What Makes You Feel At Home

Benjamin Levin is the Content Creator on the 2026 South American Epic.

When traveling like we do, something funny happens to your perception of time. I cannot really explain it and you will only know what I am talking about if you have travelled like we do on these TDA tours. You are present nearly every moment of every day. The world that you see is novel, it isn’t a typical daily life that’s full of repetition and normality. Because of the novelty of the world you tend to notice things, you see the different ways that houses are made. You see that in countries with a higher GDP there tend to be more fences. You see that houses that are on the beach look similar all across the world…

Gary riding down Chile’s Pacific Coast

It has been 65 days since we last saw the ocean here in South America. As Will (the Tour Leader on this edition of the South American Epic) and I crested a small rise near La Pesca, Chile, we saw the break of the waves and felt the sea mist through the windows of the car. Will and I both come from places on the Pacific Ocean: Sydney and San Francisco. We have spent so much time in the waves, we both grew up with the chill air telling us that we were home.

As we drove towards the ocean and then made our way through coastal towns Will commented on the buildings, “This looks like such a fishing village.” When he said that, I realized that these towns had the same feel as ones that we have in some towns in California and others that I have seen in Japan, in Peru, and in many other places all over the world that I have been to with TDA.

That feeling of familiarity in a new place is a feeling that I really treasure on these trips. While being in new places and being super conscious and present every day is lovely, after months on the road it’s amazing to feel a sense of the familiar. Seeing the ocean and hearing seagulls call makes me feel at home on the road.

Will and Richard enjoying lunch on the coast

Here are some other things that make us feel at home on the road on the South American Epic:

“As soon as I see the shape of the trees (Eucalyptus) I know what they are and I feel like home,” Maddie said when we chatted about it. “I work out in nature a lot back in Australia and see the trees nearly every day, so when I see them here it brings me back.”

She was not the only rider that mentioned the environment as something that reminded them of home. Today, as we approached the Pacific, we entered a more forested ecosystem before emerging onto the coast, Joanna said this reminded her of her home in Denmark.

Karen and Andrew both said music. “I listen to music everyday as I ride and on the rest of the days I am always downloading music,” said Karen.

“My wife,” said Luca. “Even though I am far away from home I speak to my wife every morning. That brings me home.”

Jess and Ine leading Halloween games at the beach

Today, in particular, as we reached the coast, a lot of people felt at home, not just myself. It was a peaceful evening on the beach at camp, at least until Ine and Jessica, Assistant Tour Leader and Medic respectively, had a trivia and games night to celebrate Halloween. In no time at all, we all got riled up and ready to push onwards down into Patagonia.

On the road again…

RELATED
TOUR

South American Epic

This challenging expedition offers you the best opportunity to explore the vastness and diversity of South America by bike. In keeping with the TDA...