In no particular order, here is a compilation of our favorite, travel encouraging films. We run the spectrum from big Hollywood to independent documentary. Hopefully these will give fodder to those on the verge of packing a bag. Forrest Gump: Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny Curran, eludes him. The African Queen: In Africa during WW1, a gin-swilling riverboat owner/captain is persuaded by a strait-laced missionary to use his boat to attack an enemy warship. The Way: A father heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling the "El camino de Santiago," and decides to take the pilgrimage himself. Paddle to Seattle: Two best friends build their own kayaks and paddle alone for 97 days in the wilderness over 1,300 miles from Alaska to Seattle and survive to talk about most things. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Tells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who starts aging backwards with bizarre consequences. 180° South : The film follows adventurer Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia. Little Miss Sunshine: A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus. Eat Pray Love: A married woman realizes how unhappy her marriage really is, and that her life needs to go in a different direction. After a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey to "find herself". Into the Wild: After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.
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In second grade when the teacher asked us to choose a role-model, my 8 year old brain decided that my best friend Neil would be the ideal person to emulate. My parents and teacher encouraged me to, “Pick someone you look up to and want to be like someday.” After careful deliberation I initially picked Tiger Woods but later decided on my local golf pro. I figured they couldn’t argue with the small town connection. Turns out my thought process for choosing a role model was pretty astute for my age. The New York Times recently published a story arguing that second best is more practical when choosing a role model. Meaning, the person at the top may not inspire drive and determination as much as feelings of inadequacy. "...we may do better to look to solid workers who aren’t as flashy as those at the top, but consistently perform well." - Alina Tugend, New York Times What role does a role model play and what purpose do they serve? A role model is a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated. LeBron James is probably the hero to many aspiring basketball players just as Bill Gates is the pinnacle of perfection when it comes to computers and technology. We as humans subconsciously emulate people that we aspire to be like. Remember middle school and what you thought when you saw the high schoolers walk past? It is a healthy and natural thing to have people in our lives we look to for advice and motivation. "People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy." -Oliver Goldsmith A role model serves in the same way masters served apprentices in the day of Benjamin Franklin. Although through a more formal relationship, the apprentice would look to the master for instruction and teaching. Looking towards the example of an apprentice/ master relationship, it is much more practical to pick a role model that you can have direct contact with. I looked to Tiger Woods as a dream but my local golf pro was a tangible person that was able to give me direct instruction. The person at the top may have climbed the ladder easily and therefore isn’t apt at giving instruction or advice. Their experience may be very different from yours as a person who will need to work very hard to accomplish their goals. Look to someone who's circumstance is similar to yours. The person lower down the rung may not be the best of the best, but they’re consistent and hard working. Ultimately, that is someone worth emulating. Self-Esteem Realistically, I will never become a Tiger Woods, Lebron James or Bill Gates. I am happy working hard and looking to people in my field that are in positions I can strive toward. With this mentality a role model can change with circumstance. When a goal is achieved it should replaced by a new one. The problem with selecting a role model at the very top is it’s not easy to see progress and therefore is perceived to be a lack of accomplishment. In one study of women’s role models, it was found that more often than not, pictures of highly influential women were found to give women a sense of inadequacy rather than inspiration. The New York Times followed up with this regarding the study, “There is an interesting twist: in another experiment, some participants were shown women who were somewhat, but not highly, successful, like a local news reporter. These women leaders elicited more positive responses, the paper stated, because they were not seen as exceptions.” It’s not to say that this is a hard a fast rule for all women or to say that the same effect doesn’t exist in men. Regardless of gender, it is a good rule to ‘shop local’ when looking for role models.
Be a good role model. If someone reaches out to you for support, be sure to pay it forward. Sources: Tugend, Alina. "Sometimes Second-Best Makes a Better Role Model." The New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Aug. 2013. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=People+seldom+improve+when+they+have+no+other+model+but+themselves+to+copy.++-+Oliver+Goldsmith&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=++Oliver+Goldsmith&rls=en
Cover your window with cloth or have your windows tinted. Move as little as possible to avoid rocking the vehicle. Crack a window to avoid condensation.
Sources:http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-Your-Car
http://www.carliving.info/parking.htm Here is a list of ways that you can make your travel experience last a lifetime and beyond just like Theodore Roosevelt. Few people in history embody our mission more than Theodore Roosevelt. The exhausting pace that he lived his life enabled him to pack more into 60 years than any 5 people. His productivity wasn’t born from a reckless, carefree nature that offered him so much free time. He stuck to a regimented schedule that allowed him to write 35 books, serve two terms as president, campaign for a third, serve as governor of New York, police commissioner of NY, Colonel of the Rough Riders and navigate an uncharted Amazonian river. He was a man that knew how to travel and how to make that travel count. 1. Write write write! T.R. was an avid writer. Two of his thirty-five books, “Through the Brazilian Wilderness” and “African Game Trails” were written while on expeditions. “African Game Trails” was written on horseback as he trod across the African landscape and by firelight while the memories of the day were still fresh in his mind. “Through the Brazilian Wilderness” was written from a canoe, some of it while he was falling extremely ill to Cuban fever.
