everyone, but I personally think that it's simply that "now" is the time to do it. Many people dream of doing something adventurous and wish they could do it, but think it impossible. I really believe that most of these people have fallen victim to what our society tells us to do. That is, that after we graduate from high school, we go to college. We find a wife, have kids, a "white picket" fence with a mortgage, etc. etc. Were suppose to work until we are 65-70 years old and then we retire. Only then is it time to play. Then again, the average male life span is 68-70 years. Who's to say that one will be physically able to do such things as ride a motorcycle round the world? Why take the chance? I want to do it now, while I am young and able.

As for the question, am I "escaping" or am I insearch of the better life? I would say that I am searching to enrich my life, expand my mind, to educate myself in the University of the World. Live life now, while I have the capability. Yet again, as I look back at what I have just written and maybe I am escaping as well. I am escaping the pressures of society that is telling me to reproduce, be "responsible" and all the other jibberish I stated above.

There is a quote that I apply to my "out of the ordinary" life. I can't remember exactly how to goes, but its goes something like -

"The water you touch in a stream is the last of that which has passed and the first of that which is to come; life well spent is long" - Leonardo Da Vinci

and another quote I like, but talks more of gaining perspective and find oneself a may contradict what I've already said, but I still like it -

"Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen." - Leonardo da Vinci

In the end, this thread's subject has as many answers as there are bikers. I just think it is important that everyone does what makes them happy, not escaping so called "reality"! If you are happy riding round the world, great! Just make sure you are doing it for yourself and not escaping your problems.

Depends on the problem....
 

If your life is a mind-numbing routine of people dumping their problems on you and expecting you to solve them, then hitting the road is the perfect solution.

They have to learn to sort out their own problems (or find another dumbass to dump them on) & you get to have a lot of fun. Everyone wins or learns from the experience, unless you're the dumbass I suppose.

At least, thats how its worked out for me :-)

Definitely helps. Without an ipod or intercom you really have time to think.

Giving the country time to change
 

This may class as running away from things, but the way I see it there's no point in hanging around hoping this economy malarky is going to sort itself out.

Work is slow (I work freelance in corporate events - largely banks, oddly enough they don't want to be seen spending money, so they cancel their events at vast expense before any of the cash gets to me!), and I nearly lost all my savings in a Icelandic bank. :funmeteryes:

So the way I see it now, why should I hang around spending my savings on rent & bills in a cold, noisy little flat waiting for the phone to ring and hoping it doesn't all disappear into some other *anker's pocket, when I could be spending it on travelling? Then maybe when I get back there'll be some work around! Or people will want to buy my stories. Or world peace will have come about. Or something else equally nice and unlikely. :clover:

Besides, it's good for my ego - telling people you're leaving is a great way of getting them to say they can't run the few gigs they have got without you :thumbup1: Though possibly taking on a gritty, hard-hitting road safety conference 4 days before I leave because they asked nicely is not the best idea:oops2:

Laura