R.I.P. Alistair Farland, long live adventure!

I’m a 24 year old finding my way in the world. I get a kick out of technology, understanding different points of views and playing devils advocate. I love motorbikes, inappropriate jokes and asking awkward questions. I believe that pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is one of the keys to life. I am not  a good dancer (doesn’t stop me), suave or politically correct (It’s a work in progress).

This trip is forcing me to believe that people are inherently good and each border merely separates families who want better for their children than for themselves. 

I’ve slept in ditches, 5 star accommodation, woken up next to bears, escaped forest fires and survived the traffic in LA. All with a miniscule budget. I generally don’t know where I will be sleeping tonight, or tomorrow night for that matter. But then that’s all part of the fun.

“He’s probably going to die” – most of my friends 

Last week, Alistair Farland, a young motorcycle explorer from Australia, passed away in a crash. Al’s plan was to do a Pan American ride, from Alaska all the way down to South America. He had been on the road for just 2 months, when tragedy struck somewhere near North Carolina. Details are sketchy, and more or less pointless, but it appears he was involved in an accident with another vehicle.

Alistair Farland was one.

Take a look at Alistair’s website called Whilst I Was Out. Beautiful pictures, childish humor, complete honesty and hope is what you’ll find there. Some will say he was stupid, others will say he died doing what he loved, everyone tries to explain the loss in their own way, to make sense out of what appears to be a senseless event originating out of sheer bad luck. Even though the motorcycle explorers community isn’t huge, everyone there is shocked and have shared their condolences.

I saw the news first on Facebook, then saw his website, and then his Instagram feed. Alistair was nothing but a 2 year younger version of me. We think alike, talk alike, share the love for photography, writing and biking, and look slightly similar too! The only difference between Akhil and Alistiar is that Al had the balls to go and do exactly what he really wanted.

It is surprisingly difficult to break the shackles of “conformity”, and go out there and do something that your heart desires, but is considered stupidly insane by the world. Read any book, watch any movie, see any serial, everyone seems to be pushing you towards doing what you love. But as soon as you try to do that in REAL life, you find everyone pulling you away from a life of self-pleasuring nirvana.

I have thought of it, on numerous occasions. What if I just pick up my bike and ride till I can? But what will happen to my family? What about my girlfriend and her family? Will I get a job when I get back? How will I manage the expense of such a trip? What if something goes terribly wrong? What if sponsorship comes with strings attached that ruin the fun of such a trip? WHAT?

It is surprisingly difficult to do the simple things in life, and Alistair went out and did it. I’m sure it wasn’t a cake walk, I’m sure he slayed some dragons in the process, but he did it. He was living the dream, doing what he wanted to, and that’s all that matters! Why did such an uplifting story end in such an idiotic way? Because that’s how it is. After all I’ve seen, including this incident, I have no doubt left in my mind about the fact that there is no God.

I would strongly suggest you go through Alistair’s website, take a step back, look at your own life on the scale of the universe, remember you aren’t here to work from 9 to 6. It’s OK if you can’t be like him, it’s alright if you can’t just leave it all and go live for yourself. Just remember how it feels, and do something for yourself.

I’d leave you with a line from Alistair’s website:

Death is temporary.

Regret is forever.