Running down the track

A strange question occurred to me while running through the world of Radiant Historia. On the overworld map, towns and explorable areas are joined by tracks that you must follow. Each time you jump around in time, certain of these tracks will be available, while others remain dark. However, at certain points in time, it's possible to travel further down certain tracks. 

So, could there be a way to see places off the beaten path at different times during the game's timelines? Could you go to Alistel after it had been turned against the Beastkind, while you were on your way to Forgia, for instance? Unfortunately, the answer to both of those questions is no. You can exit the explorable areas just about any way, but that won't let you veer from where you need to go in service to the game's story.
It's an unfortunate discovery, but if you could go anywhere at any time there would hardly be any need for tracks between towns and explorable areas. At least Stocke's cloaking ability lets you jet along those tracks and through every point along them.