Jack Kerouac’s generation-defining novel On The Road earned him recognition as the father of the Beat movement. The autobiographical story tells stories of a post-war era of jazz, poetry and promiscuity, as a group of friends take spontaneous road trips across the United States. Now, over 50 years since its first publication, On The Road is hitting the big screen. Stories of travel and self-discovery have been plentiful both in literature and film, usually told from the perspective of a young narrator treading the uneasy steps between teenage years and adulthood. These stories often give us images of epic mountain ranges, tropical horizons, glowing sunsets and aspirational cityscapes.
But what would happen if you told your travelling tales from a less exotic (and perhaps even more perilous) location? Take that coming-of-age story and put it on a dirt track. Better yet, try it on an ice road where the risk of falling into minus temperature waters is higher than the mountain you tried to climb but didn’t because you couldn’t really be bothered in the end. Here are the unlikeliest places for soul-searching. Liz Gilbert-wannabes, take note.
#1. The Road of Death, Bolivia
When a mountain-side thoroughfare is nicknamed “The Road of Death”, you’d think motorists would have the sense to avoid its slightly fatal connotations. Alas, this is not the case. The Road of Death (actually called the North Yungas Road) stretches 43 miles long and connects the city of La Paz to Coroico. It’s estimated that between 200 and 300 people die on the road every year, which is unsurprising since it’s a single carriage roadway that allows for a dual traffic flow… Oh, and buses and trucks frequent the route as well.
How to discover yourself:
Volunteer as a traffic controller. If you’re well coordinated, you could help save lives. Think of the karma. Think of the overwhelming sense of having done something good. Nothing taps into the soul like a bit of selfless giving.
#2. Cape Town to Cairo, Africa
In a bold, imperialistic move of the British Empire to connect north and south Africa, an 8,000 mile road was paved between Cairo and Cape Town, forming part of the Trans-African Highway network. Passing through 11 countries of the African continent, including Egypt, Tanzania, Botswana and Kenya, this is a backpacking dream. Unless, that is, your dream doesn’t include mud washouts on the roads, lonesome roads, confronting bribing border controls, being eaten alive by mosquitoes or breaking down in the middle of rocky, hostile deserts.
How to discover yourself:
If you’re going to attempt it, then bring waterproofs, a budget for bribery, anti-insect spray and an excellent knowledge of car repairs. Then, and only then, do you have a chance of learning just how much of a Bear Grylls you really are.
#3. Guoliang Tunnel Road, China.
Why would anyone doubt the safety of a mountain road that’s been constructed by local villagers and not, say, a civil engineer? So little trust in the world… The famous human-made Guoliang Tunnel is a mere eighth of a mile, but runs through, and along the side of, a section of the Taihang Mountains in eastern China. Before the tunnel, locals had limited access to the Guoliang village via a treacherous footpath. Now, the tunnel resembles a mountain-side that’s been blasted with a giant machine gun (see image below for reference), but at least it gets the job done.
How to discover yourself:
Start up a road-side café. Commuters must be in want of a mid-journey snack, and what better way to do something helpful than to fill that void in their lives (and stomachs)? You would have to keep your prices to a minimum, though. Otherwise you’d run the risk of too generous a profit, and then the whole do-gooder thing is out the window.
#4. Ice roads, Northern Canada
Getting off the beaten track is all good and well, but there are times when it’s preferable to remain on the beaten track. If you are off on holiday to Canada then bear that in mind. Hardly a backpacker’s first stop on a journey of self-discovery, but these ice roads in Canada are a necessary evil in the winter months. Ice roads are created over the surfaces of lakes, rivers or seas to make temporary roads for areas without permanent access. Nifty, except for the fact that they’re built over water. And are dangerous for anyone crossing them. Including trucks. Which use them all the time. Fatal implications aside, one upshot is that the legendary northern lights are visible from these frosty plains and can be seen in the safety of an organised tour.
How to discover yourself:
Don’t. Don’t try, don’t bother – it’s not worth it.
Actually, scrap that. Try this: Write up a manifesto on safe driving, pointing out the ways to avoid death-by-ice and underline the part that’ll read: TAKING THE BOAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE. Besides, if there’s no road to get there, it’s probably not worth going to anyway.
Picture by Phil Grondin under a Creative Commons license.
#5. Passage du Gois, France
When crossing a road – by car, bike or by foot – it’s generally considered as standard that you wouldn’t expect a twice-daily guarantee of being flooded. The Passage du Gois is a 2.5 mile natural causeway that connects the Noirmoutier island to mainland France, and is flooded over when the tide is in. That gives a total of three hours access a day. Fortunately, there is a bridge that also connects travellers to the island and that’s a far less risky option. Still, the causeway is a sight to see. Not to mention a pride of the country, as it was part of the Tour de France route back in 1999. Ah, the glory days.
How to discover yourself:
This might sound a bit far-fetched but, if it was done in 1440 BC, then why not have a crack at it now. Pull off a “Moses” and, next time the tide looks like it’s coming in, stand in the centre of the pathway, hold your hands up and stop the water in its tracks. The only downside to this is that you might need to stand there for a good few hours until the tide goes out again. Such is the price of greatness.
Picture by Ludovic under a Creative Commons license
For more list-based travel articles check out :
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.