Soulful Drives and Countryside Wonders

What is it about  driving down a country road polka-dotted with grazing cows and the occasional barn every so many hours that brings calm to my soul?  I’ve always loved being on the road. Maybe it’s in my blood; both my grandpa and my uncle drove travel buses and my own mother has been both a public and school bus driver.

Childhood Dreams and Endless Ambitions

As a little girl I used to tell people that on weekends I wanted to be a truck driver so I could go see the world. Of course, this was after my rotating schedule of being a Teacher on Monday and Tuesdays, a Lawyer on Wednesdays, a Doctor on Thursdays, drive truck on Fridays and Saturdays to make it home in time to be a Pastor on Sundays. 

I would tell the adults who were playcating my ambitions when they gaulked “That’s a lot, when are you going to take a break?”

“I’m going to take a month off every summer and drive straight until I have to decide to turn. Then make a decision and see where I end up.” I matter-of-factly recited off. 

The Fearless Journeyer in Me

I’ve never been much afraid of getting lost or breaking down, the excitement of what I could encounter always far outweighed the worries that most people would bring to my attention. I would shrug off the doubting adults and continue on my way, carrying the dream with me well into my 30’s.  

Decades of Exploring the Open Roads

This isn’t my first road trip, to say the least. Over the years and after almost a decade of travel nursing around the country I have driven coast to coast about six times, mostly by myself. My car or truck at the time loaded full of trinkets and treasures that I carefully packed in boxes with labels reading; ‘Books & DVD’s’, ‘Kitchen Shtuff’, ‘Picture Frames & Decorations’, etc. 

This Trip’s Free-Spirited Itinerary

My drives are filled with belting country songs and listening to comedy radio, stopping wherever I’m called to stop and taking in each experience. This drive I have a co-polite and it’s nice. This voyage doesn’t necessarily have an end destination either. Two weeks, on the road with a few stops planned but nothing carved in a stone. The idea? To travel up through the midwest, into the Pacific Northwest and down the California coast, camping where we can find stops and indulging in the occasional hotel to shower and get back to the adventure. 

Detours, New Companions, and Unplanned Adventures

We’ve already detoured twice from our original plans and having a partner who is as free spirited and up for adventure as me brings a calm peace to the chaos in the rearview mirror. We’re not sure what’s next or where we will actually end up, but we know that we’ll make the most of it and probably end up with a few new friends and fun stories to share when we return. 

A Toast to Boundless Travel

Here’s to hitting the open road!