One Week Away From Everything

[BackworldTraveller]

The definition of "Far Away" seems to be psychological and time-based. London (25miles) is "further away" than Huntingdon (60miles) because the first is inconvenient, time-consuming and expensive to get to by comparison with the second.

I recall a national geographic article following a US Army convoy across the USA in the 1930s when they were trying to get funding for interstate highways. It took 3+ months to get from San Francisco to Washington. I also recall an interview conducted in 2000 with a lady who had been born in 1900. When asked what the best invention of the 20th century was, she as quick as a flash said "Tarmac".

Since the invention of the telegraph, most places in the world are close enough for influence/control to be global. Prior to that, 90 days travel was about as far as you could effectively control. Be that provided by a fast horse or a sailing ship. 90 days is 13 jumps and at jump 4 that is just over a sector - so empires covering more than 9-16 sectors are pushing the boundaries of human society. The Spinward Marches are right out on a limb from that perspective.

 

[Timerover51]

I come from a peasant background, my Mother remembered her Grandfather (the original dragoner) farming with mule teams, and taking produce to town by horse cart. The value of money has seen a steep decline though, yes.

That is one reason that I like to go to Shipshewana, Indiana, and get reminded of how things were once done.

 

[Dragoner]

Shipshewana, Indiana

The heart of the Amish country. I took a friend from California there, and she was surprised they were not as nice as she thought they would be. I was like why would you think a bunch of old time people would be nice?

 

[kilemall]

The heart of the Amish country. I took a friend from California there, and she was surprised they were not as nice as she thought they would be. I was like why would you think a bunch of old time people would be nice?

No one likes being cultural tourist fodder unless it’s their job.

 

[whulorigan]

No one likes being cultural tourist fodder unless it’s their job.

As someone who grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Amish are usually polite and friendly, but not outgoing, and prefer to simply live their lives and be left alone (and not be a spectacle for tourists invading their lives and taking photographs of them going about their business as if they were employees at a theme-park).

 

[Drew]

It always surprises me that people really don't know that just about 50 miles from Chicago in almost any direction are cornfields and forests with just an occasional town here and there. Getting lost in a cornfield is not fun. As an adult, I realize I just walk in one direction until I hit a road. But when you're a kid and the corn is towering over you, it's overwhelming. You feel far away from anything.

I live in Northern Nevada. You can take US 95 south to Las Vegas and see absolutely nothing for hours. Even to travel to Fallon and/or Hawthorne are the last outposts here. It's a hard 3-hour drive to Midstate at Tonopah. Almost a last chance to fuel up. It's then another 3 hard hours going south to Las Vegas. Just a few abandoned or nearly abandoned towns. The only thing on this two-lane highway is occasional ranches (hint not cattle). Thank the gods for Sirius radio. Cell phone reception is zero.

Drive east on US 50 and there are only two towns until you arrive in Ely on the other side of the state (an 8-hour drive on a two-lane highway). Nothing but three strand barb wire fences (BLM ground and "abandon" house trailers alongside the road). I drove over 80 mph for an hour between two mountain ranges and zero traffic. I always pack a Get home bag with 3 day's supply and such.

 

[kilemall]

As someone who grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Amish are usually polite and friendly, but not outgoing, and prefer to simply live their lives and be left alone (and not be a spectacle for tourists invading their lives and taking photographs of them going about their business as if they were employees at a theme-park).

Actually that’s got the germ of a Traveller adventure/incident in it.

 

[Grav_Moped]

Actually that’s got the germ of a Traveller adventure/incident in it.

And you could play it either way:
1) It's intentionally archaic for cultural reasons (they like it that way).
2) It's intentionally archaic as a tourist attraction.

Or,
3) It's only superficially archaic because they're hiding something.

 

[kilemall]

And you could play it either way:
1) It's intentionally archaic for cultural reasons (they like it that way).
2) It's intentionally archaic as a tourist attraction.

Or,
3) It's only superficially archaic because they're hiding something.

Well ya but more the Travellers learn not to be rude tourists.

 

[Spinward Flow]

1) It's intentionally archaic for cultural reasons (they like it that way).

Welcome to Kinorb/Regina/Spinward Marches.