This past Christmas, my daughter and grandson gave me a wonderful book suitable for the coffee table (do people still have those?). Unforgettable Journeys: Slow Down and See the World features over 200 journeys from all over the world.
The book is divided into five sections based on mode of transportation: On Foot, By Road, By Bike, By Rail, and By Water. So far, I’ve traveled through the On Foot section that profiles 72 different hikes. Given my penchant for hiking, I delved eagerly into these pages to get some ideas of places to go. Well, at least to dream about it!
My reaction to some of the hikes was, “Wow! That would be cool if I were thirty years younger and time and money were no issue.”
The Lycian Way in Turkey is 335 miles long, requiring a month to complete it. But along the journey, “the Lycian Way takes in crescent after crescent of brilliant-blue bays, scaling vertiginous cliffs that fall away into glass-clear waters.” Sounds inviting.
As does the Kungsleden Trail, a 264-miler in Sweden. There goes another month. This one might be a bit more enticing in July than February, though, because it “snakes its way above the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland.” But imagine, as the book reports, “landscapes smothered by vast swathes of birch and needle forest swallow you up as you cross Europe’s most sparsely populated region. Along the way, there are barren summits and wild moorland, Sami reindeer herders and nights spent in cabins, illuminated by the brilliant midnight sun or kaleidoscopic aurora borealis.” OK, might be worth some chilly hiking.
On another continent, the Salkantay Trek in Peru appeals to my younger self. It’s only 46 miles long, but the trail is rated “challenging” due to “mountain passes at high altitude [that] pose a considerable hurdle.” But if you can deal with the hurdles, the scenery is amazing, and the trail eventually ends at the ancient Inca fortress, Machu Picchu.
Again, quoting Unforgettable Journeys:
The trek takes you off the beaten path through some of the most breathtaking and diverse landscapes in Peru, past beautiful valleys, snowcapped mountains, lush rain forests, stunning waterfalls, and tiny Quecha villages.
Back in the Northern Hemisphere, two journeys in the United Kingdom appeal to me, partly because I think I could handle the physical challenge (both are rated “moderate” – that translates into “challenging” for an old guy!) and partly because every step of the way would present satisfying landscapes.
The Pennine Way in England (at 268 miles) is about as long as Vermont’s Long Trail, but can be completed in a week to ten days less time, indicating the comparative difficulty between the two.
The overview suggests, “Stretching from the Peak District to the Scottish Lowlands, the Pennine Way might just be the finest long-distance walk in England, with its gently rolling dales, brooding moorland, and historic sights.” I could do that one.
Or the Wales Coast Path—if I had the time. It’s 870 miles long, requiring 6-7 weeks to complete. But could you imagine? The entire path follows the complete coastline of the tiny country.
Along the way, you’ll encounter dolphins, dunes, cormorants, castles, rocky headlands, stunning beaches— “natural wonders that inspired Dylan Thomas, Lewis Carroll and Wales’s patron saint of love, St. Dwynwen.”
I could go on and on with hikes I’d love to do, but surely never will.
Road Trips
And then there are the road trips.
One I found fascinating was the Pan-American Highway. Not that one could take the journey these days, with COVID closures and all, but it stretches 19,000 miles, from northern Alaska to Tierra del Fuego on the southern tip of South America. Only takes 9-months to 2 years to complete.
How about the Silk Road—a 6,500-mile journey from Italy to China that you could supposedly do in 3 weeks? I’m thinking you’d have to be in a hurry to get it done that fast. Especially considering that the road conditions vary from “well-maintained international highways to unmade mountain tracks.” Again, it’d be cool to do such a trip, but not on my bucket list.
Incredible Journeys
Reading through this book and the various journeys, I’ve often found myself reflecting on some of the biblical journeys. None of those treks was engaged in for the sake of pursuing an adventure, yet all were an adventure!
Think about some of them.
Abram left his homeland of Ur in Chaldea to travel to…well, he didn’t know where! God said he’d lead him and let him know when he got there. So off he went on a journey of faith.
And then there’s Abraham’s servant who was charged with the task of finding a wife for his master’s son, Isaac. But the bride needed to come from the land Abraham left years earlier! So off he went on a matchmaking adventure with a caravan of camels to provide a dowry for the bride-to-be.
More than four centuries later, an entire “nation” of Abraham’s descendants, the Hebrews, embarked on a journey in the middle of the night to go to the land that God had promised their patriarchal ancestor. These are people that knew nothing of travel and had lived their entire lives as slaves in Egypt. Little did they realize that their journey of deliverance that should’ve taken a few months ended up turning into a 40-year journey of punishment! But that’s another story.
Speaking of adventure, how about Jonah’s journey! The journeys mentioned thus far were extended hikes—walking trips or perhaps riding on a camel. Jonah became the quintessential traveler, utilizing a variety of modes of transportation. Walking, to be sure. But also travel by ship. And then he pioneered submarine travel! His was a journey of rebellion, chastening, submission, and finally service!
Have you ever noticed the cluster of journeys that center on Jesus at his birth?
Joseph and Mary traveled on a journey of “secular compulsion” from Nazareth to Bethlehem because the government ordered it. But it was also a journey of prophetic fulfillment, for the King of the Jews had to be born in Bethlehem. And you know the rest of that story.
The magi embarked on a journey of “stellar revelation,” prompted by the star’s message to go worship the newborn King of the Jews. Westward ho! they went with their gifts of worship.
Once again, Joseph and Mary had to pack up their few belongings, this time with a newborn, heading to Egypt on a journey prompted by divine communication. The baby’s life was in danger, and they needed to leave now to protect him. Another middle-of-the-night departure.
Incredible, unforgettable journeys all.
And none of them undertaken because the travelers were looking to add a little adventure to their lives, take a vacation from life’s routine, or experience some previously unknown scenery and culture. Yet, by following God’s guidance, each indeed experienced all of that and much more!
I’m thinking that following God can be quite the adventure! Who knows but Him where the journey will take you!
