Editor’s Note

It doesn’t always go the way you imagine that it will. In fact, it rarely does.

February 2023: I was having too good a time in Mérida and failing to catch up on updating recent events here. I’d lost the rythym and back on the road as the task grew, my commitment withered. Another thing was happening at the same time: we were heading home. Even with plenty of weeks of discovery ahead, the end loomed. Tick tock, counting down the miles and days. Writing stalled. I laboured over every sentence, wrinkled my brow at every image upload, and wondered for what purpose was this undertaking. For family? They were content with simple email. For anonymous readers? Were there any (are there any)? I wasn’t (and am not) ready to open comments, to engage, to be that brave. What was I thinking in doing this? Who did I think I was?

It had become, in other words, pointless. Even after the trip ended, unemployed and blessed with endless time I failed to come back to the blog with energy. Time passed and the task, to do it right, was larger than ever. Yet, I held out hope for myself. Could now be time to fill in the pieces? It’ll be slow, but I still believe that there is potential here.

I started this writing with a very clear idea of what I wanted to do. There was information that I was looking for that couldn’t be found and I wanted to help fill the gap. To leave an artefact amongst the mess that is the modern internet for an adventurous spirit to pick up. Not for readers to learn every detail about a place; not to salivate over the same pictures of the same over-touristed spots, or to contemplate an intense backroads adventure. Only to consider that the world is rich and time is limited and to give yourself the opportunity for exploration.

This note is mostly for myself – a kick in the butt to get writing. I do intend to finish the story even a year and a half and more after our trip was completed. Along the way as write, I’m going to forget some of the details. I’m going to switch tenses and stumble and dial back effort on the photos, links, etc. All posts are backdated to provide the illusion of continuity (we did post a couple near the end of the trip so it’s not all bad) and I will do my best to recreate it as though I were still there, out on the road living the best days of my life. There’s hope the process will stir up passion for the project as a whole. After all, there are always more chances to explore.

Thanks for reading. If one person finds value in our trip notes – hopefully to consider a journey of their own – than it was worth it.

Ian. 02/10/24