R Michael | Storyteller's Avatar

R Michael | Storyteller

@openroadadventures.bsky.social

I traded 13 years as a yacht chef for a travel trailer and a quieter life. Now I write stories about the internal road. (Sorry no travel tips.) For anyone rebuilding a life that feels real. Every Thursday --> https://openroadadventures.substack.com/

49 Followers  |  53 Following  |  73 Posts  |  Joined: 24.01.2025
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Posts by R Michael | Storyteller (@openroadadventures.bsky.social)

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The Night I Disappeared in Costa Rica The Peru Chronicles S1. An unpolished, honest account of a ceremony in Costa Rica that left me feeling exposed, and why I had to go to Peru to find myself again.

My new story is live!

It’s Part 1 of The Peru Chronicles, and it starts with the night in Costa Rica that sped everything up.

If you read it, I’d love to hear what you think.

#storyteller #travel #plantmedicine #ayahuasca #costarica #peru

is.gd/HosByI

16.01.2026 00:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Most of my progress comes from saying things out loud before I understand them.

It’s messy. But it’s how I find my way.

01.01.2026 03:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Every mile away from my comfort zone seems to bring me a mile closer to the person I actually want to be.

​#Travel #SelfDiscovery #RoadTrip #Mindfulness

23.12.2025 21:37 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Starting over isn't about finding a new path, it’s about having the stomach to stand on a deck that won't stop moving. is.gd/69VFCH

#travel #careerchange

21.12.2025 10:05 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Belonging is a practice, not an invitation. It starts the moment you stop waiting for permission to be there.

#personalgrowth #storyteller

19.12.2025 11:37 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The face! He looks like he's waiting for an adventure with his person.

21.11.2025 20:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm planning to make it to Portugal in the next year or so. Absolutely stunning. Do the winters get very cold?

21.11.2025 20:23 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Back from camping. My 'co-pilot' was cold, so I wrapped him up.

This week's story is all about him.

Get our stories sent directly to your inbox. Subscribe on Substack: openroadadventures.substack.com

#OpenRoadAdventures #Dogs #Storytelling #Cozy #ADHD

12.11.2025 04:19 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This is a great list, thank you for sharing it. Sometimes I feel tentative about sharing,following, saying to much. It's simply gotten so much more hard to believe than I ever imagined it could. ❀️

07.11.2025 23:31 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Thinking about the theme from yesterday's story: how do we show up as our best selves when we feel stereotyped or misjudged?
It's not easy.

​I'd love to hear your reflections on this.
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open.substack.com/pub/openroad...
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​#Storytelling #Connection #Community #Travel #PersonalGrowth

07.11.2025 23:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Show Them Your Light Why the most important part of any journey is the impression we leave behind.

Today's story is live. It’s about a text from my sister-in-law, a memory from the 90s, and a split-second decision I had to make at the Brisbane airport. Hope it resonates.

​#Storytelling #Travel #PersonalGrowth #Ambassador

07.11.2025 02:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I've gotten so close, but yet to actually visit Portugal. I must, I MUST go! It looks incredible and the stories I've heard from friends who have been, can't stop talking about it. It's on my list for certain.

06.11.2025 22:49 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

This is gold! My day is complete.

05.11.2025 22:01 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Open Road Adventures | R Michael | Substack Adventure isn't a place; it's a perspective. Featuring personal growth, quiet moments, and the wisdom of my co-pilot, a dog named Chase, who teaches that the deepest connections are an adventure all t...

Putting the final touches on tomorrow's story. It's about a quick decision at an airport counter and the quiet work of being an ambassador for yourself.

The full story drops tomorrow at 4 PM Pacific. You can subscribe (free) to get it delivered to your inbox.

#Storytelling #PersonalGrowth #Travel

05.11.2025 21:59 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

​This is beautiful. It's so trueβ€”finding those places that just make you feel grateful to be there is the best part of the adventure. We'll have to add North Devon to our list!

04.11.2025 19:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A quiet moment from the Japanese Gardens. Some things just know how to endure, and they wear their stories for everyone to see.

-R. Michael

#Storytelling #Resilience #Travel #Photography #PNW

04.11.2025 17:30 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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It's a strange feeling, walking into a room and sensing you've been summed up before you've even spoken. A feeling that a label has arrived before you have. This is the theme I'm exploring for the new Open Road Adventures story, which will be out this Thursday. #Storytelling #PersonalGrowth

03.11.2025 19:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Haha!! That's so great. It looks like they are directing the shoot. I'm on the GC of Oz now actually, Saw a kookaburra on my walk with my father-in-law yesterday. They are quite interesting in their own right aren't they?

13.10.2025 22:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Agreed. Canada πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦β€οΈ. Canadians β€οΈβ€οΈβž•οΈβž•οΈ.

13.10.2025 21:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Adding this to my list for my next visit to Mexico!

13.10.2025 20:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I like Canadiano better! πŸ˜‚ My niece just started university in Canada and is having a hard time making friends as an American. 😞

13.10.2025 20:29 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Stunning. Oregon is an amazing and magical place. Proud to call it home.

12.10.2025 19:49 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Waking up to the news of Diane Keaton's passing is heartbreaking. With a career that began in 1970 and shaped a generation, her work became a quiet soundtrack for so many of us.

A profound, irreplaceable loss. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us.
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#DianeKeaton #FilmLegacy #Cinema

11.10.2025 22:05 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This story is about that exchange. I'd love to hear your thoughts. When has a journey given you back more than it took?

#storytelling #travel #familyconnection #writingcommunity

10.10.2025 02:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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My new essay, "The Day We Missed," is now live.

openroadadventures.substack.com/p/the-day-we...

10.10.2025 02:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Day We Missed There’s an unspoken agreement on the thirteen-hour flight from San Francisco to Brisbane.

I traded a Saturday and 13 hours in the air for family conversations that will last a lifetime.

It's a profound feeling to realize what you've gained, not what you've lost.

10.10.2025 02:09 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Since a was a kid growing up in the Midwest i was always drawn to the sea and to mountains. No surprise I ended up in Oregon. What's your favorite part?

09.10.2025 03:32 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I boarded a flight on the 26th and landed on the 28th. An entire day, completely vanished.

Tomorrow, I’m sharing the full story of where that Saturday went, and what it was traded for.

-R. Michael

#Travel #Storytelling #WritingCommunity #Australia

08.10.2025 23:57 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Incredible how fast they fixed that. Says a lot about the host, but I'm guessing it also says a lot about how you both handled it. A little grace under pressure goes a long way in situations like that.

-R. Michael

08.10.2025 23:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

😡

08.10.2025 23:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0