On the morning I did this sketch, I was supposed to be sitting in a darkened lecture hall, listening to a bunch of scholars talk about art. But I just couldn’t do it. On a day like that, it seemed criminal to pass up such a beautiful place. So I jumped in the car and drove in the opposite direction—in the same time it would have taken me to get to the auditorium, I had reached the top of the world.
Posting this sketch has me remembering that I do this a lot. I have a long history of throwing the itinerary out the window and going off on my own to explore instead. And I gotta say: every single time, without fail, it’s been precisely the right choice to make.
Ghost domes 
Twists and turns 
The Loneliest Road 
What an inspirational picture. As though you were on top of the world. Unless the lecture was as inspiring, I guess you did the right thing. When traveling, I tend to stick with the plan but sometimes get lost and stumble on a gem, or just take a half hour to go exploring, or work in a half day of idleness. Then again, sometimes the plan is a disappointment because the event doesn’t measure up to my expectations.
Thanks for your posting; it was good for reflection.