Life Anew

Hey everyone...

Well, as you may have noticed, I have not exactly been posting much in the last few months. I had taken a break from my blog and social media. There have been a lot of changes in my life, during which I felt silence was the better part of valor. Now that I have gotten beyond most of that, I am back and ready to begin my new adventures and share some of it with the world.

In the past year, I have traveled over 50,000 miles in my car and in excess of 7,000 miles on my motorcycle. I have visited all but ten of the lower 48 states and moved from my home of twenty years in Massachusetts back to the state of my childhood, Georgia, made brief but important visits with my Mother in Florida and my Grandpa in Ohio. I spent a good deal of time in Alabama, with my girlfriend and partner in life prior to our move to Costa Mesa, California.

My youngest daughter graduates from college in May, my divorce is final, my house has an offer and will hopefully be sold within the month and my family is beginning to find its way in this world!

On my adventure, this year, I spent a great deal of time in California, exploring the beaches, and towns along the coast and in the mountains living in my tent and cheap hotels. I saw the sunset on the a Pacific Ocean for the first time, committed the ashes if my loyal friend and companion Merlin, whom was a 14 year old a Bichon Frise, to the ocean and various other locations along the journey. I watched the sun rise and set over the mountain peaks around Copper Mountain, Colorado. Witnessed the onset of darkness as it enveloped the Redwoods and myself in northern California. Fell asleep to the roar of the surf on dark sand beaches, and awakened to the gentle crashing of the waves on those same shores. Felt the sharp bite of cold as it stole into my tent though the night, both in the mountains of Colorado and in the Sierra Nevadas of California. Awoken to find frost on the inside if the tent just inches from my face. Sat in the snow and stared with wonder at the hot sulfur springs erupting from the ground at Lassen National Volcanic Park in June. Fallen asleep with my sliding door open to the ocean and the I-5 in San Clemente as the sound of the rushing traffic and crashing surf washed over my soul. Lay in an attic bed, mere inches from the roof, listening to the winds of a tornado hurdle cars through the air and tear roofs from houses in the heart of Mobile, Alabama, while waiting and wondering if it would find me as it tore through the neighborhood only two blocks away. Spent sleepless nights with my hand in the bed of my partially paralyzed companion to both comfort him with my presence and monitor his movements in the night. Giving countless late night baths to clean him up and then hours holding and warming him and exercising his legs. I spent innumerable hours alone: writing, thinking, reading, riding, driving, contemplating life and capturing my view of the world through word and photography. There have been late nights in the hospital, visits to animal clinics and animal acupuncturists. Break downs of the body, both emotional and physical, as well as on trailers and moving trucks. Searches for welders and machine shops, long waits for road side assistance in the middle of nowhere and the pleasant surprise of an unexpected sunset in the dessert! I've been snowed on in the dessert, and snowed in in Texas. On the bike, I have frozen in Alabama and Florida and roasted in Missouri while sitting in traffic overheating. Learned to lane share in California to navigate and weave through the bumper-to-bumper traffic and avoid overheating. I have driven or ridden for up to 1,400 miles without stopping and hit the wall at 140 miles and stopped for the night. At a small two man shop on the side of the road i learned how to reset the maintenance light on my Prius and I have had my oil changed at big chain garages, where I taught them how to reset the maintenance light. There have been days, that I haven't talked to another living soul and others where everyone I encountered seemed to have the need to talk, either to share their story or ask after mine. I've seen men go out of their way to help a stranded motorist in need and a cop drive by without a look. Strangers have fed me in campgrounds in return for conversation and a telling of my story; another tried to rob me in the parking lot of a gas station; others scoffed at me for living the dream when I answered their inevitable question, "Where are you heading?" and I replied, "I don't know yet! Whichever way the wind takes me today!"

So, here is where I find myself! My sun and the wind have guided me here, to Costa Mesa, California...for the first time in a long while I feel at home. I can breathe, I can sleep, I can write again.

