Today / Tentative Itinerary / A Brief Forward

Two years and a Sunday ago, I found myself walking to the Sponslers’ house on a sunny afternoon. Ray had invited a number of family friends to stop by and enjoy a drink or two in his backyard bar. Among the people fraternizing around the spigot was an unlikely guest: my long-time friend and icon of mischief, Kyle Eckstrom. He was taller than when I left him last, and deeply tanned by the Hawaiian sun, but smiled with familiar, glowing excitement. He had an idea to share.

“Europe – for a few months. We get one-way tickets, bring backpacks, and figure it out.”
I smiled vacuously at him. He couldn’t be serious, could he?
“People are always willing to help you out. Especially if you’re an American. There’s always food to eat and someplace to sleep.”

I thought about it all afternoon. The idea was immediately charming, but could resourceless travel be possible just because he projected it to be so? I was doing well in school and at my now steady job, and had only begun to collect some modest savings for myself. Grateful for the inclusion, I still had to turn him down. I was stung for the remainder of the afternoon by the missed opportunity, but as days passed, so did my enthusiasm. Soon, I had all but forgotten about it.

Fast forward two years exactly: I’m walking to the Sponslers’ again, without any recollection that I do so around this time every Fall. The door opens, and around the dining table are Paula, Ray, Chelsey, assorted cousins, and (somewhat conspicuously) an even taller, tanner Kyle Eckstrom. Well, what do you know; he’s already grinning.

“I’m leaving on Wednesday for Austria,” he announces to me, divulging little else than an earnest afterthought: “Want to come?” I shyly scratch my head. Within an instant, my life’s details align into a list of simple logistics: savings, job, friends, family, girlfriend. The spectre of obligation – my still, small, objectionary voice – is oddly silent, cowering in the shadow of a glorious, childlike thought:
I can do it.

We talk over the specifics, wide-eyed and electrified, and exchange a hug and high fives. If ever there’s a time to drop my responsibilities for that once-in-a-lifetime adventure, it’s now. Today, not tomorrow.

* * * * *

Kyle is the proud new owner of a bright purple Slovakian Hyundai Accent, which we'll be using to get from place to place. For the most part, our waypoint dates have been dictated by the availability of our hosts. Our tentative itinerary, which will eventually extend to Christmas, is as follows:

Oct 19 - 22 : Bratislava, Slovakia (partying, visiting mountain village, attending "Slovakian Idol")
Oct 23 - 25 : Pazin, Croatia
Oct 25 - 29 : Split, Croatia
Oct 30 - 31 : Bratislava, Slovakia (Halloween) *or* Porec, Croatia
Nov 01 - 04 : Florence, Italy
Nov 05 - 09 : Lyon, France *or* Paris, France
Nov 10 - 12 : Prague, Czech Republic (Jason Richard's wedding)
Nov 13 - 17 : Berlin, Germany
Nov 18 - 20 : Cologne, Germany
Nov 20 - 22 : Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Nov 23 - 25 : Brighton, UK
Nov 26 - ?? : London, UK

* * * * *

You can expect fairly regular updates from Kyle and I here, which I hope will consist of stories, photos, and the occasional drunken podcast. In the interest of keeping current and in the moment, I won't be revising, fact checking or spell checking my writing until the new year. I'll change the stock template blandness when downtime overflows. Tell your friends, and don't hesitate to comment, write, or call. In the wise words of Michelangelo (the turtle, not the artist), "Cowabunga, dude."

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Overheard dialogue: “Mommy, why do you talk like a robot?” [On flight from YPR to YVR]
Listening to: Andy McKee, Dreamcatcher