Concept:

I am on a tour of the united states on my Suzuki SV 650 for 3 months begining Oct. 2nd 2006. I have been talking about this tour for a year and a half and its finally here. I graduated with a Batchelor of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon in June then worked as a river guide in the Grand Canyon for Arizona Raft Adventures / Grand Canyon Discovery.

I am having a hard time putting to words the way that I feel about traveling. I suppose it has to do with the parallel paths of growth that occur. We are moving physically about as we move mentally about. The coincident journeys are like coincident waves, they can amplify each other and when the traveller lets go of controlling the outcome, unexpected beauty will crash about. [ author's note: sorry for the metaphysical gushy-ness. warning: more to come down the road. ]

Inspirations:

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence, of course. I read the book when I was 13 and forgot most of it. I was impressed by the concept more than anything. I like the simplicity and the reflection that the main character achieved. I hope to write everyday from here on out.

The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. very good book about letting yourself create. It is about letting go of your expectations and fears. Its about creating through open interpretation and letting yourself learn about the world and all of newness. confession: I have not been writing in my morning pages. commitment: everyday for the next 3 months I will write in my journal 3 pages. signed adam mills elliott oct. 19th 2006.

Will Viktora, yeah you, Will. you hopped on your "long haul trucker" touring bicycle and headed up to Boise to convince the Smoke Jumpers to invite you to test. Then you came out to visit me in Eugene Or (which was Awesome!) to have a party in a basement and then scotch on the roof. Thanks for being one of those people who do inspiring stuff.

École des Beaux-Arts students of architecture would often take the Grand Tour of Europe after finishing thier formal education. Wikipedia has this to say about the Grand Tour: "The idea of travel for the sake of curiosity and learning was a developing idea in the 18th century. With John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) it was argued, and widely accepted, that knowledge comes entirely from the external senses, that what one knows comes from what physical stimuli one has been exposed to. Thus one could "use up" the environment, taking from it all it had to offer, requiring a change of location. Travel therefore was an obligation for the person who wanted to further develop the mind and expand knowledge. The typical 18th century sentiment was that of the studious observer traveling through foreign lands reporting their findings on human nature for those less fortunate who stayed at home. Traveling observation became a duty, an obligation to society at large to increase its welfare. The Grand Tour flourished in this mindset."

And so, I am on the road, eating it up. Any reason to travel is a good one. I've questioned that logic a couple times already but it holds true.

Please feel free to email me at adam[at]amelliott.com