Do you sometimes wish you'd taken a different path?

JohnClimber · Post by **JohnClimber** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:09 pm

I so wish I could have chosen this path

http://vimeo.com/97341911

Maybe in my next life

summittoppler · Post by **summittoppler** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:22 pm

Enjoyed that

I'll keep an eye open for you on the road in the next life John, cos I think thats where I'll be as well.......

Dan_K · Post by **Dan_K** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 6:35 pm

Most days!

Chew · Post by **Chew** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:40 pm

Why not this life John?

Good to to see him having a bit of a 'Barter'

(Barter = To have a rant mid ride)

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:42 pm

What an amazing path this guy took in life! Sometimes wish I had the balls to do it.

Blackhound · Post by **Blackhound** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:50 pm

Lovely video and you wonder just how much he left out.

Deserves some sub standard happening to him though. Ice in whisky FFS! ;-)

Dave Barter · Post by **Dave Barter** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:04 pm

Excellent vid but the rant is sub-standard with a distinct lack of pointing and toys only being shown the view from the pram rather than full on ejection.

Joshvegas · Post by **Joshvegas** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:00 pm

See that doesn't do that much for me either video or the path he chose. I am sure there are great bits but seeing everything and experiencing everything on your own... Nah you're alright.

JohnClimber · Post by **JohnClimber** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:53 pm

Joshvegas wrote:but seeing everything and experiencing everything on your own... Nah you're alright.

He does call himself a Nomad and nomads do tend live on their own or in small groups don't they?

I guess it's hard to find someone with the same interests, abilities, fitness, commitment, time, the ability to be able to live with them and to share these said experiences with them.

Joshvegas · Post by **Joshvegas** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 11:05 pm

I get that, just not for me

gairym · Post by **gairym** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 7:53 am

At the risk of turning this into a philosophical debate.....

I love the romantic notion of a life lived like this but if I really wanted this I'd be doing it and, I suspect, so would you all.

My point is that whilst we all romanticise extreme lifestyles what we really want is the aspects of that lifestyle that our current situations are lacking but not the whole (long spells of loneliness, always being skint, no 'home', lack of security etc...).

I've always shunned the mainstream and spent my life after education travelling, bumming around, never settling down, I've never owned a suit, never borrowed money to buy 'things' and so was 'free' in many ways and was always told by my friends that I was 'living the dream'.

But.....that path involved never being settled, often being alone, not having any of the luxuries others coveted, no job security etc...

Every time one of my 'normal' friends joined me on a silly adventure they soon realised that what they really wanted was their own life with a sniff more adventure - not my life.

Just my thoughts for what they're worth.

Gairy.

P.s. I'd love the solitude!

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 8:50 am

I think what Gairy says is very true. 'Freedom' comes at a price and the reality is, most people aren't willing to pay it when the time comes.

Even just removing ammenities like a shop round the corner, a takeaway 200 yards down the road and WiFi, often sends people into a panic. For many taking away everything including routine and order doesn't make them feel 'free', it makes them feel trapped. Doing it for 2 or 3 weeks is one thing, deciding to spend your life like that is a whole different prospect.

P.s. I'd love the solitude!

Me too

slarge · Post by **slarge** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 9:37 am

That sort of life has no safety net. You are really on your own most of the time, which is great when the going is good, but when the going is bad and you're cold, hungry, thirsty and tired it must suck. It's a fantastic romantic idea but in reality I do like having a home, partner, kids, etc ( it's only the job that sucks in my life).

Joshvegas · Post by **Joshvegas** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 12:28 pm

I like solitude lots but not forever. When I am 65 I would rather have friends around me with shared memories and experiences to remind me and to refresh it. Than sitting realising everyone has heard my stories before.

Its not even an age thing gapyear travellers can be the same when they come back with a long list of places they have seen but never stopped long enough to actually appreciate and a huge list of facebook friends they'll never see again.

Of course it suits some people its just doesnt inspire me in the slightest and the video is just a man talking about himself I got about half way then went to fix my bike.

voodoo_simon · Post by **voodoo_simon** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 1:46 pm

Everyone I get bored of my life and wish i could go and live in the mountains in solitude, I watch 'into the wild' and it makes me appreciate my home comforts. It's a bit like going for a wet overnighter and enjoying the comforts the next day (but done on a couch with the fireplace on!)

barney · Post by **barney** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 10:22 pm

Horses for courses... I prefer my current lifestyle, sure I have the crap job and mortgage but it has enabled me to have a great family (both immediate and distant). I also have hobbies such as riding and bike packing which I use as my escapism from the norm.

There is nothing better (for me personally) then coming home after enjoying a great trip and having a big hug from 2 six year olds and then sleeping in the garden with them. To me that's the best of both worlds

Probably not what everyone wants but like I said horses for courses.

Dave Barter · Post by **Dave Barter** » Sat Aug 30, 2014 11:52 pm

Isn't bikepacking ace precisely because the lifestyles we lead are so far from it? The bloke's video just underlines that for me, but if I did what he does full time, I'd escape by putting on a shirt and tie or something.

slowupslowdown-under · Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:18 am

Agree!

Ray Young · Post by **Ray Young** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:59 pm

I don't think people make a conscious decision to lead this sort of lifestyle. I think they just go travelling like many others but then just don't stop.

Chicken Legs · Post by **Chicken Legs** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 8:24 am

Yep enjoyed that, makes you think about where you are and what you're doing

Click the link and check out this piece written by Mark Hines it's another one that will
make you scratch your head and think for a while.
A bit deep for a Monday morning

http://www.markhines.org/

Son · Post by **Son** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 9:06 am

Werner Herzog!

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Mon Sep 01, 2014 10:33 pm

JohnClimber wrote: He does call himself a Nomad and nomads do tend live on their own

You're thinking of hermits

Richpips · Post by **Richpips** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 9:16 pm

When the kids were little, we sold up and spent a few months travelling. There was no plan to come back to the UK.

At first it was great. New places, ace people met, and of course good riding.

It was a great experience.

Towards the end of the trip though, we tired with the amount of time wasted doing domestic stuff, like finding launderettes, open shops selling food, and somewhere to stay etc.

I'd do it again for a few months, but would probably plan a much tighter trip.

Which I guess makes me someone who likes long holidays, rather than a nomad.

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