For anyone living west of the mighty Mississippi River, signs from pioneering times exist almost everywhere you turn. The wagon ruts left behind by the wheels of many wagon trains that headed to California and Oregon are still visible on grassy fields. Being first to lay claim to the richness of those faraway lands was the prize these pioneers sought with every journey they took. You don’t have to live in the US to view such markers, as early settlers in Australia likewise turned to pioneers to break out from coastal living and cross the great divide. The Zig Zag railway line, pictured above, that followed those early pioneering explorers to the west of Sydney is a clear reminder of the difficulties that arise as natural barriers are overcome. So named Zig Zag as the railway line crisscrossed the mountainside when passing over the country’s Blue Mountains. Rivers, mountains and even the oceans that surround us have all proved challenging at some point and when it comes ...