[atmosx]

> I do want to visit Africa, but all of this driving and getting stuck doesn't really appeal to me. I do want to visit places like Ethiopia and South Africa, but I think I'll take a plane.

You're missing the point. It's the adventure, not the trail, not the road you'll chose or the destinations... It's the adversities on the trip, the people you meet, the broken cars, that bus/airplain/boat you didn't catch that will make the difference, a point vey well made by my favorite Cavafy poem[1].

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n3n2Ox4Yfk&list=RD1n3n2Ox4Y...

[dragonwriter]

> You're missing the point.

No, I think the GP is fairly and explicitly disagreeing with what you describe as the point, which is very different than missing it.

Clearly you think what is desirable and worthwhile is...

> the adventure [...] the adversities on the trip, the people you meet, the broken cars

Clearly, GP disagrees that this is desirable and worthwhile, when writing:

> I do want to visit Africa, but all of this driving and getting stuck doesn't really appeal to me.

Not everyone has insufficient adversity in their daily life such that they need to take on additional and avoidable adversity for recreation.

[shitgoose]

Avoiding hardships of road travel is like avoiding hardships of working out while trying to stay healthy. Comparison may be a bit of a stretch, but I for one agree that road adventures are the whole point, rather the physical presence at the destination.