Was driving home the other day. As I do on long country drives, the thoughts are running free. Little traffic open spaces, nature all around no distractions. Music and radio off reviewing the things I have been doing. Following threads of ideas that are enjoying the opportunity to come up and get some uninterrupted thinking time as I am traveling.

Space travel and the initiative being shown in going there is something that sparks my interest. This is the same as the mission to explore our planet which was engaged in the past by adventurers. Those voyages on sailing ships with their complicated lines of rigging and sails to propel the ships on the journey. No communication, nothing more than a minuscule vessel, a collection of wooden planks, floating on an expanse of ocean. In the voyage to the America’s the Santa María, being Columbus’ largest ship, was only about this size 17.7 m  (58 ft) long on deck, , and Niña and Pinta were smaller, at only 50 to 75 tons burden and perhaps 15 to 18 metres (49 to 59 ft) on deck. If these vessels foundered the result was the same as a space ship being breached in the vacuum of space.

There were some who at the time said, why? That is the response that many people who express an adventurous attitude to exploring what is seen as the norm. Human nature is to be inquisitive, this is the way our forebears found ways to survive. The big brains gave the back up to store knowledge which was learnt and then taught. To find fire take it to a cave and save it for the tribe to benefit from. Eventually a forebear sitting in the cave watching the fire must have pondered, why wood burns? Perhaps they first split open a log to see if perhaps there was a glowing ember of fire within? Eventually one must have spent hours rubbing two sticks together and made fire from the effort.

Today there is the new fire of the computer age. Our much great level of brain power is exploring the boundaries of the digital universe.

When I arrived home the experience of free thinking while travelling had me inspired. Instead of sitting down to watch late night TV or read a book, I switched on the laptop and gave an idea form. Within an hour the app had a layout and contents. The delight in being able to take an idea and give it life is invigorating. That people are taking steps to continue exploring beyond the boundaries of now, is inspiring. “Destination Mars” the app, who wants one?

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