We are designed for adventure. We were made for it. It’s a basic human need.

In fact if we’re not having adventures of some sort or other we’re probably bored and sad. Maybe mentally ill.

We have vicarious adventures on TV: sports, movies, even the stupid news is some sort of absurd adventure. But it’s not tactile, it doesn’t engage all our senses, our life doesn’t depend on it.

It used to - the old hunting and gathering days. And you had to work together - teamwork. One look out, two to chase down the deer, three to carry it back to camp - the heroic hunters.

The fact is we were hunter/gatherers for 99% of our history as humans. Now we’re supposed to be civilized. That’s fine, I’ve got no problem with refrigerators and sinks with water pouring out of the tap but we used to go to the spring or lived by the spring to get water and we would meet all kinds of creatures - plants and animals and people along the way because they needed water too. Now everybody has their own spring. We don’t have to say hi to anybody anymore, just turn the tap - sploosh. Besides nobody wants to get ambushed by a tiger on their way to the well.

So here’s my thing. Each day is an adventure, the adventure of being alive. I just have to prepare my mind for it. I can’t carry around the heavy burden of expectations and presumptions. I have to travel light, with only a few arrows in my quiver. I have to be alert and perspicacious (is that a word), pay attention to the tiniest details, not waste a moment. They may hold a clue. Things I don’t see are, upon close examination, full of wonder and wonder is the portal to adventure.

It also helps to be up on your bike. Things look different from a bike plus you have to be careful.

Millions of flags waving in the breeze also called leaves.

Monsters roaring by nearby also called cars and trucks. And buses.

The world breathing on me, also called wind.

The rock people.

Close up of the rock people.

Flowers poke out their little pink heads to say hello.

I’m noticing everything I can. I’m having adventures. Of course there’s a million more things unnoticed. My gosh, look at that. A groovy nook. A bower, a bay. I obey it.

Branches of the droozel tree fallen by the wall.

Kamikaze mosquitos come to say hello and die.

I spoof with the barista. ‘I’d like a chinkamoora chino with paparazzi.’ ‘Uh, for here?’ ‘No over by the sparrow.’ *

Uh oh Turk’s Cap and an upside down cup in the trash.

Ok quit noticing things. Jeesh who painted this guy?

I’ve never been in this world before even though I’ve ridden by a million times.

Clouds above moving thru the sky. Trees interrupted.

Who could have imagined such a thing on a Sunday morning?

* Blue Rodeo Coffee on Avenue B near Mulberry. Most of this adventure journey took place along that route.

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