My boyfriend and I left Bloomington, Illinois on Saturday morning and arrived in Seattle late Monday night. In between those cities is 2,042 miles which includes a lot of cows, the Rocky Mountains, the Black Hills, three time zones, ranches, a few detours, many small towns, and even tumbleweed. In those 2,042 miles was the most breathtaking sunset I've ever seen in a place I can't name. In those 2,042 miles is Mt. Rushmore, a testament to American patriotism, and the Crazy Horse memorial, a stark reminder of the Natives we left behind. In those 2,042 miles are the snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains which are vast and beautiful and peaceful. In those 2,042 miles are memories I will hold onto forever.
When we finally reached Seattle after 11 straight hours of driving, I could barely keep my eyes open. All I wanted was to fall asleep in a comfy bed. But there was an even bigger part of me that was sad that we had left the wild outdoors for a city with street signs and traffic lights. I longed so much to get back on the road and just travel, see more, do more, feel more. How I felt is exactly the meaning of the quote "it's not the destination that matters, it's the journey".
During this trip, I forged a new relationship with my boyfriend. I have never in my life been in a car with one other person for so long, but I was so grateful that the person who was with me is my boyfriend. Traveling cross-country opened our eyes to all the adventure that is out there for us, or anyone else, to discover. We talked about all the other places we wanted to visit and who would come with us. If we can drive this far, we can go anywhere. We drove past houses that were tucked away in the mountains and said, "Let's live there one day".
The familiar is overrated. In Wyoming, I saw a tumbleweed cross the road and I went crazy over it. A tumbleweed of all things! This reminds me that even the small things in life can bring happiness. After this trip, I finally have an understanding of what adventure means. Adventure means making detours and taking risks. It means not knowing where you're going until you get there. It's thrilling and life-changing. I have always had a lust for nature. But this was something totally new. This was cathartic.
For those of you reading this, I hope you are inspired to redefine what adventure means to you. You can get lost in the woods or lost in the city. You can fly a plane, ride a train, or drive a car. For me, it was driving I-90, one of the most beautiful highways in America, and getting lost in a few places along the way.
I hope you find your adventure.
