Jupiter's Travels Revisited

[Hudson]

The following is quite possibly true, but then again, it may be entirely fictional. In any event, this is been sitting in my head for almost sixteen years and I figured it was time to finally write the story. The Forum seemed like just as good a place as any, as this is a motorcycle adventure. The following is © 2014 by Hudson.

The book inspiring this thread, Jupiter's Travels, is real. So is the author, Ted Simon. If you haven't read this book, you owe it to yourself to read it. Quite possibly one of the best ride reports ever written. In the 1970's, Simon hopped aboard his Triumph, after somehow convincing his news editor to support a ride around the world on a motorcycle. Simon estimated the trip to take six months. Four years later, the trip was finally over, and Simon was forever changed. His book has sold well over five hundred thousand copies.

Part I: The Letter

He stared again at the name on the envelope, but not because he had misread it. The sender’s name was immediately recognizable, even though twenty years had passed since John had first written the letter that triggered this reply, late as it now was.

He opened it quickly.

As he read the contents, his mind drifted seemingly back to his then twenty year-old self.

Fresh out of high school, anxious, but not yet ready to join the ranks of his classmates now toiling away in their study halls. A few months earlier he had eagerly read Jupiter Travels, and just as it inspired thousands of others, the book now filled John with the longing for his own adventure. Plans were soon in the making: he’d start in Europe as the author had, and follow a loose route that mimicked the writer’s original route, with a few twists of his own.

He’d obsessed about the trip for months now, about the people he’d meet and the places he would encounter. It was almost too much, the anticipation. He’d poured his heart out to the author in a long letter, confiding his fears and ambitions. He ended the letter by eagerly asking for a critique of his route and any pearls of wisdom.

The reply had never come. Until now.

Dear John:

I’ve carried your letter around for what must be twenty years now. By twist of fate, I will soon find myself in Seattle in two weeks time to discuss my book, Jupiter’s Travels, in front of a group of budding adventure bike enthusiasts. Like you once did, they aim to travel the world in search of…something meaningful.

Will you join me for dinner? I still owe you the courtesy of a reply, late as it may be.

Sincerely,

Ted Simon

Jupiter's Travels

John’s mind snapped back to the present.

Continued soon….

 

[Panman]

Dam it Dave, you set a hook then stop!

 

[Old Michael]

Dave, tell him thanks, but you'll pass. You've moved on. You're now pouring your heart into fashion photography. One passion at a time.

(This had better be good. It's a high bar here at the Forum. You're up against "Cleaning Under the Gas Cap", and "What's Your Favorite Sitcom?".)

 

[Lauren_TK]

(This had better be good. It's a high bar here at the Forum. You're up against "Cleaning Under the Gas Cap", and "What's Your Favorite Sitcom?".)

And of course the three-thread "List Saga."

 

[bwv]

Ok ..so.. If "Hudson" is Dave... then who is John?

And... if Ted waited 20 years to get back to John, and You (Dave right?) waited 16 years to tell us... How many years did John keep quiet about this?..and.. did John tell you directly Dave, ....or was there another person(who maybe also waited some years) telling John's story about Ted to you (Dave right?)?

And.. we have already waited at least 36 years... so why keep us hangin' now?

 

[Fred W]

In

 

[BikerGeek99]

Interesting timing... I'm reading that book right now!

 

[Hudson]

Part II. The Offer

Hero worship is a funny thing. You imagine your hero to be imbued with all of these “hero” attributes, which in reality are conjured up solely by you. Reading Jupiter’s Travels led John to imagine Ted Simon as a bold, brave adventurer, fearless yet compassionate, with a sophistication and gravitas only a world travel could generate. A sort of Teddy Roosevelt figure astride his motorcycle, with bits of Lawrence of Arabia mixed in, swapping out only the Brough Superior for a Triumph.

