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Travels with Mike.



There are two books I've read by choice that have significantly altered my outlook on life.

 1. Into the Wild - John Krakauer
2. Travels with Charley - John Steinbeck

 I read both early on in high school on my own volition and what interested me initially (and still to this day) is that they deal with travel, self-reliance, and human experiences. Over the past few years I've done a lot of traveling domestically and abroad in large part because of my wander/wonderlust and I really feel like a more well-rounded and knowledgeable person as a result.

 To me, life isn't just about myself and how I feel like I fit in the world and environment in which I live - it's also about understanding how others fit into that same world. The human condition is a fascinating thing and what spurs me along, in part, are the myriad of people I've met across the globe along the way. On my journeys I've kept some form of notes, whether written or mental, but I've never shared them.

 I'd like to change that and this feels like the perfect place to do so. Unfortunately, not all my notes are detailed and many parts are fuzzy, but what I hope comes out of this is a recollection of the key moments that made these trips special. It's a memory exercise that will hopefully have a few good stories.

 Over the next few weeks/months I'll be releasing memories piece by piece and trip by trip, but mixing it up and jumping around to different experiences. Life isn't always linear and neither are my stories and adventures.
Trips to be highlighted:

  • California roadtrip (2015)
  • Southwest extravaganza (2015)
  • Alaska (2016)
  • New Orleans (2017)

More trips will be added to this list as time ticks by...



"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."

Into the Wild

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