Nope.
It's not that I didn't like Colorado; I truly did. It is beautiful. The mountains, the valleys, the high plains and the southern desert, all of it was beautiful. I'm glad that I saw it all.
What attracts me more is the wide open spaces, something I also felt last summer crossing North and South Dakota. I'd happily return to those two states for an entire summer of riding and exploring.
And I'd happily return to the high plains of Nebraska and Kansas. I'd love to spend a few weeks in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas, a place where green grassy hillls stack up like bread loaves.
Nebraska has frontier museums, native art collections, ranches and rural towns. I'd like to see them all.
Iowa, especially the western half of Iowa is filled with places to see; places off of the beaten path. Rolling hills and flat prairie land. I'd happily go back there for a couple of weeks.
My idea of the meaning of "vacation" has changed. It used to mean "doing". it now means "being".
I'll explain. When younger or traveling with family, vacation meant to go someplace with the intent of doing something when we got there. Go to the beach. Go to SeaWorld. Go to DisneyWorld. Go to a place where there is something to do; something keep everyone amused and happy and occupied.
Now, at least for me, the idea of a vacation is simply to be in a place that's interesting; a place I haven't seen before. I don't need to find amusement because everything I see is interesting. I simply want to be there. I think that's why I'm attracted to the plains, to the arctic tundra in Alaska, and perhaps the hills in Appalachia.
Places that seemingly have nothing turn out to have everything I want to see. I want to spend time being in those places. Maybe that's the truest meaning of getting away from it all.
Your concept of the word vacation is closer to the true meaning of the word and of related words. link.
ReplyDeleteIn a way you're also a modern day High Plains Drifter on a motorbike instead of a horse.
Have you checked out Wyoming or are you adverse to lack of water? I always thought it would be cool to visit Yellowstone in the middle of winter without the RVs and all.
We rode through Wyoming last summer, and yes, I'd like to return there. Part of it was wide-open prairie, not even electric wires for miles and miles. another part of it was the stunning economic boom in places like Gillette, a place that calls itself the energy capital if the U.S.
ReplyDeleteAnd part of it would be the fun of being at an event like the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration.
Hmmm. Summer isn't yet half over.
My idea of the meaning of "vacation" has changed. It used to mean "doing". it now means "being".
ReplyDeleteA lot of people have a sickness where if they aren't working all the time "doing something" they feel bad, even when they're supposed to be relaxing. It's good to hear that you're recovering!
I think you'd enjoy riding the Appalachian Trail, especially during the fall when the leaves are turning colors. And the Biltmore House in Asheville is amazing! The Grove Park Inn also has an interesting history.
ReplyDeleteBob, I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway four summers ago. I'm thinking about repeating that trip next summer. It was a beautiful place to ride, and I'd like to see more of Virginia and the Carolinas.
ReplyDeleteI'm about the only one in the family who thinks the broad open expanses of Kansas are as wonderful as the Rocky Mountains.
ReplyDeletePete, maybe living on OKC makes your family members like places where the ground is pointy.
ReplyDelete