I know this sounds privileged, to some extend it is - I love Road Trips!
There is something special about setting out and exploring a country on it’s surface. Over the years, I have been really lucky to be able to live in different countries all over the place. It has enabled me to explore and get immersed.
Yes, there is something magical about stepping in an aeroplane and in just a few hours arrive in a totally different part of the world. Different culture, climate, different foods, clothing, sounds, vegetation, smells and so on.
However, slowly arriving there is what I prefer.
I remember a few years ago we set out on a cross country trip in America, leaving Michigan, where we lived at the time, to see Seattle. We drove about 8000km round trip. Yes, we could have just flown there, we didn’t want to, we wanted to explore what’s in-between.
Driving through the flatlands of Iowa and Nebraska for hours, is meditative. Seeing the first specs of mountains when entering Colorado feels like arriving on a different planet. Seeing cowboys herding animals across the humongous flatlands of Wyoming - breathtaking. The starry sky over death valley at nigh - impossible to describe. Stumbling, really by chance, into Twin Falls, Idaho - hard to forget.
There was this once in the french country side, my wife and I, both unable to speak the language at all. We just had a delicious lunch (chicken) which I ordered by flapping my arms, making chicken sounds, when I felt like having some coffee. So I tried to order: coffee, kaffee, cappuccino, ristretto, espresso, macchiato - the waiter did not seem (or want to) understand at all. Then after a few minutes of friendly back and forth he exclaimed “Aha!” and disappeared into the kitchen. I was relieved that he finally got it, looking forward to the brew. A short while later he arrived with a glass of some red liquid, chilled, smelling like at least 25% alc… That kind of stuff only happens to me during road trips. I love it.
I’m not talking about getting on the freeway, putting the pedal to the metal and racing across the lands. It’s quite the opposite, like enjoying a great meal, really slowly, every bite.
Slow-ish travel is my preferred form of travel, it let’s the body and the mind arrive gently. It allows for the journey to be part of the destination.
Lastly I say, It doesn’t have to be big monster trips either, sometimes a day in the countryside has quite the same effect. When was your last road trip?
