You've Gotta Start Somewhere
Kevin romping in the red dirt.
When I first started planning my trip, everyone told me, “oh, you have to journal all about it!” And while I really appreciated that advice, it never actually materialized into something I did.
Wait, don’t leave. I know someone on the other side of the screen, maybe you, is thinking, “then what did you actually DO the whole time you were on the road if you didn’t even take the time to write about it?!”
Herein lies the lesson: Traveling across the country requires A LOT of planning. Maybe that doesn’t come as a surprise to you, but I’m a planner, and for every factor I had planned in advance, two more obstacles I couldn’t foresee were thrown my way. And sure, while I can theoretically pull over to sleep/eat/even go to the bathroom anywhere (thanks for all your features, Pam!) legally, logistically, and for my own safety, I really just can't.
So there you have it, most of my time- and by far my biggest lessons of being on the road- were just the bare bones survival stuff. I’ll eventually get to more details on what that “survival stuff” and planning includes, because I think it's valuable to share the “how.” But it really is what consumed most all of my time outside of work hours, driving, and being outside. Planning really cut out any energy left in the tank there may have been for writing.
After 6 weeks on the road, I’m currently taking a pit stop at home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My thought was that now, while I have time to reflect on my first stretch, is as good a time as ever to start documenting. In just about three weeks, I’ll launch for ~3 more months on the road. Hopefully by authentically sharing my experiences now and moving forward, it will make others see their own power to do something like this. But I'm also hopeful it will kick the, “wow, that’s crazy,” reactions I’ve gotten. I fail to see the crazy and, God-willing, I’ll help you see it that way, too.
Perhaps you’re one of the many who’ve told me you’ve found my adventures, “entertaining”, a “mini escape from your day,” or , just “relieved” that I’m okay, wherever I am. You might know me well, just a little, or not at all. But somehow, you’ve found your way here and I want to just say welcome and thank you. I plan to give you a glimpse of what exploring and quasi-#vanlife has gifted me, and maybe a little more.
Cheers,