This post will be lengthy as I spend the day far from comedic interactions and closer to personal. There is lots of introspection, outrospection, contemplation, revelation, and recommendation. So let’s get to it!
From my last entry you would assume that I am on my way hiking to a mountain right now. And that is the plan. I pass through the central square along the way. Not a lot of activity but I captured this photo for you guys.
Staying only long enough to snap a quick picture, I continue on my journey. Along the way I see all different kinds of flowering plants laid out along a purpose made walkway next to the river. Looking to my left at the river as I stroll, I take note of the incredibly, unimaginably large boulders that are in the river and worn so smooth. I wonder how they could be so smooth because it doesn’t look like they are ever underwater and also because I don’t know anything about geology. All around me sheer mountains jut up almost vertically all around me. Unusual bird noises are everywhere.
I make my way away from the city and closer to the base of the mountain and I seem to be the only one going this direction. I think I am passing by weary travelers in the final stretch of their three hour hike down from Machu Picchu.
At this point my GPS has me lost. I’m walking along the train tracks following the river looking for the trailhead. I’m not alone so I must be going somewhere. I planned to hike a mountain and ended up walking the tracks for miles. At no time did I have any idea where I was going, what I was looking for, nor where I would end up. As they say, and I can attest to, it’s not the destination but the journey. Every bend brought new possibilities. The anticipation was killing me.
Walking the tracks, I see more and more people headed the same direction as me. About the same amount of people heading back as well. I feel like they all know where they’re going so there’s that sort of trust thing going on right now. Have you ever been on a long hike where you’ve been following people ahead of you and trying to anticipate when they would turn off leading to potentially your destination? In my case, I look ahead of me for as far as I can see and I keep seeing people walk in the same direction as me. At one point, I heard roaring water and wonder if maybe I’m walking to a waterfall. It keeps getting louder and I’m seeing fewer and fewer people in front of me headed that direction and more and more people headed back. I have picked up my pace out of shear anticipation, begin passing everyone, and now I am in the strange situation of having no one in front of me to follow, which is always my preference, but now I have to continue to look back to see if anyone is going to same direction as me. They are. As I walk the tracks the sound of a train whistle echoes somewhere in the valley and I hope it’s headed this way. With the train passing I marvel at how a huge metal beast like this is so out of place slithering through the jungle.
The tracks end in San Teresa. Not wanting to be the fool who gets to within inches of the prize only to give up or turn the wrong way, I seek out any possible lead that I can. Coming up with nothing, I decide it’s time to eat and head back. Seating myself at another oddly named restaurant that I pay no attention to, I attempt to order. They were out of empanadas so I ordered the American sandwich. What a treat because I just can’t find these in America. Three pieces of white toast formed into somewhat of a club sandwich with slices of cucumber perhaps, tomato, cheese, ham, some flat fried chicken, and a fried egg. Whatever. I ate it.
Disappointed by the destination, loving the journey. If I’m going to preach that it’s the journey and not the destination then I need to be alright with this destination.
As I turn to head back, having already put 20,000 steps on the ground today, a slow, cool rain begins to fall that’s absolutely refreshing. Just enough rain to shine the rocks along my path.
Passing my fellow adventures, I take note of this universal greeting that is so common amongst people other than most of the Peruvians I have encountered. I say hello and while they respond in their own language, there is a mutual understanding that we are both reading each other. In the South I think we take it for granted that we greet each other as we pass, in the grocery store, whenever. Out here on the trail I seem to be the one initiating the greetings. It’s always a pleasure to hear how they respond and with which accent.
While I was fast paced getting to wherever I was getting to on the way there, I’ll take a liesurely, relaxing walk home. I get to take in everything that was behind me on the way to lunch.
Along the tracks you can stop at one of the trailside refreshment areas and get yourself anything from a beer, to coffee, to a candy bar, and you can rest in a hammock.
On the walk back I come across a thick stream of ants, marching up from the riverbank, across the gravel, over both railroad rails, across more gravel, and up a super tall vine for as far as I could see. I thought if I put an obstacle in their way they would freak and have to figure out what to do. Not the case.
These ants never skipped a beat as they negotiated the obstacle with ease, simply going underneath I suppose. They never seemed to lose focus at whatever their mission was at hand. So, I suppose if you see an obstacle, just keep going. Move it, go around it, go under it, just don’t let it stop you. One could also say, “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
My thoughts drive to work. Soon I will be returning and leaving my travels behind. I suppose that would cause me great sadness if I wasn’t going back to a work family that I love. Most of the people that I know cannot understand what it is that we have there as a work family but I hope one day they will find something so special. I fell completely backwards into my opportunity. However, I realize the blessing of my situation, almost daily, and I make the most of it. My hope is that I can inspire others to have an appreciation for their blessings and that they would make the most of them as well. That being said if my life could consist of wandering that is what I would do. Certainly, I want to go home and see my boys and my friends. Whether I go home or wander, I win either way.
Did I fail to mention the rock in the title? I did and so I now must share something with you. In previous entries I failed to mention that I picked up a rock that I liked, about the size of half of a thumb when I was on the top of one of the mountains exploring the ruins. I felt a strange connection to the rock, or better yet I wanted it. I’ve been carrying it ever since. Wherever I am, walking, riding, mostly while walking, I rub my thumb and fingers over the rock repeatedly. I know every crevice, every imperfection, and where the smooth spots are. My rock is very smooth on one side with just a few indentations and a small ridge barely perceptible to the naked eye. The other side of the rock is more rough and detailed. It is different, with more indentations, more scars, and perhaps more character. I love both sides the same.
Now, at one point I arrive at a train trestle. When I crossed the trestle the first time with everyone, I did what was expected of me and took the pedestrian side. One the return, however, I walked right down the middle as I crossed, a la “Stand by me”. Isn’t it interesting that when no one is around you can take your own path without fear of judgment or reprimand? I do the things I do because I’m fearless and I write the things I write because I’m fearless.
When I think of all of the places that I have been in this world compared to all of the places there is to see, I’m reminded of what a neophyte I truly am. I am reminded that the world will not come to see me I have to go see the world.
So, while I did not run into calamity or any humorous situations, I did find plenty of time inside my head and outside as well.
When this trip was just a dry erase dream on a calendar, a friend encouraged me to get out there and find myself. Maybe do some soul searching. That my life was a complete mess. Certainly on the outside looking in and probably vice a versa, things do not seem to be in order. But “in order” sounds boring to me.
I love y’all and thanks for riding along.
Journey Man 