8 essentials for the rambling man with Dane Gudauskas

Story by Morgan Williamson

The world’s full of seekers, movers and dark suspicions. There’s a questionable nature in the thing we call home; a place to come back to and grow sick of. A place that breeds wanderlust. Every now and again there’s the need to get out of town, to see something new and upload fresh information. As the days, weeks, months and years continue to feel shorter, travel will combat our ever-growing tolerance to time. We only have so many ticks on the clock and they waste so easily.

Our dear friend Mr Dane Gudang’s a true rambling man. “I try to always be 100 percent on the go,” he says. So we had a little chat about how to turn your ventures into adventures. But we’ll let you hear it straight from the mouth of the man himself.

Dane: Pack as light as possible. You don’t need as much as you think you do. Keep it to the basics. That way you can move around quick and easily. If you’re headed somewhere super cold, pack one big jacket and thermals. Keep it simple. Always bring your passport, even if you’re traveling domestically. You never know when you’re going to want to pop a flight to somewhere else. Also make sure you have a book and some music. No one wants to stare at a wall for a 16 hour flight.

Get comfortable sleeping on bizarre floors and seats. Don’t worry about looking like a hobo when you’re sleeping in uncomfortable places between flights. You also have to forget about germs and how dirty the carpet or whatever you’re sleeping on is. If I’m super tired I just pass out right there on the carpet even though I know it’s dirty as hell. Sometimes you got to be a travel zombie.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your mode of transportation. When I was in Angola, Africa with Kepa Acero we were trying to surf this wave that no flight could take us to. We ended up hopping in this little chicken bus with the natives and drove 17 hours through the country. It was pretty wild, there were live stock and birds up in the overhang. We were all just crammed in and hanging out. We made it in time for the swell. Embrace all modes of transportation. When you make it somewhere in a super classic fashion you’ll always remember it.

Having patience will result in good times. Don’t get your hopes up too high, be realistic. Every time you go to a new place you don’t know the environment. You can never be exactly sure how it’s going to be or how you’re going to get down to the beach. It’s sometimes hard to be in the right spot at the right time. If you miss the swell window, don’t freak out and try to enjoy where you are. Sometimes the spots you think are going to be the best don’t workout. Have a plan B. If things aren’t going right don’t stress, it will all work out if you stay patient.

When it comes to food, just go for it. If you’re somewhere you probably won’t be again in your life you might as well just eat the weirdest stuff you can. If you’re not fully embracing it you’re missing out. If you’ve done it before and have gotten sick, you might want to sit that one out. Like I’m not going to go down to Mexico and drink the tap because I know that’s going to fry my insides. But everybody’s got to learn the hard way. I’ve eaten some really bizarre things over the course of my life. I had camel hump in Morroco. We drank this strange palm wine in Africa. In the Faroe Islands we drank animal blood. If it’s part of the culture and people are doing it it’s cool to immerse yourself in how they live. Food’s a huge part of culture. In my mind if I’m not experiencing it 100 percent then I feel like I’m not doing it right.

With foreign gals a smile goes a long way. Sometimes you can’t understand a word she’s saying, and she can’t understand you. If the feeling’s good you just go with the flow. A lot of those times you can’t speak the same language for a stitch but somehow you just make it work and enjoy yourself. All you can really do is laugh and smile.

Always travel with somebody who has your back. I’ve traveled with my brothers a lot and without them a lot. Sometimes you get into situations where you don’t know where you are, or the situation gets sketchy. It’s always good to know whoever you’re with has got you covered if things go wrong.

Get out of your comfort zone. When you’re on the road you get fatigued but you really got to seize the moment and get out and do things your not comfortable with. When you get home and realise you’re not going to go back to some these places ever again, you’re going to be really thankful that you embraced all of the situations at hand. I look back on the down days trips, and I’m so thankful because you only get one shot at going to some of those places.