Recently I decided to pack up my belongings, my cats and my life to drive across the country in search of a better life in California with my boyfriend. I have had the chance to travel to many places in my fairly short existence on this earth, and I have always considered myself lucky. Many of my friends haven't even flown on a plane, but I have been fortunate enough to see other countries and even continents. However, this trip was different than the others because planes take you to a destination, but a road trip is a journey.
When you live on the East Coast, much of the road travelled looks extremely similar. I imagine that's probably true if you grow up on the West Coast as well, but I have only lived here for two weeks and cannot yet confirm. As I embarked on my expedition, I grew weary very quickly, assuming the trip would be 99 percent of identical highways and days in a cramped car. For the first few states, I was correct, but then things got interesting.
There is a reason why movies and TV romanticize road trips. You never know what's going to happen when you're hurdling long distances at 75 miles an hour through every type of terrain and elevation. When we were riding through Kansas, the radio started warning listeners about an incoming tornado. When I checked my map, I realized we were headed straight for it and would need to stop before the two inch hail started pounding down on the road. The sky was breathtaking as the impending storm sent heavenly clouds overhead and then opened up. The wind howled and the fields of turbines whirled around me. Scared as I was, it was a pretty incredible experience, and no harm was done to the car (thank goodness).
In Colorado, we ventured into the mountains and stopped at scenic points to take pictures of the incredible mountain range. Since we were varying so greatly in altitudes, we experienced pretty much every weather pattern possible. There was intense fog, bright skies, and pouring rain all within an hour. We even saw some snow on the top of the highest mountains, which was extremely strange for August. I put on and took off my sweatshirt multiple times, since the temperature went up and down so often that I lost track. I have never seen something quite like Colorado in my lifetime, and I'm anxious to go back and climb some of those mountains. I would encourage any other adventure lovers to do the same.
In Nevada, there was some insane construction traffic, and sometimes reliable Siri suggested an alternate route through a canyon. Despite Apple trying to make their navigation system 3D, it did not actually show the kind of insanity that lay before us. About a half hour on this strange route through the wide open desert, we realized that the road was transforming into dirt and gravel ahead of us for 11 miles. About 20 feet in, it became obvious that neither our cats nor our car were going to tolerate the next 10.9 miles of bouncing up and down like a ride at an amusement park. We had to turn around and lost an hour on our trip, but I got some good pictures and learned to never trust Siri implicitly.
Your 20s are a time for adventure. Most of us are still fairly unburdened by mortgages and children, so we can pick up and leave if we want to. Having now successfully moved from New York to California, I look back on my initial fear and apprehension with a smile. So here is my advice to you: take chances. Get in your car and go somewhere, even if you're not moving. Go see the world, because it's a really interesting place. This earth is your home. Be a part of it.
