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Go Forth with Nothing Challenge

Old 11-21-16, 08:11 AM
  #1  
lightspree
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Go Forth with Nothing Challenge

You tie up all the loose ends of your life and depart on a wide-open, open-ended tour. The challenge is to start from scratch -- no bike, no tent, no money, just walking out the door one morning with nothing.

One rule: No begging, borrowing, mooching, or depending on friends or relatives. And no going back home.

How would you go about it? What would be the first steps? How would you get there?

The goal is to be touring, free, and enjoying life.

I'll see if I can find a Whitman quote that sets the spirit. "I go forth...."
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Old 11-21-16, 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by lightspree
The challenge is to start from scratch -- no bike, no tent, no money, just walking out the door one morning with nothing.


How would you go about it? What would be the first steps? How would you get there?
Step 1. Get a job.
Step 2. Live frugally and save money.
Step 3. Buy a bicycle.
Step 4. Ride the bicycle.
Step 5. Buy the rest of the stuff you need.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:15 AM
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I know one guy who did that starting from his lunch time at work.

Good pair of walking boots.

He almost died in Texas when he ran out of water.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:19 AM
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Originally Posted by lightspree
You tie up all the loose ends of your life and depart on a wide-open, open-ended tour. The challenge is to start from scratch -- no bike, no tent, no money, just walking out the door one morning with nothing....
not sure what this has to do with bicycle touring, but anyway,
this quote came to mind.

Jules: Well, that's what I've been sitting here contemplating. First, I'm going to deliver this case to Marsellus, then, basically, I'm just going to walk the Earth.
Vincent
: What'cha mean, "walk the Earth"?
Jules
: You know, like Caine in Kung Fu: walk from place to place, meet people, get into adventures.
Vincent: And how long do you intend to walk the Earth?
Jules: Until God puts me where he wants me to be.
Vincent
: And what if he don't do that?
Jules
: If it takes forever, then I'll walk forever.
Vincent
: So you decided to be a bum?
Jules: I'll just be Jules, Vincent; no more, no less.
Vincent
: No, Jules. You've decided to be a bum. Just like those pieces of poo out there who beg for change, sleep in garbage bins and eat what I throw away. They got a name for that, Jules: it's called "a bum". And without a job, a residence or legal tender, that's exactly what you're going to be: a freaking bum.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:24 AM
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Winter has begun early in the northern hemisphere, and some folks are already going stir-crazy.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:24 AM
  #6  
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"'What' ain't no country I ever heard of. Do they speak English in 'What'?'


Yeah. If you don't have a bike what does this thread have to do with bicycle touring? In case you haven't noticed, that is what this forum is (supposed to be) about.


Do you actually tour?
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Old 11-21-16, 08:25 AM
  #7  
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Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,


Healthy, free, the world before me,


The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.





Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,


Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,


Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,


Strong and content I travel the open road.





The earth, that is sufficient,


I do not want the constellations any nearer,


I know they are very well where they are,


I know they suffice for those who belong to them
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Old 11-21-16, 08:29 AM
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Originally Posted by saddlesores
not sure what this has to do with bicycle touring, but anyway,
this quote came to mind.

Jules: Well, that's what I've been sitting here contemplating. First, I'm going to deliver this case to Marsellus, then, basically, I'm just going to walk the Earth.
Vincent
: What'cha mean, "walk the Earth"?
Jules
: You know, like Caine in Kung Fu: walk from place to place, meet people, get into adventures.
Vincent: And how long do you intend to walk the Earth?
Jules: Until God puts me where he wants me to be.
Vincent
: And what if he don't do that?
Jules
: If it takes forever, then I'll walk forever.
Vincent
: So you decided to be a bum?
Jules: I'll just be Jules, Vincent; no more, no less.
Vincent
: No, Jules. You've decided to be a bum. Just like those pieces of poo out there who beg for change, sleep in garbage bins and eat what I throw away. They got a name for that, Jules: it's called "a bum". And without a job, a residence or legal tender, that's exactly what you're going to be: a freaking bum.
Interesting.

Remember how Vincent ended up. In the bathtub? That picture?

