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These 6 words are the beginning of one of the most commonly known proverbs. A journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step. Most people have heard this phrase and can think of a time when we were new at something. Whether it was learning a musical instrument, starting a new career or in some cases a literal journey of 10,000+ miles. Regardless of our individual experience, the first step was the most important part of discovering something new.

I Have always wanted to get out and explore the world. for at least 10 years now I had dreams of taking a motorcycle around the globe and experiencing life in a way few could ever comprehend. However, I always had a reason why it wouldn’t make sense for me go. I was worried about all the things society tells you is important metrics of a successful life. So, I focused on promotions, buying a home and looking to settle down. The dream was always to get out and explore but the first step was never taken.

The Catalyst

A few years ago, some things in my life changed drastically and I made the decision to start travelling for work. It wasn’t quite my dream, but it was something I considered a baby step in that direction. I travelled from city to city working as a contractor in hospitals who were in short supply for a radiology tech (the ones who take X-rays and CTs). I would work for three months at a time them move on the next city, town or dot on a map with a population of less than 500 people. I enjoyed travelling and exploring my country one short term rental apartment after another.

I’m not sure if it was the desire to save more money or that I wanted to actually feel like i was on an adventure. But I eventually sold my home back in Nashville and bought a camper to live out of while I was travelling full time. With that camper I wasn’t bound to any specific place or living situation. I was able to take jobs in even more remote towns and on my days off I could disappear up into the mountains and truly experience the nomad lifestyle. Not yet living on two wheels but again, another baby step in that direction

Over the Next 5 years, my truck was my home. Getting me reliably around the country with little fuss or complaint. I crossed mountain passes snow storms and tornados on my way to my next destination. It helped me downsize my life from a 2-bedroom home to only the things that could fit in a mobile home with an 8-foot floor plan and a wet bath. This was where the slow tearing away of society’s pressure started to happen. I stopped seeing life as a list of achievements and expectations that others decided were most important and started seeing life as a series of experiences and adventures that YOU see as vital to a life well lived.

The First step

All this to bring us to why I’m here writing my first ever blog on my travel website. I sold the camper a year ago and in that time I started feeling the pull that this is as good a time as ever to actually starting my journey around the globe. I bought my motorcycle that I determined would be the best for the trip. I bought all the gear, accessories, auxiliary fuel tank and even a custom dash panel to house a GPS. I told my company that my time off may be way longer than just a few weeks and we parted ways. i had taken the first steps and there was no turning back. In April of 2026 i quit my job in healthcare sold off all my things(minus the motorcycle and all the gear to go with it) and headed off across the country to say goodbye to my friends and family and head south.

The plan was set and money had already been spent. this trip was happening. I left California and headed back to Tennessee. It was on this trip that I discovered that the motorcycle I had bought was up to the task for around the world trip but not up to the task of keeping me off the pavement of no less than 4 different parking lots. The bike was tall and I’m not necessarily vertically gifted. I had a huge problem and wasn’t sure where to go next from here. All I knew was the first steps had already been taken for my trip and there was no going back.

A step in the right direction

Somewhere in Oklahoma a few miles out from OKC. I knew I had to make a decision. Do I continue this trip around the world on a motorcycle not set up for me? Do I get to Tennessee and invest even more money into making the bike into something closer to what I need? Or do I pull the ripcord, bail out of this and get myself something more appropriate for my needs? Something I can control at low speed better, with a lower center of gravity. A motorcycle built with a traveller in mind not a baja or dakar racer like the Tenere 700.

I made the decision to go back to a bike I had owned before but sold after thinking it wasn’t a bike for me. The bike was a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. I owned the smaller sibling to this bike and owned a 450 for a short time when they first released in the USA. Sight unseen I knew the bike fit me, I knew it had enough power for what I needed and it could handle almost anything you could throw at it (watch the first few seasons of the YouTube channel of Itchy Boots if you have any doubts on the brand’s quality). I called a local Enfield dealer in my hometown that day, put a deposit on their last Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 they had in stock and traded the Yamaha the next day.

I knew that this bike would get me where I wanted to go. It had to because there wasn’t a second option. I had already told my friends family coworkers and a few hundred people on YouTube and Instagram that this trip was happening the first steps had already happened. all I have to do was keep walking in that direction.

In Closing

I write this post today at the end of June as I wait for the final pieces of the puzzle to come together. I have a bit more paperwork I am waiting on for the motorcycle and another visit to the vaccine office before I can safely start the trip through South America. I wanted to share just a peek into what got me to this place in hopes that if you are looking to start your own adventure, you can look at this post as an example of how your journey might not start perfectly or in the timeframe you hoped for. But regardless of your journey or your destination, be sure you remember to take the first step.