Just Do It

It has been four days since I arrived in Florence. Each day presents me with a different goal, a drive, that keeps me moving. This internal force comes from traveling the amount I have. If you were bored and alone I hope you would be clever enough to create a form of entertainment. My "form" is adventuring. But it is no longer determined by being bored. I just need to adventure.
Using your time wisely is the art behind traveling alone. You find yourself living sporadically and making plans that would never come to fruition if you were accompanied by a friend. You find yourself constantly active and never lackadaisical. And the combination is the balance you want. Yesterday I walked all over Florence. This side of the river, and that side. Up the hills and then back down again. But the urban environment is taking it toll on me. I miss my ability to go camping in the Crazies. I miss the hop-skip-and-jump to Hyalite state park. But tomorrow I will be reunited. I'm going to rent a Vespa and take to the country for the day.
I never saw the Motorcycle Diaries but I am excited to create my own. I'm going to whip out the map today and see, if it is possible, where I could get to on a tank of gas and a day in Tuscany. The vineyards would be fun. Luca would bring back memories. But going somewhere different, somewhere I havnt been, would be fun. I remember back in Greece my Uncles Hugh and Tom had the same mindset towards traveling. We all got off our sailboat on some unimportant island and automatically looked for an adventure. After bartering with a Vespa Rental we all hopped on these rickety scooters and took towards the hills. The village, untouched by tourists, was white washed just like the pictures of Mediterranean cities are depicted. Old churches dedicated to Mythology reminded us that Poseidon isn't only mentioned in the Iliad and Odyssey.
Its those memories that inspire me just to hit the road. So while my home base is Florence, right in the Duomo Square, I may be making memories elsewhere during the day. Thats the art behind sporadic independent travel.


-Chad A. Dokken

Location:Via dei Pepi,Florence,Italy