Best Part of My Wayward Journey.

Many people have asked me what the best part of my road trip was. Well, there weren’t any particular spots that beat out all the rest. Although, the Black Hills National Forrest in South Dakota was gorgeous. I loved seeing family members, getting to know some friends better, meeting new people, visiting places I’d only seen in pictures, and seeing states I’ve never been to. All those reasons made the trip [insert another word instead of "awesome"] Awesome! [Oh well.]

But, I think my favorite part of the trip was the randomness. The way I didn’t plan it out too much. I would wake up (stumble out of the car and into the gas station bathroom, half asleep, and then back) and then check out my atlas for somewhere I’d like to go. I’m sure this method caused me to miss many opportunities and tourist spots and cool must-see places. But, it also allowed me to live in the moment and focus on the “now.” I guess I liked the “stop and smell the roses” aspect of the trip. I experienced a lot of neat small town diners, drove down scenic roads through back-county places, stopped in a corn field to watch the sun go down, and in a wheat field to watch the sunrise. I discussed places to see with veteran truck drivers over coffee, visited art museums with strangers from the internet, saw the “bests of Kansas” with an old high school classmate, frequented libraries in several states to capitalize on free wi-fi, snuck into a campground bathroom in the middle of the night to snag a quick shower before continuing down the road, and enjoyed getting reacquainted with myself.

The experience was also pretty humbling. Without the luxuries of kitchens and showers, I learned how to make do and adapt. It made me appreciate what I had, more than before. I’ve always been one to weigh the costs and benefits of my decisions, but while on the trip I kept justifying that another night NOT in a hotel meant another tank of gas, and another experience I could enjoy. (I actually managed to not stay in any hotels on the whole trip. Only camping, car-camping, hostels, friends, family and internet friends.) I believe I spent just about $850 over the course of the month, mostly gas (avg $3.30/gal), and food, souvenirs, park fees, camping fees and entertainment.

Many people expressed concern or astonishment that I went on the trip alone. Quite a few mentioned that I must be really brave. I don’t see it that way. I have many fears, many that seem to cripple me in some ways. But, taking off on my own allowed me to escape a little from my own head, which I tend to get caught up in - thinking too hard about too many things. Traveling took my thoughts outside myself, to think about what I was experiencing rather than feeling. It was wonderful. At no point in the trip was I ever concerned about my safety. When I slept in my car, it was at well-lit truck stops with plenty of witnesses. The strangers from couchsurfing.com, that I stayed with, were super nice and welcoming hosts. I made sure not to put myself in any position to welcome trouble, but I think in general people are good and most places are pretty safe. Although, I did feel more comfortable car-camping in small towns rather than bigger cities.

So, the best part of the journey… was the impulsiveness (or waywardness), the peaceful single-tasking focus on the current moment, and the humility of experiencing each day not knowing where I would be by nightfall or if I’d manage a shower, or a couch to crash on.

I’m totally going to do it again. :)