Today, I am starting my life anew! I am no longer bound by the conventions of how things should be, but by how I decide things will be!

Get out there...find your life anew!

Ride Hard...Live Well...it only takes one lifetime to get it right!

~Chris Wood

Blog Hop: Welcome to The Next Big Thing

Thank you, Colleen Sayre for inviting me to The Next Big Thing Blog Hop.  I'm excited to have the opportunity to share and participate.

Currently, I am an unemployed Senior QA Software Engineer.  I've worked for large multi-billion dollar corporations, small credit collection agencies, prestigious colleges and Video On Demand software companies.  I thrived in the software industry and enjoyed the challenge of building products out of dreams, poking holes in plans, finding ways to break programs before the customers got a chance and helping find better ways to design our mouse traps.  In retrospect, I have found that the vast amount of work that I did revolved around the written word.

The majority of my career has been spent documenting how we would build the products other people dream about, reading or writing functional and design specifications, and looking for the holes in the plans laid out before me, devising and documenting ways to validate or break the program and then using that documentation to help define fixes for the product.  I've worked with documentation team to prepare user documents that help customers install, deploy, or upgrade as well as train their employees how to use applications.

Along the way, I realized that the part of my job I liked the best was finding the most illustrative manner in which to convey my message.  With that in mind, I decided that while I am out of work, this is the perfect time for me to exercise my passion and talent to write something that others will enjoy, something a little less technical.  I want to write fiction.

I started off this month with every intention of diligently participating in the NaNoWriMo challenge to write 50,000 words in the month of November and basically write my first novel.  Unlike, many of the other participants, I went into the month without any sense of what, who or where my novel would take place.  I hadn't made story idea notes; I didn't have a framework developed; I didn't know my characters names!  Hell, I didn't even have any ideas floating around in my head.  I'd been working over the summer on a book of travel and roadside adventure stories from my six-week journey around the U.S. either in my car Tug or on my motorcycle Dragon.  The Adventures of Dragon Wrider is still in the works and I hope to have it pulled together soon.  So when the first day rolled in and out and I didn't really have a clue, I wasn't surprised.  Early one morning several days later, I awoke to a familiar voice telling me his part of a story and so it began.

I have been asked to answer a few questions about the newest book I am working on and I'll do my best to answer them in a way that my characters would approve.

What is the working title of your book?

The working title is The Original Crusade.  Although I think that Nadan, my favorite character--and the one who keeps waking me up at night to remind me I'm not done--prefers the Genesis of Camelot. Seeing how pushy he can be, I figure Nadan will win.  But for now, I'm resigned to the say the official working title is The Original Crusade (The Genesis of Camelot).

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Twenty plus years ago, I began writing a story around a central character named Nadan.  He related to me his adventures, and his companions adventures, through several incarnations and reincarnations.  Their stories centered around their lives in Camelot in the years after the disappearance of Merlin.  I still have the old remnants of this book floating around my office and hope to one day renew it.  However, this time Nadan has returned to introduce me to an entirely new battalion of characters whose stories span a much greater time frame.  It is a tale that tells of the beginning of the ideas of Camelot not just of Camelot.

What genre does your book fall under?

I am not sure that the vast number of genre that exist in the book community do much to help either authors, or readers find the books they are interested in reading.  Instead, I believe they provide critics and publishers a means of stereotyping authors and works into categories, making it easier for them to isolate them for marketing purposes and justify writing off entire groups of writers.  That said, I believe that this work would fall into the Literary Fiction or Fantasy genre.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Jesus, Merlin, Arthur, Nadan and Dax:  Ewan McGregor
Mary, Guinevere, Gabriela, Angela:  Kelly MacDonald or Kiera Knightly
Ilisiador (Druid):  Ian McKellen
Mary's Oldest Brother:  Eoin Macken
Mary's Middle Brother:  Henry Ian Cusick
Mary's Youngest Brother:  James McAvoy
Mary Mother, Evelake and Barbara:  Cate Blanchett or Charlize Theron
Lamerok:  Kit Harrington
Young Merlin:  Isaac Hempstead Wright
Narrator:  Colin Morgan

What is a one sentence synopsis of your book?