2. Don’t seek comfort When T.R. was approached about venturing down the unexplored ‘River of Doubt’ now known as Rio Roosevelt, he was accompanied by Father Zahm. Zahm had become a nuisance to T.R.’s son Kermit who journaled that he was “a very commonplace little fool” with “an incessant annoyance”. After complaining about the long horse rides in the Amazonian jungle, Zahm had picked up the habit of riding in a ‘Sedan Chair’ carried by the tribes people. Shortly after this behavior T.R. penned the following note: “Every member of the expedition has told me that in his opinion it is essential to the success and well being of the expedition that Father Zahm should at once leave it and return to the settled country.” In his experiences with the Rough Riders up through his leadership of a volunteer unit in WWI, Roosevelt found that comfort produced weakness.
3. Make a schedule It is well known how orchestrated the life of a president can be. T.R. brought the practice of scheduling out his day to his personal life.
4. Stay focused After leaving office T.R offered friendship to the newly elected president William Howard Taft. It wasn’t long into Taft’s presidency that T.R. became resentful of the way Taft was treating the office. His frequent golf outings and increasing waist line were representative of the lazy approach Taft had to governing. T.R. had no patience for a sedentary lifestyle.
5. Look for opportunities Roosevelt was shot in the chest at point blank range on Oct. 14, 1912. The bullet hit his tin glasses case and folded up speech and lodged itself in his ribs. After being shot he demanded he be driven to the space where his speech was to be delivered and he spoke for 90 minutes before being driven to the hospital. He was known as someone that lived large and left an impression with everyone he met. He was capable of a roaring laugh and barking rage. Someone you loved to have on your side and shuttered to think of as an enemy. Apart from the lessons we can learn from his detailed schedule, we can learn from his attitude toward life.
Sources: Morris, Edmund. Colonel Roosevelt. New York, NY. Random House Trade Paperbacks. 2010. pg. 320. McKay, Brett. "Lessons in Manliness: Theodore Roosevelt On Living The Strenuous Life." The Art of Manliness RSS. N.p., 21 Feb. 2008. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. “Those braving the greatest risk receive the greatest reward.” Lists of famous travelers will often include the likes of: Kerouac, Cortez, Magellan, Captain Cook, Marco Polo, Lewis and Clark, Columbus, and Armstrong. Arguably the greatest of these and one frequently left out... Ibn Batutta. Ibn Battuta traveled the world for 30 years and wrote his experiences in his journal which is said to be one of the greatest travel journals ever recorded. His adventures spanned from 1325-1355 and took him over 75,000 miles reaching what today would be 40 different countries. "Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller" Ibn Battuta was a 22 year old law student in the year 1325. He left his home and family in Morocco to begin his pilgrimage to Mecca. Along the way he married a young woman (this would become a theme for the rest of his travels. The grand total is unknown). Upon arriving at Mecca, he decided against going back home and instead he and his camel headed east... and kept going. After walking, sailing and riding across Africa, China, India and the rest of the known muslim world, he returned back home to Morocco. He had traveled for 30 years and arrived back just months after the passing of his mother to bubonic plague. "I have indeed – praise be to God – attained my desire in this world, which was to travel through the earth..." While in Morocco, he dictated his travels to a scribe that compiled his story into a book called, “Tuhfat al-anzar fi gharaaib al-amsar wa ajaaib al-asfar” (A gift to those who contemplate the wonders of cities and the marvels of traveling) or “Ibn Battuta’s Rihla”. In it he recalls meeting over 60 rulers in Asia and Africa, encounters with cannibals, near death experiences by thieves and royalty and numerous examples of the kindness he met while on the trail. Here are some links to learn more about fellow Highway Walker, Ibn Battuta. The World of Ibn Battuta His Book Ibn Battuta Wiki Map of his travels Life Story "Never travel any road a second time." Safe Travels.
Here is list of basic necessities of what you’ll need to do to make your pack fit you perfectly. Measure your torso. This measurement will expedite the process of ruling out packs that are too tall or short. You’ll need a soft tape measure and someone to help.
