SMurph Across America
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a final & a first word
This is SMurph Across America.
What began as a class project in the fourth grade had stayed with me as a goal for decades: drive cross-country.
I am thankful to work for a company that rewards loyalty. I earned a four week sabbatical and paired it with two weeks of vacation time.
Years ago, I decided that this trip is exactly what I wanted do with my time off. Just travel. See the country, new states. Drive. Hit the National Parks. Visit friends & family along the way. Make my own schedule. Have a plan, but welcome detours.
Along the way, I learned I really like mountains - I have about 2,000 pictures of them. And puffy clouds. And road signs against saturated blue skies. And buffalo.
Oh, and I like to take pictures - I burned through four memory cards and a second camera battery capturing +/- 5,240 pix. The magic of digital.
I miss driving. For the first few days after my trip ended, I frequently had the feeling of, “Did I lock the car??” A car I no longer possessed.
To avoid any mishaps, I had taken to wearing my keys around my neck on a purple lanyard. I was made fun of on a few occasions (you shall remain nameless, mockers), but I never did lock my keys in the car.
Thankfully, no speeding tickets - kinda hard to get one when the Interstate speed limit is already 75mph. Though, I did have a state trooper tailgate me for a good stretch of very dark, curvy Oregon road.
And also, thankfully, no accidents - although, I did have a slight fear of tipping over once in Yellowstone when I had pulled over on a steep shoulder to see, what else, buffalo. How would I’ve explained that to Avis?
Only one parking ticket - when I was at church. God has a sense of humor.
Thankfully, I never ended up needing the first-aid kit or the disposable underwear.
I dyed my hair twice on the road - both times picking the wrong color when I couldn’t find my regular one. One turned my roots orangey. The other kinda pinkish.
I got a tan, which I haven’t in years. I’m finding that this summer I’m having to pay attention to my tan lines.
I probably stayed up too late and didn’t get up early enough, but it was nice to make my own schedule. I’ve always been a night owl, but my body has yet to adjust back to East Coast time. I’m a great sleeper in the Pacific time zone.
I packed about 12 books and dozens of magazines and read exactly none.
I bought totally impractical things like antique folding chairs and cowboy boots and red white & blue striped sleep socks and 75 souvenir postcards I have no idea what I’m going to do with.
I ate both economically (PB&J, anyone?) and deliciously (how could I pick just one?) and find myself wanting to still take photos of my meals when I’m out.
I came across a lot of animals. And had them say hi to lots of their mothers for me.
So, if you are reading this as my first post - there, you have a preview to the 778 posts that follow.
And if you are reading this as my last - voila, a summary. Thank you for indulging my documenting and joining me on the journey.
I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
[If you would like to start the journey from the beginning, click here and start at the bottom of the page.]
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Back at work, I returned to find this little modification to my name plate. (Thanks, KD!) You may recognize this photo from my bon voyage party - one of the first posts on the blog.
Gone SMurphin’, indeed!
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merci
And, I’d be remiss in not thanking everyone who joined me virtually on my trip. For reading the blog (despite my sloooow postings and excuses), for commenting, giving advice (got it, Mom), asking questions. It was nice to know you were all there traveling with me!
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The most common comment I’d hear proir to setting off on my trip was, “You’re going by yourself?!”
And, yes, while this was SMurph across America I always pointed out that I’d be staying with friends and family and peeps were going to meet me along the way. And, in reality, I probably spent more time with people on this “solo journey,” than not, which was a gift.
So thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone above for sharing my journey with me, putting me up (and putting up with a few mishaps - toilets, irons, etc.), feeding me, giving me stellar directions & recommendations, playing, laughing, shopping, touring, reminiscing, etc. I am truly grateful and blessed.
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nearly half!
If you count New York & Pennsylvania twice, I traversed 25 states in my journey. In terms of unique states, I hit 23 - nearly half of the US!
In order: 1) New York 2) New Jersey 3) Pennsylvania 4) Maryland 5) Virginia 6) West Virginia 7) Tennessee 8) Mississippi 9) Louisiana 10) Texas 11) New Mexico 12) Arizona 13) California 14) Oregon 15) Idaho 16) Wyoming 17) Montana 18) South Dakota 19) Minnesota 20) Iowa 21) Illinois 22) Indiana 23) Ohio…Pennsylvania & New York
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The final route. Not too far off from my original, potential route (here). A few modifications - the Texas wildfires, running out of time and traversing Indiana to New York in a day. But all in all, the journey I set out travel.
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”[American Scenery] is a subject that to every American ought to be of surpassing interest; for, whether he beholds the Hudson mingling waters with the Atlantic—explores the central wilds of this vast continent, or stands on the margin of the distant Oregon, he is still in the midst of American scenery—it is his own land; its beauty, its magnificence, its sublimity—all are his; and how undeserving of such a birthright, if he can turn towards it an unobserving eye, an unaffected heart!
Thomas Cole, “Essay on American Scenery,” January 1836
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Ended the journey as it began - with a Sonic Cherry Limeaid. This time, “easy ice,” perhaps the best thing I learned on my trip! (Thanks, Jess!)
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Q: Why didn't you drive another 18 miles to hit 10,000?? I would have!
A:
I did consider it, but alas, I was vetoed by my dad. “Where were you gonna go? It would’ve been another gallon of gas!” Johnny Nickel strikes again. In reality, tho, l like the preciseness of it - 9,982.2. Nice & uneven. And, in my objective of documenting this trip via the blog, I like the honesty in the number as well. The trip was finished. The journey ended. And…scene.
