Adventure "To Do" List

This list is courtesy of automotive Journalist Mark Richardson who is on a drive across Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Trans-Canada highway (and his 50th birthday).




1. You must drive for a while on a road you’ve never driven on before;


2. You must stop for a coffee or for lunch at a place you’ve never stopped before;


3. You must travel in both darkness and light, so either leave at dawn or arrive after dusk;


4a. You must have an alternative, easier or quicker route that you do not take; or


4b. You must have been able to take transit or fly, but chose not to; and


5. You can drive fast, but you must not hurry.


Those elements alone will turn a drive into a good road trip. They ensure a bit of adventurous exploration while also offering some sort of challenge. You don’t have to go far; you can drive away now and return this evening with a sense of accomplishment. This is one welcome occasion when length doesn’t matter.


But do you want a great road trip? Then you also need as many as possible of these:


6. You must cross water, preferably by ferry;


7. You must face some form of adversity, like a flat tire or heavy rain;


8. You must discover something about yourself, such as finding a relative in a graveyard, or fixing a breakdown on your own;


9. You must be surprised by something;


10. You must share at least some of the journey with somebody else.

You can follow Mark's blog here.