You're only slightly greener than me, but the few days I have on you means that I can extend a welcome like I'm an old hand. Hello, then. I wanted to comment on this, though:
That's really the way of it, and the best way to create a believable experience for yourself and your readers. You don't show them, but you could if you had to, which makes your stories honest. It's also good to know that your character could change route at any point and you wouldn't be stuck with too many world-based loose ends or, even worse, inconsistencies.
But this really isn't the place for all that talk, I suppose. So, um. Make a damn map!