what a great thread,

I am not a wordly traveller, but I was hoping to become one somewhat before all this went pear shaped.

As I am now 55 going on 56, I was hoping to slow down a bit, take more time and see some of the planet how I had always wanted, slowly and with some thought.

I travelled quite a bit for work, europe and the US ect, but it was always in spurts, the odd 2 week vacation, and once to appease my wife we actually went for a 1 week all inclusive to Jamaica (A country I adore, but after 3 days in the "compound" I needed to get outside the "wall") and was happiest visiting places without guides and sanitised "tours".

I started watching tons of youtube (still am really) seeing places that were interesting and how folks travelled.

One day I watched a channel called "harry's Garage" take a testarossa to morocco. That was it! If you can somehow take a testarossa from the UK to Africa,I had to check it out!

You never really look at a map of the world unless something sparks you to do so, I had never thought that the African continent was something so attainable (I mean you know, but you dont really do you?),that it was something "normal" people could do!

I decided right after that episode that if this guy could take something so wrong for the task,then I could do it as well.

Covid was not going anywhere for a bit, I needed to focus on my business during this time (I work in Aviation,so my worry meter went through the roof) and my Dad was getting worse after his stroke earlier in the year, I needed something else to focus on outside of "life" if I going to make through this time without loosing my mind.

In October/November I decided to drag out a dead (no motor)4 runner that I had stashed in the back of my garage waiting for a time that I could find a purpose for it.

After 9 years parked out back, the paint looked like hell,it stank inside and who knew what would still be functional and I didnt know if this was going to be pointless or worthwhile.

I enjoy working on cars, when im really into it and focused on what I am doing, I leave the garage tired but relaxed, sort of the same as reading a book before falling asleep, it forces you to focus your attention on something other than the "noise" of normal life.

I got started and announced to everyone I knew/met that I was going to morocco (eventually) and this heap was what was going to take me there,many chuckles were obtained along with statements such as "your nuts!", "thats stupid!" "why?", and many other of the same ilk.

So I sort of doubled down with myself,and made me a promise that if the world can get a handle on Covid, I will try to be ready to go.

so when I can ,I go in the garage, and get to work, I swapped in a motor that I had in a crashed 4 runner, changed the gearbox from auto to manual,started to redo the wiring,get things/systems that have been dormant for year to wake up and start working. I feel that this has helped me to calm myself during this time,its stupidly "theraputique" and helps keep my slightly grounded.

I purchased several of Chris Scotts books (I have read them 3 or 4 times over and are on my night stand not to be moved). I have purchased paper maps and started to lay a plan of how and when ,and through this my wife has let me indulge myself on this plan. I still dont know if she will join me as she is not into adventure travel very much, but I include her until she rolls her eye's.

I dont know if this adventure will ever take place, being self employed in a small business takes a bunch of my time,along with kids/ageing parents/ageing dogs and the entire baggage of life,but just being able to plan slightly crazy things makes each day OK.

I tell everyone I speak with that you MUST have something/anything (especially in these times) that gets your juices flowing,even if only a bit.Seek that out.

I feel for all those who have lost employment,loved ones,businesses,and even homes through all this,it will take some time to heal through this,and certainly lives will be forever changed because of it. But I try not to focus too much honestly on the entire world, and try to hold my little piece of it together as best I can,helping my friends, family and employee's.

So all I can say is, use this time to reflect,make sure you know what is important to you, make room for others and be as kind as you can be right now. Planning and dreaming is free (for now)and realise when it time to ask for help,be it a hand or simply a chat.

That was way to long a reply to this thread

Cheers,

Paulo