Touring - What Makes for Complete Intensity of Engagement with a Tour?

Total interest and engagement, experiential intensity and fullness, a heightened or awakened quality of life -- these sorts of things can happen on tour.

I was reading some of Chris McCandless's writings today, and he wrote about a period in which it was clear that he was experiencing his days and his travels with great relish and intensity, and felt much more fully alive.

And the question comes up, what makes for that?

What gives a tour these sorts of qualities?

What is involved?

What goes into it?

Maybe Niles you should actually tour and experience it first hand.



That way you don't have people describing to you what cannot be properly described but experienced.

Psychosis?

edit, ok sorry, that was a joke.

But seriously, I think the answer to your question lies within. Touring can be a catalyst for a mental state like that, but it's not a necessary or sufficient condition.

IMHO, it can only begin once the physical/logistical challenges have been put to rest and the body and mind begin to relax.

So, once our organization is second nature, the bicycle and other gear are functioning as expected and as needed for the given demands, the input vs. the output of one's nutritional demands are in harmony....then the mind and body can relax and begin to soak up the environment in which you have placed yourself. In other words, when our focus is on ourselves and our tools, nothing else matters and we might as well be in a tunnel.

Once we are able to focus outward, the experience can be described as "intense", "full" and one which is met with a fully accepting and enthusiastic mind set when the senses are delivered experiences (stimulants to all of our senses including fear) that are new and at a level of physical challenge and risk that is not always obvious as to it's ultimate outcome. Risk....that's a biggie I'm afraid.

When I reflect on my transam tour I think about the sights, the physical challenges and the people in equal measure....so I'd have to add here that a willingness to open up to people (strangers) is a big part of the touring experience. Introverts (like me) will struggle here. But involvement with people of differing backgrounds is a big part of this. For some this is very risky but often the rewards are huge. There's that "risk" thing again.

Its a real kumbaya kind of thing.

I read this book:
Wilderness and The American Mind
there is a degree of wildour in the human mind
the place where we seek solace

"frontier" was the primary commodity that brought people to America
literally, it sparked a desire in the world
where people were living under the reign of a crown

you can read a ton of Muir, etc...
its all there

"where Big Foot walks, crossing the Dark Divide"
pretty much brings the point to heart...

conversely
when my brothers, whom live in LA, go up into the Hollywood Hills they think they are "way up there".
its not K2, whitney, or denali

as sad as it is
i suppose for most, that moment comes from a Vista Point behind the wheel of a rental car

No worries. No fears. No schedule. Being free to do as you please for as long as you please. True freedom. Worked for me. I’ll probably never see that again. But, I'm working on it.

don't worry about it

Just do it. We are all different to some degree, and therefore we will experience touring in various ways.

Worry about whether there is enough water in your bottles or air in your tires.

Sometimes the seeker just has to BE the grasshopper.

Niles, the Existential Tourist. Not to be confused with that other ET

Chocolate milk shakes.

Chocolate milk shakes.

Good with breakfast on a long tour.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/The%20Real%2042%20South%20Ride/IMG_5850.jpg