Decision Made – Approaching The Ides of March.

Okay, here’s the rub. Everything considered that I know how to consider, I have decided to abandon Panama as a destination, but not abandon the fundamental purpose of this “find-a-way” adventure.

To be honest (no small task) the more I found out about the border crossings (especially the return crossings) the more I wanted the water-board. To spend more time, money and risk crossing two borders “alone” than it does to actually cross the country, then repeat the process returning too short a time later, seems a tad ludicrous. As my old colleague Jim MacAulay used to say, “There’s a difference from scratching yer ass and tearing the hell right out of ‘er.”

So, what’s been lost and what’s been gained? I’ve briefly been to Nicaragua and I did want to return to Granada, a beautiful little town. I also wanted to revist other places my buddy Gordie and I visited, but that will have to be postponed for another opportunity, or another lifetime. Whichever comes first. That’s lost. But the gain is that I’ve reclaimed the purpose of the ride, which is to explore and discover that which exists to others, but not to me.

So, the first thing I’m not going to do is go all homing pigeon. My plan (hear God laughing?) is to down-play the throttle and up-play whatever makes me and the bike go slower. And better. The “be safe” thing matters no less going west, east or north than it does going south. At this point, the only thing I can promise Glenda, and anyone else who cares, is that I’ll try to avoid hurting myself and not avoid helping myself. Again, no small task. Please, try to remember this when you’re getting out of the bathtub.

Ahhh, I feel better already.

One of the (many) unanticipated features of this trip is how it’s challenged my normal experience of what’s private, what’s public and what’s important. Usually, the words in my head are reasonably private. Then, for a lark, I started this blog. I figured, by default, it had the added bonus of allowing people to follow me in case I disappeared. Then I used the blog to solicit advice, which I gratefully received. What it has helped to bring me so far is a new appreciation. When I left PEI, the destination was a place, a find-a-way to get to Panama. Now, the destination has become a find-a-way to appreciate wherever I find myself. And, it’s been my experience so far – for good or bad – wherever I go, there I am!

Thanks for your interest. I’m not sure what the rest of this trip will look like, but I’m reasonably sure I’ll find out . . .

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