The Stages of Adventuring
by Steph Beth Nickel
Have you been on any adventures lately? Are you on an adventure now? How do you feel about adventuring?
My hubby and I are adventuring in the Maritimes. We’re having a wonderful time as we explore all four provinces on our whirlwind tour.
Has it been nothing but unicorns and rainbows? Definitely not.
This would be our first campsite on PEI. Yep, that’s the Atlantic outside our front door.
[Photo Credit: Steph Beth Nickel]
So what are the stages of adventuring?
Decide to Adventure
It’s true that not all “adventures” are those of our choosing, but that’s not typically true of vacations.
Dave and I first decided to travel east after our 2017 vacation in Alberta.
Because we’re tenting 10 of the 17 days, Dave thought it would be cheaper and take less planning.
Such was not the case.
Even when we choose to go on an adventure, we must mentally make provision for the unexpected.
Prepare to Adventure
I booked our accommodations, prepared the shopping lists, and purchased the food and other supplies.
Dave undertook the time-intensive project of booking campsites and plotting our route.
All the while, we were seeking to get extra work done at our day jobs.
By late Sunday afternoon, I was done in. We were scheduled to leave on Thursday at 1:00, and I was uncertain whether the trip was worth all the effort.
There may come a point as we prepare to adventure that we’re ready to call it quits.
Begin the Adventure
By 2:00 on Thursday, we were on the road, only an hour later than we’d hoped.
My hubby, who is doing the driving, did not consider the next eight hours much of an adventure. There was lots of construction and it took that long to get to Gananoque.
But what a delightful B & B.
The hosts were friendly. The suite immense. And the made-to-order breakfast was included.
When we’re finally ready to set off on an adventure, we need to take a deep breath and go for it.
Look for God-Sightings on the Adventure
The luxury of the B & B in Gananoque was evidence of God’s grace. (I had no idea it was so lovely when I booked it.)
When we returned to our campsite after exploring Charlottetown for the day, we discovered the owner of the campgrounds had graciously covered our tent with tarps to keep it dry. Talk about going above and beyond!
And one more thing: the stars!
No one really wants to get up in the night to use the facilities, but I was actually glad I did. I looked up and the stars were incredible.
So, whatever adventure we’re on, may we remember to look up.
Whether we’re on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation or an “adventure” we’d never choose for ourselves, may we keep our eyes open for the Lord and His handiwork.
Tweetables
Keep your eyes open for the Lord and His handiwork. (Click to tweet)
No matter what the adventure, keep looking up. (Click to tweet)
~~~
Steph Beth Nickel
(Photo by Stephen G. Woo Photography)
Stephanie (Steph Beth) Nickel is an award-winning co-author, a freelance editor and writer, a labour doula, and a former personal trainer. She also loves to speak, teach, and take slice-of-life photos. She would love to connect with you on Facebook or Twitter.
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