7,556.06 Miles Driven
17 States Visited
$3,476.57 Money Spent
visited 17 states (34%)
Create your own visited map of The United States
It has taken me almost two weeks to "recover" and "process" my West Coast travel I took this summer. First, I had to adjust to my new "home" and Second, I had to be sure to reflect on the gains I received from accomplishing a tremendous goal. After spending the last six years filled with uncertainty, stress, and depression, I have transitioned to focus, serenity, and promise with each mile I drove.
After arriving in California, I felt elated to be off the road. While I truly enjoyed the travel, my body was tired. I was finally with family and in a place where I could rest. Since I had traveled to California so many times before by plane, it was the perfect next stop. Seeing my family, resting, and doing everyday things was a great break from all the driving. Thanks to my family, I did get a chance to do a few new things. For those who followed me on Facebook and Twitter, you are familiar with the photo below! While I was confident that Jet Skiing was going to be cool to do, I didn't anticipate the fear once I arrived on the scene. My Aunt Fonda and Uncle Ken were VERY supportive and allowed me time to get up the nerve without calling me a chicken once! Thanks for taking the photos for me guys!
I realized that the travel plan I had created was ambitious. Though I realized this even before I left, I decided that it would not be me had I not created something so extravegant. It's just my style, and probably the reason people were not surprised that I had decided to do it in the way that I did. The most challenging part of the trip was when Tawana and I drove Route 1 up the coast of California to San Franscisco and then to Portland. While it was the MOST BEAUTIFUL portion of my journey, all that driving in two days wore me out! Thank goodness my next stop was 10 days in Portland, Oregon, where I could just chill!
And then it began again! The mouseketteers were reunited on the 4th of July weekend. Meka Mouth and Minnie Mouse were together again ready to spend 3 weeks of nothing but fun times. It had been more than 10 years since my best friend from high school and college roomate had hung out like the old days. Well, we did it big and it was just like old times. The great thing about Tawana and my friendship has always been the lack of compeition between us. We were always easy to get along because we both seem to enjoy the same things and willing to compromise the other person's interests when there were differences. The one thing we definitely share is the desire to experience the world. While I have definitely become a much more subdued world traveler, Tawana made sure that I got back to my roots....LOL!! She had us partying and partying and partying every place we went. And it was awesome! Thank Minnie for making sure that I had the TIME OF MY LIFE on my journey.
I have to thank everyone who "housed" me during my travels. My friend Tarryn in Las Vegas, my aunts Doreen and Fonda in California, Richmond in LA, and Tawana in Portland! While I spent waaaaaay more money than I ever imagined, it was mostly spent on enjoying myself and buying souvenirs thanks to the people who let me stay with them. This was another wonderful part of the trip. Everyone was extremely supportive of what I was trying to accomplish.
20 New Things I Experienced
1. Drove across the country (17 states total)
2. Saw a sky resort (without the snow of course - In Denver)
3. Drove on the side of a mountain (There were no rails...EEkk!)
4. Saw a broadway production (Wicked - New York and Lion King - Vegas)
5. Went to a concert in the park (John Legend - Cooney Island,NY)
6. Visited the Grand Canyon (North and South Rim)
7. Drove through a real ghost town (I think it was near Santa Fe, New Mexico)
8. Saw a Cattle ranch (alot of them)
9. Saw LaBron James in person (Tao Night Club in Vegas)
10. Saw an Indian reservation (Navajo Nation)
11. Visited Mulnomah Falls (Portland, Oregon)
12. Saw snow caped mountains (Mt. Hood - Oregon and others)
13. Went to the observation deck on the Seattle Space Needle.
14. Went to the observation deck in the Vegas Paris Hotel Effel Tower.
15. Hiked to see the Hollywood sign (Not all the way to the top..HA!!)
16. Rafted down the Colorado River(Page, Arizona - It was a sightseeing tour)
17. Had lunch at Johnnie Rockets (Del Amo Mall - Torrance, CA)
18. Drove the San Fransciso streets (Minor accident trying to park...LOL!)
19. Went to the gym with the ZUMBA crazies!!! (Santa Clarita, CA)
20. Saw my dad...LOL!! (Yep..it had been at least 4 years)
10 Things I Learned
1. Traveling alone has it's benefits (Fewer restroom breaks/stops)
2. The West Coast is an amazingly beautiful landscape
3. Budget money for souvenirs and SHOPPING!(See Above Photo...LOL!)
4. Driving is NOT cheaper than flying (Just more enjoyable!)
5. Driving is exhausting
6. It really does get over 100 degrees in the desert
7. Oregon has no sales tax and you CAN'T pump your own gas.
8. You will be driving through the mountains you see far in the distance.
9. Pearl is THE BOMB! (That's my car's name - Buick Rendevous)
10. Things can actually happen exactly how you plan them!
The next time I drive across the country, I will rent an RV and hope to be accompanied by my husband and child/children! Until then, I will enjoy the photos and look out the window of an airplane and say I did that once! I recommend that every person, if you have the opportunity to do so, drive across this country. Appreciate what we have, remember it, and do what you can to preserve it. That is what I plan to do!