The man he encountered two weeks later, at the crowded small BMW dealer bordering a Seattle lake, was not Teddy Roosevelt, or Lawrence of Arabia for that matter. Twenty years had stooped his frame slightly, and he spoke, not with a booming command, but with a soft, gentle tone. John arrived just as Simon’s presentation was starting, and sat alongside the other attendees while Ted Simon clicked through his slide wheel of images depicting his epic trip.

Simon paused at every slide, as if each one was more special than the previous image, and over the course of the next ninety minutes, used the slides to provide the narrative for recounting his trip around the world. The gathered riders were spellbound.

When it was over, there was a perceptible air of reverence hanging in the room for Simon. He had traveled the world! On a mid-70’s Triumph, no less. His trip was absent the modern comforts of adventure travel. No Touratech panniers, no fuel-cell powered cook stoves, no high tech fabrics to wick away moisture while simultaneously preserving heat. No GPS to route him around washed out roads or closed borders. Certainly no cell phones or satellite trackers to call in the cavalry should said “adventure bike” break down. No, Ted was the real deal, and while he may not have cut the figure, his gentle “matter-of-fact” narration lent him even more credibility with this crowd.

It took another hour for the crowd to dissipate and finish with its earnest questions to Ted about which gear, which routes, which countries to avoid or seek out. He answered them all simply and directly, with a sense of humor (rather than frustration) at the somewhat privileged attitude expressed by riders who had all the inspiration for, but none of the experience of, actually embarking on a true world trip.

John patiently lingered until Ted was ready, and the two slipped out into the damp Seattle night to a nearby Ethopian café, which Ted had selected for their dinner. Ted expertly assumed the chores of ordering their meals, as the menu was somewhat foreign to John, who had a broad palate but, like many Seattlelites, had little exposure to African cuisine. When the meal was decided, they faced each other, directly and alone for the first time.

 

[Hudson]

Ted broke the ice by asking the first question. “So did you take your trip, John?"

John recounted his trip to Simon over the next hour. How he’d made it to Europe, bought a cheap Triumph, and wormed his way down to Italy over two months. How he’d stopped just near Palermo, just before the crossing into Tunisia, and felt pangs of anxiety. How he’d then abandoned the trip in Palermo, and back-tracked to Paris, taking up for a month with a gal he met, then later, talking to his friends back home, feeling foolish that they were moving on while he was biding time traveling around Europe. John recounted how he'd then sold the Triumph, caught a flight home, and six months after he first began the trip, arrived home and set about the task of college admissions.

Ted said little during this recounting, and John sensed his disappointment.

“So, are you happy where you landed? Are you happy in your life now” Ted asked simply.

John nodded affirmatively. He talked next about getting his college degree, about his time as an electrician, then a plumber, then falling into software development, and finally, law school. He played up his rise through various law firms to his present role, a year or so away from making partner. He admitted to Ted that while he kept a motorcycle, he hadn’t ventured beyond an overnight trip, and hadn’t actually ridden in nearly a year. John had expected Ted to be impressed by his progress from high school graduate to a now accomplished attorney, but as he wrapped up his rise through the ranks, John felt oddly embarrassed.

The meal was long finished and dessert and coffee consumed. Ted was careful about what he said next.

“You’re wondering why I carried your letter for twenty years, but didn’t write back.

John nodded.

It’s simple, really. I received many letters after Jupiter’s Travels was published. At first, I answered each one, but in short order it became overwhelming. You’d be surprised at how many people were inspired by this book, and they all had so many questions. At some point, I had to quit responding to every letter.”

He paused, taking a sip of water. “Your letter was different than most. You had some deeper questions, some purpose you were seeking. It wasn’t easily answered by mail, and it didn't feel right to simply discard it.”

He was trying to read John’s reaction, but John said nothing, so Ted continued.

 

[Hudson]

“Well, there was another truth. I didn’t feel it was right for me to try and tell you about how to fulfill your purpose for the trip. I barely had figured it out for myself, and I wasn’t so conceited that I felt my own experience was a proxy for yours, or anyone’s for that matter.”