This is an adventure through history that tells how a few several souls continue to reconnect, sometimes across continents, to make a difference and shape the world we all live in, by believing in themselves, one another, love and the goodness buried in the human condition.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

The current intent is to self-publish although, that doesn't mean that if approached I would not consider working with an agency.

How long did it take to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Well...I'll have to answer that question definitively once I have completed the first draft.  However, I will say that I am around three weeks calendar time into the writing and feel that I am about halfway finished, although my characters control when and where I go and therefore, how long I will have to write to tell their story.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

That's a truly interesting questions.  I have never read anything quite like what I am writing.  I am sure there are some out there however, this idea of a soul coming back over and over again has roots in religion, with reincarnation being the theme tying them together.  As a child (I still am at heart), like may boys my age, I was intrigued by the stories of Arthur, Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table.  It is in this vein, of morals, ethics and pursuit of happiness that I write.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Interestingly, complicated questions to answer.  Why truly does anyone do anything, but to be happy?  I would have to say that for the 'Who' portion of the question, it is first and foremost my mom and author Colleen Sayre.  As far back as I can remember, my mom told me stories about far off lands and the chivalry of the knights of the round table.  In her spare time, she wrote, always working on some story or song or book, and she would tell the stories to me and share in her passion for storytelling.  As I got older and became interested in writing, she encouraged me and acted as my editor on much that I wrote, including that first adventure of Nadan many years ago.  However, neither of us ever pursued our passion as intently as we desired.  However, in Dec 2011, Colleen Sayre published the first of four books and got me thinking, "If she can do it, maybe I could too."  That lead to the 'What.'  A few months ago, my mom enlisted my help to publish her fourth book, A Solitary Life.  I agreed and set to work doing minor editing and then cover design, artwork and photography for the book.  Being involved in such a great work and having the opportunity to help bring it to life pushed me to begin in earnest to pursue my passion for writing as a possible career alternative.  Finally, Mom challenged me to participate in this year's NaNoWriMo.

What else about your book might pique the readers interest?

I think that the mingling of the stories of the genesis of Camelot, the life and death journey of joined souls, the connection with Jesus and Mary Magdalene and finally the struggles of a modern day love story, of a family, and of a man raising his son to be the man he wished he could have been all those centuries ago.  The message being how to search for a moral and ethical balance to life while pursuing personal happiness and honor.

Back to the Road...

Like Odysseus, I am to begin my journey again, tomorrow. I begin with a new stillness in my soul and the understanding things are as they should be...and tomorrow will be what I make it. Nothing more, nothing less. A two century old story reawakens to find that it has the cast needed to move the plot forward without a force of will but by rise and fall of the sun and moon and the seasons ushered in by the wind. I invite the wind into the folds of my jacket to wrap itself around me, as I ride out into the world once again.

Always Safe, Never Careful!

Waking

A couple of days ago I posted a new piece named "Waking" on the Writing page of my website. http://dragonwrideradventures.com

The sun and the wind

It's been weeks since last I saw a sunset, felt the warmth of its rays on my skin, the last remnants of the golden red rays of light dancing off the water, disappearing into the depth of my eyes. But the wind...the wind never disappears, it never leaves, it's there waiting when I emerge from the dark hovel which I am holed up in...laboring to find the ideas and glimmering thoughts that light up my world. The wind swirls in place waiting, waiting, and it knows what I want, senses what I need. The hot rays of the afternoon sun crash down on my body, basting my skin in its warmth. As my body absorbs every last ray it can stand, the wind ramps up its speed and rushes over the shallow inlet waters, over the shell covered beaches, over gleaming, warm salt water. The afternoon sand glows orange as the wind, ever present, wraps itself around my soul and cools my skin...all in an effort to remind me...even when I can't feel them in the last rays of the sunset, the wind ushers those feelings to me from the west.

