I sometimes feel that I am caught somewhere between two camps.
One side of me is drawn towards hard core physical expeditions, pushing my mind and body as far as they can go. The other part of me is more interested in travel and journeys that broaden the mind and teach me about myself and the world.

January’s two microadventures touched on these two approaches. So I decided to try to list the appeal of both to help shed more light on “why” I do these things, and what the point of it all is.

Walking a lap of the M25

• Curiosity: what would it be like? Is it possible to have an adventure in southern England?
• Discovery: what are the place names that you whizz past on the motorway really like?
• People: who would I meet on the walk? What would it be like to meet people from my own country when I was a stranger on a journey? This is one of the main appeals of foreign travel.
• Amusement: doing things just for the fun of doing them.

Crossing Scotland

• Wilderness: seeking solitude in epic landscapes.
• Challenge: moving swiftly through difficult environments. Being physically fit.
• Misery: overcoming tiredness and pain. The pleasure of finishing.
• Variety: there are so many different ways of having an adventure.

Have I forgotten anything?