“I really meant to reach out earlier, and figured I would have the chance. It just didn’t work out till now that I was in Seattle and I didn’t have your phone number, but I still needed to meet with you. It’s not a great excuse, but it’s the honest answer to your question.”

Ted waited for John to react, but John was at a loss to respond. His answer was honest. Just not fulfilling. Ted knew it was time.

“It’s funny, you know. The things that stop you from acting on your dreams. It really comes down to fear. When you’re in your twenties, you are afraid you’ll be left behind. When you’re forty and begun to really make it, you’re afraid of losing what you’ve got. Come sixty, and you’re now afraid you’ll run out of time. Maybe by eighty, you’re just afraid no one will remember."

Ted now stared intently at John.

“So here’s the thing, John. I never fully completed my journey. I’m nearing seventy, and I’ve decided if I’ve got any piss and vinegar left in my body, I’ve got to do this again. Once more around, to see if things have really changed. To see if people the world round are still as good and proper to each other like I discovered the first time around.”

His next question changed everything.

“So…do you want to come along?”

 

[LKLD]

Ok, I take it this is non-fiction. Also, clarification on who is John would help with this. The writing is wonderful...thank you.

 

[Hudson]

Let's say for argument that its both fiction and fact.

And, while there is most certainly a "John", the reality is that we are all "John".

 

[LKLD]

Oh, it's going to be deep. Ok, I'm in.

 

[John d]

“So…do you want to come along?”

Wow! Ride with Ted - that would be cool.

I read Jupiter's travels and Dreaming of Jupiter quite awhile ago, living life vicariously. If only............

 

[RadioHowie]

Dammit...I'm following this thread, but where are the "hawt chix"????

Ain't there supposed to be "hawt chix"????

 

[Panman]

Dammit...I'm following this thread, but where are the "hawt chix"????
Ain't there supposed to be "hawt chix"????

Only in Florida, this time of year up here they are all covered up Howie.

 

[Lauren_TK]

I am enjoying the story, but I'm having issues with the suspension of disbelief, as Ted Simon did perform a second circumnavigation in 2001 and wrote about it (excellently of course), in Dreaming of Jupiter (published 2007).

 

[bwv]

(Maybe "John" went with him?)

Remember... he waited 16 years to tell this.... so 2014 minus 16 equals 1998... 3 years before 2001

Hold up a second.. i gotta go make popcorn....

EDIT: Ok.. go ahead..I'm back...

 

[Hudson]

Cherished Reader:

In scriptwriting 101, the bourgeoning writer learns to introduce a key conflict within 15 minutes of the screenplay. Too early and the audience may decide to leave the story, too late, and they can’t follow it.

No doubt many readers have long abandoned this thread by now, distracted by more compelling threads like “If you could reinvent the FJR, what would you change?” and “2013: Replacing the Oil Filter”, and never reaching the first key conflict.

But you, Cherished Reader, are still here, and have successfully reached our first key conflict: will John follow his hero off on a journey around the world? For your patience and endurance, you have my undying gratitude, and have unlocked your first achievement.

Still here? In case you’re worried, no future achievements will ever depict funny cat moments, as I personally despise the things.

In retrospect…that last sentence was also not well timed, as the view count hovers less than 225 and I undoubtedly lost a few cat-friendly cherished readers. Not very strategic either, as cats really don’t figure into this story.

Time to R-E-F-O-C-U-S.

OK. All focused now.

In the screenplay, resolution of the first key conflict happens in about two minutes, not weeks or months like in real life. It typically unfolds like this:

(Cut to montage of John daydreaming during an important meeting with a client. He is distracted by thoughts of whether to take the trip, risking his secure future. He is interrupted by the client]

Client: “John? Didn’t you hear me? What do you think about the Hillerman offer?

John: “The what? Offer? Sorry…I was distracted.”

(That night, John sleeps restlessly, tossing and turning. He wakes up suddenly in a cold sweat.)