Doncha just love road trips? I am currently cruising down 95 South with my partner in crime, Peggy, in her new car with the windows down at sunset. It’s actually just before sunset, the last bright sideways sunlight of the day before it slips behind the trees. We’ve just crossed over the Ocoquan River and are headed for warmer climes. Peggy found a new radio station, 100.3that is playing great road trip music. Right now the Stones are singing “Jumping Jack Flash.” Just before we were belting it out with “The Who” in “Teenage Wasteland.” We’ve heard Jimmy Buffet, Joe Cocker, and the Guess Who. We’ve got a bag of munchies and we are sailing passed the bumper to bumper HOV lanes which have apparently overshot their purpose.
I’ve had some great road trips in my life and some that turned out pretty crappy. Heading to the beach with my kids last summer, we were stuck in deep traffic for the last several miles. They were collecting peace signs from their fellow trapped motorists. They were delighted and it made the traffic jam seem fun – especially since my kids started liking some decent music that we all enjoy singing loud. The ride home from the beach, sunburned and sandy and tired is never as much fun – except for the mandatory produce stand stop.
One of my best road trips ever was last summer with my friend in Boise. In one day, we drove from Boise to Yachats, Oregon (prounced “Yah-hots, Organ.) What a spectacular trip that was! First of all it was with my best friend from high school, Jo, who I hadn’t seen in a long time and it was great to catch up with her. The scenery was varied and magnificent. Once there, we got chased by a bear and evacuated for a tsunami warning among other fun adventures. We met up with some other friends and debated the pronunciation of “aspartame” after sunset on the Pacific coast beach.
Great trip.
Tell me one of your good road trip stories. We’ll save crappy road trip stories for another day.
Big Changes
7 years ago
4 comments:
Many of my road trips have been with you. One of the most vivid...3 of us heading to CT and stopping in NJ and not even knowing which state we are in and finding out that left turns in NJ are tricky. It was crazy driving through NYC but great bonding time. You were all great company and didn't get rattled when things don't always go as planned. I think that is the key...flexibility.
Thank you for the kind advice, cg. There are quite a range of women down here. Some of them make me feel like a nun. There are many who I don't even want to cross.
It's too late for me to go into politics anymore anyway.
A long time ago a family of mom, dad, and 4 kids crossed from the east coast to the west coast and back again. They pulled a pop up camper and made many memories along the way. There were lots of silly songs, endless alphbet games, and outrageios stories told by the daughter who would one day grow up to be a famous writer. At night we set up camp and watched the stars come out. Dad, the astronomer, pointed out all the constellations in the sky. At Aunt Ruby's farm we drove thru the cow pasture in the old farm pick up where one brave girl got out and had her picture made with the cows while her siblings cowered in fear of the great beasts in the safty of the truck. We saw the bats fly out of Carlsbad Caverns and gazed at the awesome Grand Canyon while mom admonished everyone to stay back from the edge. In Yosemite this family learned that rangers heat the water and saw "streakers" swimming in the river. That was where the bear came strolling through the outdoor church service. It rained for 5 consecutive evenings on the trip and the family watched from the warmth of the car while dad set up the camper. No point in everyone getting wet. Driving across the Mojave Desert in a car with no air conditioning and 4 fussy children was memorable. The children climbed up and down steep ladders at the Indian cliff dwellings while mom held her breath and prayed. The best part of that and any road trip is coming home. That last day all 4 kids bouced the entire drive, getting louder and more excited as home got closer. When the car pulled into the driveway they exploded out of the car with shrieks of joy and into the embrace of all thier friends. It was a great trip, full of memories.
Sorry, the name of that tune is "Babba O'Riley", not "Teenage Wasteland."
As for road trips, driving in Portugal, at night, in a small town where English is a foriegn language so when you try to ask an old guy walking his dog for directions to the hotel you can see, but can't get to is fruitless, only to see the same guy walking the same dog in the hotel parking lot 20 minutes later when you finally arrive makes for a memorable trip.
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