HOME OR ABROAD

Do you ever yearn for a particular place on earth you would just love to visit? Maybe it is a vast area or perhaps just a small nook with nostalgic ties, one that holds wonderful memories.

There are a countries I would love to visit like England or Ireland, the countries of my roots. To look in the faces of the people and to see if I recognize myself in them. To walk over the same land my ancestors did, to feel the same ground under my feet, the same mist, cold or warmth of sun on my face as they did would make me feel connected. At least I think it would.

We Americans are the infants on this planet. Most of us are mongrels in this country with multiple lineages. I have two, some have many and then there are the first generation, pure bred immigrants. However, the only true Americans are the Native Indians. The rest of us are relative newcomers. We are the adopted children.

While I would love to visit the countries of my origin, I also fantasize about visiting the exotic and vastly different areas like China or Africa.

When ever I see pictures of China's topography, I get the feeling that part of the world has been here so much longer than the rest of the world. It somehow looks more worn. Their culture is measured in thousands of years, not hundreds.

Africa holds a fascination for me for its wonderfully diverse wildlife and the miles of unsettled land. That to me would almost be like stepping back to the very beginning of time, much like China.

I have held a lot of these yearnings but a job, my pets, or lack of unlimited funds have kept me pretty close to home. Then I met Gary on the Internet and realized, I have really been ignoring my very own forest with my telescopic vision.

Gary France is a recently retired gentleman from the UK who decided to tour the US on a Harley. I stumbled on his blog late but the beauty of blogging is that all I missed, is just waiting for me to click on his archives and read. I have missed the immediacy but not the trip.

Gary has a wonderful, fresh eye and is the type of photographer and observer I would love to be. He has mastered the u-turn. Most often when we travel, we see things of interest but since we usually have a destination and a time frame, we often pass them by. Gary doesn't have that problem. He just stops, goes back, pulls out the camera, takes pictures and talks to the locals.

As a result, he has seen my country in a way I never have in all my 71 years and made me realize, maybe I ought to adjust the scope of my wish list. Wow, do we have an amazing country!! We know the language and the currency which is quite convenient, but that is all that is the same. We are such a diverse country. The landscapes are as different as countries in Europe.

I have lived in three vastly different locations. Ohio with its farming and mid-west values, Florida with its constant sun, sea and a melting pot of residents who come from all over to enjoy the warmth. A native Floridian is a tough find. Then I came to the Ozarks with the lovely vistas and warm people.

What Gary's blog has shown me is that I might want to keep exploring, I haven't begun to see what wonders are available to be seen within our own borders with just a little time and an open mind. I am really getting the urge for a road trip.

If you want to get a look at our country from the view of fresh eyes and a good camera, I suggest you visit USA Tour on a Harley Davidson. You will be entering the last days of his trip but I plan to hit his “Favorites so far” feature on his side bar at my leisure. I really want to thank Gary for opening my eyes to an amazing country that is totally within reach but is every bit as exotic as foreign countries. I have traveled a lot in my life but am not sure I have ever really seen.

Not too late---what say Mighty dog, you up for a road trip? Oh that is right, the cats. I have problems to work out but hope I don't let time run out before I do. The West is looking good and has never been explored by me.

Do you have places you want to see or are you perfectly content with your neighborhood?