The Winding Northward Road

by Rambling Writer

Day 72

Met with Flax. He actually seemed a bit more nervous about everything I did. Tried to criticize me for some of my stupider decisions, but stopped when I said I criticized myself for them a lot more than that. Guess he doesn’t think I need THAT much worrying over.

But aside from that, he was just as interested in my trip as Macie and Dixie were, put together. He especially asked a lot of questions about the Crystal Empire; it’s been an idea that’s stuck in his head ever since it came back, he said. Based on the way he looked at me, I think he wanted to have gone with me. Probably; he’s not any more prone to travel than I am, but look at what I just did. Told him about my journal, and he said he’d be interested in it. I think I’ll let him take a look at it sometime next week. Hopefully it won’t be TOO embarassing embarrassing.

When finally got to the part where I got back, he asked me if I enjoyed it. I said yeah, sure, I was in danger a few times, but I needed to get out of Lareindo just once. And, at the very least, there was never a dull moment.

And then he asked me if I’d do it again, to someplace else.

I said, “sure”, but now that I’m back home, I’ve been thinking, and I’m NOT sure. It was enjoyable, yeah, but there were parts I could do without. Having to live off the land, for starters. Wild grass isn’t too bad, but it gets really bland after a while, and when that’s all you’re eating… yeah. Packing food would weigh me down, though, and I’d go slower. And that’s not counting all the other supplies I’d need to pack, like rope. I’d need to have something like a timetable so ponies back here wouldn’t get worried about me, but that would make my trip more rigid and less flexible. And I still don’t like sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag. I can DO it, if I need to, but I really don’t like it.

But at the same time, I’ve seen things out there that I’d never have seen if I’d just stayed here, particularly that valley near Mt. Whinny and Hollow Shades. They’re just sitting out there in Equestria for anyone to find, as long as they’re willing to do a bit of walking. I didn’t know I was going to find them, but I guess that’s one of the joys of exploration: finding something beautiful that you didn’t know was there. It would’ve been a lot different if I’d said to myself “I want to see that valley near Mt. Whinny that everyone’s talking about” and then gone looking for it. I would’ve found it, been impressed by it, and then moved on, as opposed to being awestruck enough by it to stay there a day or two.

And then there are the other, little things I’ve learned. The Crystal Empire uses mortars for avalanche control. Los Ambeles is huge. Shadowberries taste delicious. Pulling a stagecoach is easier than it looks. Haikus can be written surprisingly impulsively (although GOOD haikus take some more time). There’s really nothing out there that rhymes with “Lareindo”. And don’t eat the cacti. I know it’s not much, but it’s something. I actually found myself looking for shadowberries at the grocer’s (no luck). And how many ponies here can say they’ve pulled a stagecoach? A few probably, but not a whole lot. All this and more, I never would’ve encountered if I’d just stayed home, sitting on my rump.

So, will I keep traveling? Maybe a little. Definitely not as far as I just did. And not always on foot, either. If I travel, I’m going to take a train at least past the Macintosh Hills, probably farther. There’s no way I’m taking four or five days just to traipse over the mountains. But after that… I don’t know. Maybe I’ll hike. Maybe I’ll keep taking the train. Maybe I’ll do something else. I don’t know.

But I won’t stay in Lareindo my whole life like I once did. I’ve seen too much out there. I need to see more. I want to Canterlot, Manehattan, Tall Tale Town, Vanhoover, all the rest. I want to see the Great Salt Lick. I want to see the Everfree Castle. I even want to see Griffonstone. I want to get out there. There’s just so much in the world that I never dreamed could exist, from the cities to the hermits and the deserts to the valleys, and now I feel like an idiot for not imagining them sooner. There’s just a grandeur that you can’t really describe. I’ll never move away from Lareindo, I love this town, but there’s a great big world out there that I’ve been missing out on. And I want to see as much of it as I can.

Although now, I feel like I’ve been around enough that I can say…

I’ve been everywhere, mare.

I’ve been everywhere, mare.

Crossed the deserts bare, mare.

I’ve breathed the mountain air, mare.

Of travel I’ve had my share, mare.

I’ve been everywhere, mare.

Comments

[Thought Prism]

Bravo, sir. Bravo.

[jqnexx]

This is pretty cool. I wish more people would take a look at it.

[Peachy Keen]

This was a wonderful story! It was equal parts relaxing and interesting to read. Hayseed was a likable character while still being normal and relatable. The best way I can describe it is a slice of life traveling story. I really really like it! I wish I could offer a more detailed comment for you, but all I can say is this was a very enjoyable read and I hope more people find this and read it too!

[Simmerian]

This story needs more love. I spent today reading through the entire thing and thought it was utterly fantastic. Brilliant descriptions, a very likable main character and a journey I got drawn into right until the end.

Amazing work!

[RTStephens]

Read through this in an evening and was quite enthralled.

I had some expectations going in, and many of those expectations were met, with a few extras tossed in.

I liked how Hayfever gains experience as she goes, learning from her mistakes and coming up with some interesting ways to get around obstacles. I also like how she encounters situations she never would of thought to experience, but embraces them as a learning opportunity. Also, it'll make a good story when she gets back!

If I had one criticism, it was hard to pinpoint what type of personality Hayfever had. Perhaps it was the nature of the journal entries, being more clinical and descriptive. The result was that she came off as kind of bland for the majority of the story.

Still, I got plenty of enjoyment following her adventure, with all the highs and lows that came with it.

Nice job!

[Talon and Thorn]

That was quite fun, as I mentioned half way through Equestria seems a little small to me although I suppose that does fit what we see in the series when almost anywhere seems to be reachable in less than a day by train.

I do wonder if the Editor's note would work better at the end of the story, as it stands it takes a bit of tension out of the story because you know everything turns out alright and I think the news that she never travelled again would be more poignant after her plans to try other things in the last few chapters.

[OJhat]

There are not many MLP Fanfics that I return to again and again and again for an absolutely wonderful story. This is one of those rare few stories that I love going back to and reading over every few weeks.

A truly fantastic job.

[McPoodle]

A very interesting work. Going in, I thought of the tradition of widows in the Middle Ages to take a pilgrimage to Rome, and then go home and turn the experience into a travelogue. This story didn't turn out like that, but nevertheless was quite an interesting read.

[OleGrayMane]

Each chapter left me with a smile one way or another.
A relaxing read that is certainly under-read.

[j-grizz]

Excellent story, thanks.

[Matthewl419]

Have reviewed this story HERE.

[Ice Star]

A cute little adventure. Thank you for sharing it!

[shaithis1]

Long and boring, lots of nothing happened.

[Cragadilian]

This is a nice travel log-style story. Has been done better than a few others I’ve read and I knew what I was getting into from the description. Hayfever’s haikus were short yet sweet things when she wrote them. Aged well for a six-year-old story.
—Cragadilian