There are four main straps to concentrate on: Hip Shoulder Load Lifter Sternum Hip:
Load Lifters:
This process should be done each time you put on your pack for optimal comfort and performance. Happy Hiking! There are tips on ‘How to Hitchhike‘ all over the internet. (You can find our list of tips right here.) But there are fewer compilations on how to hitchhike safely. Here is a list of tips on how to be safe while thumbing for rides. Bright colors Bright colors do more than give people a positive first impression, they can keep you alive. While walking on the side of the road, make sure you are seen at all times. Bright colors will let drivers know where you are and will increase your likelihood of getting a ride. Ask questions When someone pulls over to offer a ride, don’t be eager to get in no matter how long you’ve been waiting. Take time to ask the driver where they’re headed. If they aren’t going to your location, see if they can let you off at a decent spot to get another ride. Asking questions will also give you time to evaluate the situation. Body Language While you’re asking questions, asses the situation and watch their body language. Are they making eye contact? Are they shifting around in their seat? Do they seem too eager to be giving you a ride? Are their hands where you can see them? Take in as much information as you can in these crucial moments before opening the door. Scan Your Surroundings Take a look at the car itself. It may not be the best sign if there are empty beer can littering the floor. Make sure you’re not putting yourself in a situation that makes you uncomfortable. If they ask clarifying questions- that is a good sign If the driver asks you some clarifying questions, that means they are looking out for their well being as well. Be sure to answer their questions honestly with confidence and solid eye contact. Put off the same positive energy you’re looking for. The common misconception is that if a person hitchhikes- they will die and if a person picks up a hitchhiker- they will die. In reality, most likely no one wants to kill anyone. Cell Phone Keep a cellphone of you and text a friend the license plate number of the car you’re getting into. I like to ask the person if it’s OK that I write down their license plate before sending the text. If they’re not, I decline the ride with no hard feelings. Be sure to check out our other list for additional tips on how to hitchhike and watch the movie of our experience- ‘The Highway Walkers‘ available free online. Safe travels! Last spring we (Highway Walkers Media) produced a short video asking people if they had a rite of passage. The responses were all over the board; coming out, losing virginity, getting married, getting a drivers license or simply not feeling like they had one. America doesn’t have a definitive secular rite of passage marking the beginning of adulthood, instead they are determined by the individuals experience. They are a ceremony of one. This is contrary to every other culture that has come before us and therefore leaves Americans with a very blurred beginning to this incredibly important chapter of life. There are many recent blog entries and articles talking about how adolescence is now seeping well into the 20s and 30s with the blame being pointed at millennials being spoiled rotten. Well, the concept of viewing younger generations as lazy is not a recent occurrence. The 1963 musical ‘Bye Bye Birdie‘ has a duet entitled, “What’s the Matter with Kids Today?” in which Lee Adams and Charles Strouse were only echoing the multitudes of people in history that were quick to pass judgment on those who were not privileged with the wisdom of years. Although what has changed in recent decades in America is a decreased emphases on legacy, specifically traditions dealing with rites of passage. The passing down of tried and true practices that prepare children for adulthood. Last summer Josiah and I drove over 5,500 miles to Minneapolis, NYC, Tulsa, Buffalo, Denver, St. Louis and many other places to ask people if they felt like an ‘adult‘ and if so, how and why? In our new project, ‘Passage’, we’re going to get to the heart of what it means to have a rite of passage today. We will take rites of passage from various cultures and time and apply them in a modern, western context in hopes of finding common ground. Suspension is an ancient practice started by the Mandan tribe that used suspending by hooks as their rite of passage into adulthood. We sat in on a suspension session to find out why this practice has survived for so long. The experience was eye opening and sometimes hard to watch. With help from some experts like Dr. Lionel Tiger from Rutgers University, Brett McKay from TheArtofManliness.com, and from leaders at the Animas Valley Institute we learned that there is more to the transition to adulthood than simply hitting a certain birthday. That trip was an incredible time of reflection, conversation and laughter. We were always looking for common strands in which to tie the gamut of answers together. In every sense of the word, it was a‘coming of age story’ happening right in my minivan. When a book is condensed to the tagline; “a coming of age story” there is an outline which one must follow. Here is that outline more clearly defined by Anoka-Ramsey College: Act One State of innocence Trigger/Oppressive Force Meeting with mentor Refusal/ denial of call Act Two Quest/Body of Story Struggles with Oppressive Force Complications Climax Act Three Reward Transformation (Individuation) http://webs.anokaramsey.edu/wrobel/2251/Core%20Materials/Basic%20Narrative%20Structure.htm Each act in this narrative structure has a key bullet point; meeting with mentor, quest, and reward. Likewise, every culture’s singular rite of passage has very similar requirements; separation, transition and reincorporation. Separation from the ‘tribe‘ is a state of innocence and vulnerability in which a ‘mentor‘ will tell the individual it’s time to start the journey. Transition is the quest, the time to hone valued characteristics of the participant from an oppressive force. Reincorporation is the reintroduction to the ‘tribe’. A time to start participating in that community as an adult. Passage will be the first film in a series to ask some hard questions, while bringing humor, about what it means to be an adult. We hope that the miles of highway will properly tell the story of the journey we’re all on. |
Watch Our Films FREE!Suggested Reading-3 Lessons from ultrarunner -Role Model: Search Local -How to Sleep in Your Car -How to Hitchhike: Advice -How to Adjust a Backpack -How to Hitchhike Safely -Dustin: Hitchhiker *video - Zach at Niagara Falls *video -NYC Interview *video -Trouble Crossing * video -Iron John Journey *video -Letter From a Viewer -Ibn Battuta: Exploreer -Danny Schmidt/Carrie Elkin -Top 5 Famous Hitchhikers -Hitchhiking:Trip at a Glance -Filmmaking; Perseverance! -3 Things Lionel Said -Radio Interview: WEHC -Adventure: Idea to Action -Miller's Gourmet Popcorn * -Poem from a fan AuthorsDarrell and Josiah |