Three Months To Go!

Thanks for taking an interest in my trip!  Now that the departure day is less than three months away, the journey encompasses every waking thought that I have.  Therefore, putting this site together is the closest I can get to starting the trip without actually heading south.  As I make this website public, I thought that I would answer some frequently asked questions, and give some background information on the trip to anyone who may be interested.

Why?
The simplest answers would be, "Why not?" and "It's going to be a great time!".  But, to get to the heart of it, this is the most challenging, overwhelming, and exciting thing that I have ever planned to do in my life, and I'm incredibly fortunate to even have this opportunity.  It's far from attempting to climb Mt. Everest, and it's not circumventing the entire globe on a motorcycle (which many people have), but it's still more than a quick run to the store for a gallon of milk.  For these reasons alone, this trip is not only something that I want to do, but something that I feel I have to do, for my own personal satisfaction and sense of existence. 

You're going by yourself?
There are both benefits and trade-offs to traveling independently.  On the upside, you are completely free to travel at your own pace, and simply let the journey take you where it may.  Traveling alone also makes you more approachable in the eyes of the locals, and in a sense, forces you to seek out interaction.  On the downside, it is generally safer to travel in groups, and there will definitely be some lonely times. (Emails from home are always something I look forward to!)  Yet, when I look back on the other times I've traveled alone, I have never found it difficult to meet locals or other travelers.

Isn't that dangerous?
Riding a motorcycle any amount of distance has inherent risk.  Fortunately, a lot of that risk can be reduced by not riding at night, keeping speeds reasonable (thankfully reasonable is a subjective term), and wearing appropriate protective gear.  Of course you cannot stop a car from rear-ending you, but that risk is the same in the US as it is anywhere else in the world.(I think)

Both Central and South America have a nasty reputation for crime, but I think that reputation has been blown out of proportion.  With 24-hour news showcasing only humanity's worst, it's not surprising that many people have begun to fear everyone from their neighbor, to entire populations of people that they have never met, in countries thousands of miles away.  I'm not denying the existence of crime or terrorism, and I would be foolish to think that this trip is entirely safe, but I'm unwilling to write off entire parts of the world as inaccessible or "evil", simply because the government and media tell me so.  I think that by having reasonable situational awareness and by listening to the advice of locals, a lot of the risk can be reduced.

Comments

[Doug and Julie Kuzoian]

Jeff,
You are never going to be the same person you are now. Promise and potential are very fickle, and they may not be there anymore. Jeff continue to live your life to its fullest.
We wish you a safe and exciting trip. We'll be in touch.
Doug and Julie Kuzoian

[Jerry Wingen]

Hi Jeff:
As I watch the Red Sox and the Celtic from my soft recliner, or get up early to play golf, I can't help but think of what a great adventure you have undertaken. Wow! Good luck. I plan to follow your progress with great interest.
Jerry Wingen