boundaries 8 comments
Just a short post today. I’ve been camped at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park after crossing the prairies from Thunder Bay to Swift Current in 3 days of fairly steady driving. This year, I moteled it across that part of the journey as most campgrounds were closed. From this point on, I hope to camp most nights.
I thought these two photos were a nice pair to post together as, in many ways, they represent my thoughts these days. I seem to be divided between east and west, north and south, life and death, and a number of other planes or dimensions meaningful only to me.
I’m sometimes asked about traveling alone. Am I lonely? No, I just feel alone because that’s the way my life is now – through no choice of my own, but just because that’s how it is. Am I afraid to travel alone? No, because there are worse things to be afraid of, many of which will find you even in the perceived safety of your own home. Is it hard to travel? No, I think I have everything I need here in the van – a good bed, plenty of good food and a stove on which to cook, warm clothes, two dogs who keep me company, plenty to do each day just driving, making and breaking camp and cooking meals. It’s all okay. Life actually seems simple while I’m on the road, even though it is hard in other ways that only those who travel for many weeks or months will understand.
I have more posts and photos coming up soon and hope to put them up before too long. Stay tuned.
8 Responses to 'boundaries'
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I like those signs, Bev. They seem to address such a fundamental thing, how our lives are subject to the laws of nature that, no matter how much we might try, we cannot change. Keep enjoying your trip. I’d not give my right arm to be along for the ride, but I’d give a lot!
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oh, that first sign. Never seen one of those. Man, matt would have loved that.
Making me itch for that camper van again. Though this last little bit of traveling was stressful, it involved 0ther Humans. Travel with dog, campstove, and new signs sounds much better. -
Love the sign Bev… I also love how you put into words being divided between North, South, East and West, sometimes how I feel. And there are other planes and dimensions for sure, each of us with our own to explore. You are right about things that may be more scary to deal with in our own homes without stepping away from our house. You are a great inspiration to step one foot in front of the other and move forward with your life after having certain cards dealt to you. None of us can fully understand what you are thinking and feeling but we can be there for you as a friend. I often wondered after suffering a loss, if it is true that when one door closes, another opens, but you know, I think it does, at least from my life perspective. Continue your journey my friend with all the hope, warmth and love of all of us that care about you. See you soon….. Kathy
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I think I have mentioned before that, for me at least, traveling over a long enough period enforces a sort of freedom, once you get into the rhythm. A lot of things fade into the background. Didn’t shave this morning? Who cares? Didn’t catch the news last night? Who cares? And long stretches of driving leave time for some internal dialogue. How comfortable you are with that depends on how well you get along with yourself, or how well you might want to know yourself.
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i’m still waiting for pictures of the runaway boat and the gas can resting in front of your van.
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“FROM HERE ALL STREAMS FLOW NORTH INTO THE ARCTIC OCEAN”
Fer Chrissakes, turn back!
TURN BACK!
That is like some sign in the Aegean,
saying,THESE ARE THE GATES OF HELL
Where Bilbo gets in the back, and clutches his blankies hard enough to crumble them.
If you FELL in one of those streams – which is likely as a frozen beef on a hook – you would “float” north, and wind up circling the Pole.
Your rimey remnants would be there; dim under cold Northern Lights; forever.
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Thanks everyone. Mark, I very much agree with your comment about traveling alone and how it enforces a form of freedom. I find that to be very true and one of the reasons I enjoy being on the road.
Ha, TM, yes, that Arctic watershed sign does possess a certain menacing quality. (-:
I like the difference between loneliness and being alone. And those two signs are really grand. Happy trails to you, Bev.