I am so excited to write and share that this summer I had the opportunity of fulfilling a life long dream – to road trip across the United States in my van!
The trip spanned over 11 weeks, venturing through 17 different states. I took over 8,000 photos, drove over 10,000 miles visited 65 new World’s Largest Objects and had the time of my life. It was a truly unforgettable experience and I cannot wait to share all of it with you!
While on the road, I learned that I am not the type of person who is able to balance both travel and writing/creating. I am truly in awe but anyone who can balance both. But by putting off writing, it allowed me to stay in the moment and really enjoy myself. And now while I am home, I can take this time to reflect and share with you!
During the trip, I kept a small travel journal documenting through bullet points of what I did that day. This simple method helps me keep track of what I did this day making writing after a much smoother experience!
Other than that, the only other writing I did was through my newsletter. So if you’re interested in staying up to date with me, that’s your best bet! Sign up here for the exclusive inside scoop.
The trip itself was broken into three sections.
Section 1:
Solo across the united states from Pennsylvania to Washington
Section 2:
Seeing some West Coast friends, picking up my friend Chelsea from Seattle, and road-tripping down to San Francisco.
Section 3:
Solo across the United States from California back to Pennsylvania.
Since 2/3rds of the trip was solo, I had a lot of time to reflect. I want to share some of those reflections with you now.
- People are generally loving and kind. I met so many wonderful people that filled my heart and soul deeply on this trip. Many included hikers and artists. It was truly wonderful to meet and connect! I will even be sharing some of their stories as I write my way through the trip.
- Do the things that scare you. It will bring you out of your comfort zone. Go on a solo trip. Take a solo tour. Jump off that bridge – in a bungee type setting. Talk to people and get to know them. You will not regret it.
- Take a rest day if you need it. I didn’t take many on this trip but after getting caught in a flash flood. I needed one. More on that later.
- On a less positive note, I will always choose the bear. This trip, I had 23 interactions with bears during my hikes. I had about the same amount of interactions with strange men. All my interactions with bears were positive. Three of my interactions with solo men were uncomfortable. So this trip really just drove that stat home for me.
- Cucumbers are fantastic van snacks. They store well in the van without refrigeration, plus they are refreshing and fun to munch on as you make your way down the road.
- Have tough conversations with yourself. Whether it be taking a new opportunity or figuring out if an option is right for you or not. Hiking for 17 miles a day for multiple days, made me realize I can’t out-walk the anxiety and a position might not be the right fit for me. It was a hard pill to swallow but it was one I had to make.
- Keep in touch with friends! I am super guilty of this, even when I’m not traveling. It is so easy to get wrapped up in your own life or mind but send them that text!
- Something I wasn’t expecting but learning to deal with grief on the road. No one ever really expects to deal with grief but things happen. My family’s pup, Goober passed while I was on the road. I picked him out when he was a puppy and I love him endlessly. When I got the news, I was by myself at the beginning of the trip. Which forced me to actually face my feelings and go forward with it – something that I have struggled with in the past. I have gotten better in my thirties than my 20s but I really had to focus on feeling those intense emotions to move forward. So taking a slower day or days and feeling those feelings that I didn’t want to is just part of the journey.
- Lastly, do the thing. No matter what it is. It forces you to become a better person.
I am still in awe that I had this opportunity and so grateful that I built a life that allows me to take the time and explore the world.
Stick around, as I can’t wait to share more with you!
