Salty Dog Rising
Salty Dog Rising
Salty Dog Rising
“Lessons from the Road “
Yesterday I overheard my parents chatting about a post in the PanAmerican Travelers forum. Someone asked a big question: What if overlanding just isn’t your cup of tea? Our friend James—also an XPCamper owner—replied with this gem:
“Overlanding has sublime moments of awe and beauty, but they shimmer away, never quite tangible; as we arrive, see, and leave. No chance for us to make our mark and truly become part of the world through which we pass. A series of one-night stands where we kiss and tell with Instagram, then leave at dawn.”
Deep, right?
Now, James (and his partner Claire) are on a long-haul, worldwide overland journey. We’re on a shorter one—from Colorado to Ushuaia in 14 months. And while I admit I sometimes sulk in the back seat during long drive days, I’ve got to say… I’ve loved every single one of our “one-night stands.” (And our multi-night stands, too.)
Lessons from the Road
Indian epistemology and Buddhist philosophy tell a similar story of a monk who, at twilight, mistakes a rope for a snake. In recognizing the illusion, he uncovers a deeper truth about the mind and its perceptions.
Becoming a watchful observer of our own thoughts, feelings, and perceptions can feel like hacking a path through thick jungle with a machete—challenging and messy. But there are tools to help. Meditation can slow us down, allowing us to “be in the jungle, but not of it.” Simply moving at a gentler pace and connecting with our surroundings works too.
This trip has forced me to do just that—slow down. And in that stillness, I’m learning that the wild, rich beauty of life reveals itself only when I return, again and again, to the watchful observer… especially whenever I think I see snakes.
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