~Topher

You adventure your way and I'll adventure mine

The last couple of days have been hard. I was torn between continuing my adventure traveling around the country and returning to "the real world." Therefore, instead of taking the time to explore the Mojave and and Moab, I have been driving east. My little '09 Prius reminds me of "The Little Engine that Could." Tug, as I have named her, is pulling a trailer loaded with Dragon, my R1200GS. She just keeps on humming along, slow at times, but never letting us down. At times I think I can actually hear her: "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." So far, Tug has taken us from Covington, Georgia, across southern Texas to San Clemente, California, and then north up the coast on the Pacific Coast Highway, as far as Manchester and east to Sacramento and Yosemite, south into the Mojave and east again through Utah to Grand Junction, Colorado. In all, this has been a 5,500 plus mile journey for us and Tug just keeps pulling us along.

Meanwhile, Dragon has only clocked a little over 1,300 miles exploring Big Thicket National Preserve and the Sam Houston National Forest in Texas, Yosemite National Park, the Pacific Coast Highway from its beginning in San Clemente up to the Redwood National Park just south of Crescent City, CA. If a year ago, you had told me that I would have seen this much of the country on the trip of a lifetime and that I would spend more time in Tug than on Dragon, I would have thought that idea preposterous. Now, looking back, I think that doing the entire journey this way has been brilliant. I would not trade this for the world. I wish that I had ridden more of the journey and will make a point of doing that going forward, but the addition of Tug and her trailer was born of necessity.

When I first hatched this plan in early April of 2012, I was discussing it and dreaming about making this trip with my loving companion Merlin, whom you may have read about in previous stories. But doing a 10,0000 mile adventure on a motorcycle, even one as comfortable and capable as Dragon, simply was not feasible for little Merlin's frail 14 year old body. So enter Tug and a new trailer as a means of traveling from place to place in comfort, using Dragon as our day tripper to see the sites. Merlin and I planned the entire trip, prepared and accounted for all the know issues of traveling together. We did not see an alternative, but before the official trip began, Merlin passed away. There I was ready to go, all contingencies accounted, ready for to drive Tug and Dragon across this beautiful country. Had I not originally planned on taking Merlin, this trip--like so many others before it--would have been just Dragon and me traveling with the bare essentials. Instead, we have living quarters, air conditioning in the scorching heat of the desert, room for a week's worth of clothing, food and cooking supplies, my guitar, various and sundry electronics, both helmet for different needs (on/off road), shoes, flip flops, and boots, extra jackets and fishing gear, all conveniences that I would have done without and been happy to, but that I have been glad to have at times. Thanks to Merlin, instead of having a vehicle that has to be both transport (rushing to get to the next place to get setup and camped early and for leisure to absorb the countryside from inside my helmet, and miss out on many of the little things along the way), I have been able to take my time getting from place to place. Driving at night is safer. Stopping on the road side on a whim, grabbing my camera from the seat beside me, and hiking into the bush to take a picture is much more comfortable and convenient and less time consuming. I'm not roasting in my suit or taking 15 minutes to remove it. Traveling on Dragon means putting on my motorcycle gear (and taking it off) and it is more likely that my breaks include a quick stop for moment to observe scenic vistas along the roadway and then riding away with nothing more than a memory for myself and no photo to share with the world.

I hope in the future I will remember what a blessing traveling with Tug has been and choose to do it this way again. People give me the most curious looks and other bikers look at me askew for towing my adventure bike from place to place. I keep reminding myself, I have an adventure bike, but this is my adventure. You adventure your way and I'll adventure mine! So, to you I say, "Let your adventure take shape your way, whether it is on two wheels, three wheels, four wheels, or in my my case, eight wheels. Or with no wheels at all! Stay true to your adventure because you're the one out there, not anyone else!

