Boulder Creek, Boulder CO, ©2024 Ronald Barnett
What makes something an adventure? Does it require risks to life, limb, or personal security? Perhaps your idea of an adventure involves horseback riding through a remote, exotic landscape that breaks from the routine of everyday life. Or maybe it's trying something daring for the first time, like white-water rafting, bungee jumping, or skydiving.
But must an adventure always involve daring feats or the intention to face danger? What if we broaden our definition of adventure, opening up more opportunities to learn and experience the joys of life? Maybe the essence of an adventure is as much psychological as it is physical.
Take, for example, a recent experience of mine: biking along the C&O Canal Towpath near my home. No far-off destination, no extreme physical challenges. Yet, despite having biked sections of the 184-mile towpath before, there was still so much left unexplored. For some time, I had been contemplating biking a particular 20-mile stretch, and on a delightful late-summer day, I finally decided to go for it—alone.
Now, biking the towpath isn’t inherently hazardous. If I encountered any issues—medical, mechanical, or even those “unknown unknowns” as Donald Rumsfeld might put it—there would be hikers or fellow bikers nearby to assist. But as the time for departure drew near, I found myself feeling excited. What would I see? What might I learn? Could I maintain an average speed of 10 mph? I even used Google Earth to virtually map out my route—a sort of pre-adventure before the real thing.
In the end, it was the anticipation of the unknown that energized me. Even before I set out, I was already experiencing the ride in my mind, imagining the sights, the sensations, the surprises. And that, I believe, is the key to any adventure: the willingness to embrace the unknown, no matter how big or small the journey may seem.
So, here’s to your own adventures, whatever form they may take. All it takes is a step into the unknown and an openness to go where it leads.
Cheers,
Ron