Hello Road. We haven’t been very close these past few years. I used to do California Road Trips – Giant Sequoia and Redwood trees, Big Bear, San Francisco, San Diego – but my tolerance for driving distances crashed and burned a few years ago. With the exception of Las Vegas and Tucson, I haven’t driven much. My 2014 car which had 12 miles when I purchased it in July 2014 has 6,650 miles 2 years later. I know – why do I have a car?
I left my job of 7 years in February and one of my To Do before I started a new ‘real’ job was to drive cross-country. The last time I drove across country was in November 1991 when I moved from Orlando Florida to Los Angeles California. It was 3 days – 2 of them in Texas (!), with stops to eat, use the bathroom and fill up. It wasn’t a journey; it was a drive to reach a destination.
This time I want a journey – a solo Thelma and Louise, if you will, with a happy ending. Hence my road trip adventure! Me, my car – newly detailed and windows tinted for heat protection – and 3-4 weeks.
Starting Point: Los Angeles, California Ending Point: Bethesda Maryland
I’m not taking the same route on the both legs of the road trip but I’m not venturing too far north. It’s August, I know, but I’m not chancing freak severe fall/winter weather. And, in full disclosure, I don’t want mountain driving. I like looking at them, living close to them, even visiting them but I’m not keen on high elevations and winding roads. I guess I’d rather take my chances with tornadoes and heat.
Eastbound Trip:
My stops have a rhyme and reason that only I understand yet seem to fit into one of these categories.
- Air and Space Museums
- Caves, Caverns and Natural Wonders
- Paranormal attractions
- Civil Rights and American History sites
Granted, there is a side road trip to Ohio on the westbound trip to visit Amish country. Just because. I also imagine I’ll be diverting to small towns along the way to check out vintage and/or antique stores. Unlike airplane travel, my shopping is only limited by the empty space in my car!
(Source: https://roadtrippers.com)
There’s so much beauty to see, plenty of good food to eat and, most important, lots of people to meet. This should be a well documented road trip. I have multiple cameras and an iPhone!
I know I’ve over –planned and that’s ok. If I decide I don’t want to see something, I won’t; if I decide to modify my route, I will and if I decide I’ve had enough, I’ll turn around and come home. This is MY journey, after all.
