You Don’t Need to Quit Your Job and Circumnavigate the Globe to Have an Adventure (Trust Me, I’ve Tried the Budget Version)
Let’s get something straight right away: you don’t need to grow a beard, sell all your worldly possessions, buy a 300kg adventure bike, and ride around the world for 12 months to have a proper motorcycling adventure.
Don’t get me wrong—those long-haul, “Quit my job to find myself” trips are epic. But they’re not the only way to ride adventurously. I’ve got a full-time job, a family, bills to pay, and the same 24 hours in a day as everyone else. And yet, I’ve ridden across the Arctic Circle, blasted through freezing wind stroms, and explored some of the most remote parts of the UK and beyond—all without needing a sabbatical or a divorce lawyer.
Myth: You Need a Year Off to Be an Adventurer
Reality: You Need a Week. Or Less.
Adventure isn’t measured in miles or time off. It’s about mindset. I’ve had more meaningful experiences on a long weekend trip than some people get on a year-long cruise around the planet (and I bet my dinner stops were better, too).
Take my 10-day 4,000 mile blast up to Arctic Finland. Did I do it slowly and luxuriously? Nope. I smashed out big miles each day, camped, hotelled, slept on ferrys, and packed in more raw experience than you’d get in a month of commuting. It was tough, fast, and absolutely unforgettable.
Myth: You Have to Go Far to Find Adventure
Reality: There’s Plenty Just Down the Road
You don’t have to cross continents to feel like you’ve gone somewhere. Some of the best rides I’ve done were within the UK: the North Coast 500 in Scotland, the wilds of Northumberland, the forgotten corners of the Lake District—all within a day or two from home, and each one packed with challenges, scenery, and the occasional surprise sheep ambush.
Just last year, I rode out from my front door, did 800 miles in two days across the Highlands and Isle of Skye, camped under the stars, and was back in time for the school run Monday morning. Was I exhausted? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Every single mile. [ YouTube video here ]
Myth: You Need a £20k Adventure Bike
Reality: You Need a Bike That Starts and a Will to Ride
Look, I love a fancy adventure bike as much as the next rider (and I may have lusted after a few unnecessarily heavy machines in my time), but you don’t need one to have an adventure. You need something reliable, something you’re comfortable on, and a bit of grit. And maybe a heated vest. (See: my last unpaid love letter to Keis.)
Adventure ≠ Escapism
For me, riding isn’t about escaping my life. It’s about enriching it. It’s how I stay grounded while chasing new horizons. Being a dad, having a job, balancing responsibilities—those things don’t stop me from being The Arctic Rider. They make the adventure more meaningful. Every ride is hard-won time, and that makes every mile more precious.
So no, you don’t need to quit your job. You just need to plan a bit, pack smart, and embrace the long way ‘round—even if the ‘round’ is just a few days through your own backyard.
Big rides don’t always need big time. Sometimes all you need is a long weekend, a stubborn sense of curiosity, and a full tank.
Now go plan something. And if you do quit your job to ride around the world—at least invite me along for the first leg.
— The Arctic Rider
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| Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye |