Where’s the sense of adventure?

Whilst, the vast majority of my friends are in secure, full‐time jobs, here I am, pursuing dreams that to many seem like complete and utter madness. Perhaps, I am mad. However, to question the pursuit of my dreams would be to challenge my complete and utter infatuation with adventure. After all, the greatest adventure is life itself.

Life is forever changing, it doesn’t matter how much you plan your future, things often change and you find yourself once again staring at a blank canvas. Hence, just like life, I don’t try and meticulously plan any of my cycling adventures. Obviously I have a rough idea of my destination, the place I want to be, but the route I take, be it in life or cycling is an open book. I’m happy to keep pedaling, drive onwards in the face of adversity and maintain an unwavering focus to reach my destination, to achieve my dreams. Of course, you cannot take this approach without enduring failure. However, it’s your ability to overcome these challenges, the set‐backs, the real lows, that take you one step closer to achieving your dreams. My site is called Bicycle Touring Apocalypse for this very reason. My approach means I rarely know what’s round the next corner and I often head straight into a disaster…bombarded by torrential rain, brutal hills, nowhere to camp, no food, water and completely lost. It’s in these situations that I truly realise my potential. The ability to face such severe conditions, to endure such physical and mental torture and to rise above it.

As a child I was obsessed with Greek mythology. My parents would read me epics like Jason and the Argonauts, The Odyssey and Theseus and the Minotaur to name a few. The heroes of these mythological tales head into the unknown, battling unforeseen foes, often at the mercy of the gods, plagued by misfortune and despite all odds returning home victorious! The truth is, I never grew out of these epics, in fact, I’m more obsessed than ever! I went on to study Greek mythology at university and since graduating I have embarked on my own odysseys! Just like my ancient heroes I no longer fear the unknown. I understand that achieving your goals, reaching your destination, takes sacrifice, courage and most importantly an incessant belief in yourself.

Just like Odysseus and Jason, like every other human being on this planet, our lives are forever changing and we can never know what’s round the next corner. However, it’s when we fully accept that our future will remain a mystery that we truly start living. As a society we spend so much time worrying what the next day will bring that we forget to live in the moment. We forget that every single day is the greatest adventure of all. It’s all too easy to fall victim to the society that surrounds us, to question every single step you take. I write this article today, not only to shed light on my approach to exploration but to encourage each and every one of you to no longer fear the unknown. Pursue your dreams, cherish the ones you love and live every single day like the adventure it is. We will never know what’s round the next corner, but that’s what makes life so exciting. I ride for the unknown. I live for the unknown.

• Time with Camera?  These photos were taken during my travels around Europe.
• Favorite Subject? I love street photography, but my absolute passion is shooting the great outdoors.
• Favorite Piece of camera Kit? I have Canon’s EF 50mm f1.2L USM lens…I sleep with it at night.
• If I could travel in time? Ancient Greece. Those guys knew how to have a good time!
• What is the first thing you notice about people? Sense of humour.
• What was the last thing you ate? A chocolate from my advent calendar….shhhh I’m still a child.
• If you were a crayon, which colour would you be? Black…like my soul. Joking I guess it’d have to be green.
• Mountain cabin or beach house? A mountain cabin…overlooking the beach.
• Last book you read? The Martian…recently made into a film with Matt Damon, highly recommend!
• What is the furthest you’ve been from home? Nantucket…It’s a small island off the coast of Massachusetts.
• Top of your bucket list? Right now it’s cycling the length of Italy next year.

[su_box title=”Jack MacGowan – Featured Photographer” box_color=”#0e6107″ radius=”1″]Jack MacGowan.
Weekday Activity: In the week I’m a freelance writer, photographer and digital marketer who specialises in the exploration sector.
Website: Bicycle Touring Apocalypse

Location: Canterbury, UK.
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