Ideas, Limited time, and Making a plan

When I go on a cycle tour I feel that I am opened up to a huge amount of possibilities and have the perceived freedom to go and do whatever I like which is an inspiring way to think.  Perhaps it's the flood of endorphins from riding a bike all day, the numerous daily meetings with people or the new and exciting scenery and things to take in.


Travel triggers lots of ideas. From the initial conception of the idea there is a process required to choose which idea is worth pursuing which can be a difficult process. It's a worthwhile one, though, because we have a limited time on the planet (with present technology and cosmetics) and there is a certain amount of time needed to do projects properly and dedicate time to the ones we really care about.

I remember reading an article on the Al Humphreys website where he remarked upon the timescale observed for big projects to be done properly being 4 years. Going on this time-frame, you can work out how many projects you can do in your life (or at least an estimate). I find this to be quite a good kick up the backside. This is by no means a rule, but it's an interesting observation; a bit like the significance of a tenth of a second.

Once the idea is chosen and a project decided upon, it is important to make a plan.  Any project will fail or at least not reach it's full potential if there is no plan to return to.

This is an exercise in logic; a series of logical operations to accomplish a task a bit like a computer program.

1. Pick the context of your project. For an expedition, perhaps this is choosing to go on a bike expedition rather than a walking expedition.


2. Learn to ride the bike, or learn to ski; learn by doing. Start doing what you need to learn to make the first steps towards getting your project fully underway.


3. Identify the goal of your project. Perhaps for an expedition, it could be 'to have an adventure' or to raise money for charity, or to get fit.


4. Make a clear plan and set mini-goals to work your work towards the big goals. Think through each step. This stage applies less for an open-ended bike tour, but certainly for a other expeditions with limited supplies, weather conditions, time constraints and finances to think about.


5. Train and achieve the mini-goals in your plan which lead up to the big goal.


6. Get out there and do it!