Wasn't Jules free to go forth and walk the earth?
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Old 11-21-16, 08:31 AM
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It's a similar thing -- pedalling the earth.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:33 AM
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Originally Posted by lightspree
Remember how Vincent ended up. In the bathtub? That picture?

Actually, he was shot and killed while reading on the toilet. A good troll knows his movie facts well.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:34 AM
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Originally Posted by lightspree
It's a similar thing -- pedalling the earth.

But you said no bike, so there's that.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:36 AM
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Well!! That was kinda interesting.
Now it's time to go to work so I can afford to buy my supper. Instead of waiting for and expecting a handout.
Sure how you run your life is important, be good to all and such, but that does not include being a parasite.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
But you said no bike, so there's that.
I see.

"The goal is to be touring" meant with a bike. So part of the challenge is to come up with a touring setup....
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Old 11-21-16, 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Squeezebox
Well!! That was kinda interesting.
Now it's time to go to work so I can afford to buy my supper. Instead of waiting for and expecting a handout.
Sure how you run your life is important, be good to all and such, but that does not include being a parasite.
That's why the one rule is not being a parasite on others.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by lightspree
I see.

"The goal is to be touring" meant with a bike. So part of the challenge is to come up with a touring setup....
Buh bye.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:41 AM
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Originally Posted by lightspree
I see.

"The goal is to be touring" meant with a bike. So part of the challenge is to come up with a touring setup....
so leave home with nothing but a set of boltcutters.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by lightspree
You tie up all the loose ends of your life and depart on a wide-open, open-ended tour. The challenge is to start from scratch -- no bike, no tent, no money, just walking out the door one morning with nothing.

One rule: No begging, borrowing, mooching, or depending on friends or relatives. And no going back home.

How would you go about it? What would be the first steps? How would you get there?

The goal is to be touring, free, and enjoying life.

I'll see if I can find a Whitman quote that sets the spirit. "I go forth...."
It's a lot easier to do this if you have no choice. It involves being cold, tired, hungry and at times desperate. In my youth I traveled this way and if you don't count hitchhiking and accepting the charity of strangers then I followed your rules. Yes I met some wonderful people and have some nice memories but I've met lots of wonderful people bike touring and the percentage of nice memories is way higher.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:43 AM
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Jules lived because he had faith in life and goodness.

Jules aligned himself with good.

"You, Jules, are free to go touring."

Vincent did not.

"And you, Vincent, will not be free to continue with evil and wrongdoing."

Last edited by lightspree; 11-21-16 at 01:51 PM.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted by jrbz
It's a lot easier to do this if you have no choice. It involves being cold, tired, hungry and at times desperate. In my youth I traveled this way and if you don't count hitchhiking and accepting the charity of strangers then I followed your rules. Yes I met some wonderful people and have some nice memories but I've met lots of wonderful people bike touring and the percentage of nice memories is way higher.
Good one.

The goal of the challenge is to be out on an open-ended tour.

The challenge is getting to that point.

And perhaps also doing it honorably (/in a good way).

Last edited by lightspree; 11-21-16 at 09:30 AM.
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Old 11-21-16, 08:52 AM
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Originally Posted by saddlesores
so leave home with nothing but a set of boltcutters.
I've met people who would take that approach. Part of the challenge is coming up with a better solution.
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Old 11-21-16, 09:08 AM
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And Vincent died ignominiously in the bathroom because he did not take the turn that Jules chose to take.

It's just fiction, and Tarantino is just who he is, but maybe there is a kernel of truth in what he is trying to say.

Whether there is or not, there is still the open road.

Last edited by lightspree; 11-21-16 at 09:22 AM.
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Old 11-21-16, 09:21 AM
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Sail Forth- Steer for the deep waters only. Reckless O soul, exploring.
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Old 11-21-16, 09:23 AM
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And one's conduct on the open road.
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Old 11-21-16, 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by lightspree
You tie up all the loose ends of your life and depart on a wide-open, open-ended tour. The challenge is to start from scratch -- no bike, no tent, no money, just walking out the door one morning with nothing.
Pretty sure you would be arrested for public nudity. Short trip to the county lockup. Then be placed on a sex offender list for the rest of your life.
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Old 11-21-16, 10:25 AM
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I guess I'd make for the big rock candy mountain
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