Ride to the Redwoods and Back

Yesterday, I had the best ride of the trip which entailed 11 hours in the saddle and more switchbacks than I could count on the Pacific Coast Highway and CA-101. The purpose of the ride was two-fold: see the Redwoods and complete the spreading of Merlin's ashes.

The rush of adrenaline and endorphins from riding was like nothing else. The pull of the earth as I round each corner, feeling the suspension of my spine and that of the bike enforces the feeling of oneness with the machine as it simply becomes an extension of you or perhaps the other way round. The twinge in my legs and back as the rear tire finds loose gravel on the ground and slides ever so slightly in the turn. The vibration in my hands as the smooth caress of the fresh glistening asphalt abruptly changes to the course, dull, gravelly pavement of old surface. I can feel the wheels of time roll back as the trees and plants around me begin to become larger and more majestic. The road gyrates in all direction, distracting me from the changes that are now rapidly occurring. Signs are posted to beware of Elk crossing. While looking at the huge display of moose statues in the campground, I suddenly notice one of them move, and look back from across the 50 yards of grass to say "Moose? Where? AlI I see are Elk!"

On a quiet road in the midst of Redwood giants, I dismount from Dragon and note as I venture onto a small path that even the smallest vegetation in these woods is almost my height. I look up to see nothing but tree...large enough around to almost encompass my peripheral vision; this tree has burrows in the base large enough for me to easily fit into, yet when I look up, straight up the tree, I cannot see the top, and I can't see sky either. There is a gentle breeze in the forest, but not enough of a breeze to rustle the vegetation as it just did 50 feet away. Seconds later, another sound--only closer and this time from the left. Turning, I realize that I have ventured several hundred feet into the forest, although it didn't seem that far when walking tree to tree and taking pictures. It is now an overwhelming distance between me and the safety of Dragon. Slowly, but with purpose, I make my way across the distance and when, once again, I feel the familiar solidity of paved ground under my riding boots, I turn quickly to see what it was that was following me. There was no movement. At this point, even the wind has ceased. Climbing back on Dragon, we (Merlin and I) set out further north in search of where the Redwood Nat'l Park meets the ocean. I am awestruck at the site! The Redwoods are on one side of me and the Pacific Ocean is on the other. Looking out into the ocean, I walk down the course dark sand that makes up the beaches and shoreline of northern California. The tide is on its way in along with the fog, as it creeps its way onto shore and steals away into the redwoods. Here, I said my last farewell to Merlin, reminding him that we finally made it together. Here is where the last of his ashes will lay, but I am not parting with his loving spirit and wisdom as they will live with me forever in my heart.

The return trip was an exercise in melding stamina, determination, and pure joy into one passionate ride through the same curves that so challenged and inspired my riding some six hours before. Now, however, it is dark, the sweet yet pungent smell of decaying redwood and leaves fills every breath with a reminder that I am in the presence of the most majestic living plants I have ever experienced. They stand tall against the cold and wind, having witnessed the entry of man if not life into their midst. Throughout the course of history, the forest has thrived in spite of the changes it has seen. On the edges of the road where the asphalt impinges on the daily life of the forest, eyes glow in the brilliance of the headlight, many looking back to take heed of the possible danger, others looking askance at the oncoming object, stunned and motionless until the final seconds of my approach when the animal makes a sudden decision to dart one direction or the other while another simply freezes, looking on in horror. On this night, we are not in harms way--me or the animals in the forest.

On the final stretch, I feel the cold dampness of the pacific seeping into my suit. Following the coast in these hills requires many turns and switchbacks and the ocean and wind seem to know it, together finding me at my most vulnerable, leaning hard into a right switch while climbing hard. Just as I accelerate to complete the maneuver, a cold blast of wind races down the road carrying the salty mist of the sea and blurring my vision once again. On the straightaways, the wind hit the cliffs and wraps around the top pulling me closer to the edge. In the distance is a faint light. That's it. The end of today's journey. Ahhh, what a brilliant day! I wonder what tomorrow...

~Topher