One of the glories of taking a vacation is planning the vacation. One begins to understand how Bilbo must have felt when that first blue-bearded dwarf stood on his doorstep. There is a great sense of expectation as you chart course.That's all it is though; charting course. Because once you actually leave your doorstep; a million wondrous adventures can occur. Encounters with strangers can change one's life forever.
Some years ago, on a trek through the East Coast, a stranger in a tavern (Is that King Aragorn in the corner, or an enemy henchman set out to destroy your quest?) recommended I spend some time in the town of Ghettysburg, even though it would take me a day out of my way. Little did I know that following the strangers' advice would spark interest in the Civil War, opening up doors to novels, knowledge, and the 97th Regimental String Band.
And so I spent a short time today visiting MapQuest, playing with routes. Playing with options. Is it worth a two hour detour to see Lake Tahoe? Is a 7:00 a.m. departure realistic? Will I save the damsel from the dragon?
"Roads go ever ever on,
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone,
Look at last on meadows green,
And trees and hills they long have known."
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