short-sighted on a long-distance tour.

i've only been on the road for 6 days and i've become very short-sighted. i found that all i end up concerning myself with is that it's too hot for anyone's good, where can i find a spigot, is that another f*cking hill, i should find shade and nap, and where is a grocery store because i'm getting very hungry. i can think all of those either at my house or very close to it. i haven't been doing what it is that i wanted to do when i set off on my trip.

what are these things? i want to explore new spaces and just be curious about the places that i ride through. i want to photographically document a true adventure in a way that is more that just snapshots that will bore friends and family. yesterday was the first day that i stopped focusing on the short-term and started to get to the real purpose of the ride. google maps had sent me through stewarts state forest in NY and, just like the other day the route actually sent me up onto interstate 84 for some reason. at the edge of the woods i decided it was completely off and just decided to figure out my own way through the park. did i mention the approaching thunderstorm? i set off on one of the very well-marked dirt roads through the park and found that i was no longer anxiously searching for a way to get back on route but was just enjoying myself. i was thinking about nothing but how well-groomed the roads were. about how nice the park was and wished it was a lot closer to home. about how i should stop and have a snack because, why not? about... what the hell is that thing?

as i rode on the last stretch of dirt road leading out of the park i see an abandoned building tucked away in the woods. now, as an adult, i reserve the right to act like a child whenever i want and this was one such time. i couldn't not go in and explore... and besides, where did i have to be? was that thunder i just heard again?  i have no idea what the building could have been; it was completely gutted. the ceiling was in shambles, concrete and metal bits were everywhere, all the windows and doors gone and plenty of graffiti. i must have just walked around, climbed on, crawled over, and squeezed through stuff for almost an hour. this is what i intended to do. just explore. freely explore my surroundings at my pace and to whatever extent i want.

i feel like a lot more days like this are coming. the further west i go the more it seems like an adventure. whenever i travel, usually by car or sometimes by plane then car, my head is on a swivel. i am fascinated with every field, row of trees, shitty building, hill in the distance, creek, or sad-looking house. i want to know more, i want to see more. i'm slowly finding my pace and my routine. in no time at all i'll find the things that i am looking for.