Welcome to The Road to Somewhere Beautiful!

This account and subsequent blog are the brainchild of a lot of miles logged, sitting behind the wheel of a van, under blue skies, double yellow lines laid out before me, straight and endless.  Or chilly nights, perched cross-legged in the passenger seat, staring out from the interstate into the black nothingness of the American plains, watching a coordinated light show of wind turbines and electric grids blink in the eternal darkness.

I’ve traveled across this country by vehicle a dozen times, and collected many stories along the way.  I’ve met incredible characters, had both awesome and terrifying experiences, and witnessed some of the most beautiful places.  The kind of beautiful that is so vast and powerful that it overwhelms your eyes and leaves your mouth agape; leaving it only to be felt in your soul.

And in the miles in-between, my mind has become a stream of consciousness; observations, and thoughts flowing, often prompting deep reflection.  For me, the road has been a catalyst for much personal revelation and growth.  I’ve learned about myself, about the world, and about people.  I’ve also come up with many more questions than answers.

Through all the miles it has occurred to me now and again that I should be writing. I used to enjoy the practice as a child and teenager, and might even say I was good at it. So I’ve taken to recording these meandering thoughts and observations in the notes app of my phone.  I’ve accumulated a lot of them, though they are very much erratic and incomplete stories.  I’ve recently been trying to organize, and translate them into a fashion fit for others to read.  It’s a daunting task, but one I hope will be worth it.  You see, through this project, I hope to not just simply document my travels, and tell the stories of the road, but to also give life to the feelings that traveling in this way evokes; to share my insights, self-discoveries, hoping to perhaps provoke thought or inspire something in others, or maybe give some purpose and meaning to all that has filled my head from a life half spent on the open road.  And maybe answer the confounding question that I often ask myself: Why?  Why do I do it, and what am I searching for?

Call it wanderlust, call it FOMO, call it a deep unrest, but I think I’ve always had it.

Merriam-Webster defines wanderlust as ‘strong longing for or impulse toward wandering'- implying that it’s really not about the destination, but about the act of being on the move.  There’s a kind of implied aimlessness to this definition.  And perhaps that is true- to be nowhere for very long, to get everywhere at some point- may be the only goals.  Logic sometimes tells me that it’s a futile endeavor, but one that I am compelled to do regardless.  Call it what you will, the point is the same- I’m happiest when I am on the move.

I sometimes think it’d be easier if I just stayed put.  Yes, traveling in this way brings a lot of adventure, unique experiences, and joy, but it can also bring instability, physical and mental discomfort, unexpected van repairs, and even loneliness.  So perhaps this project that I’ve been compelled to create and have dwelled on for a long time, perhaps that is the purpose: to figure it out. To find the root of my wanderlust; a burden, also a gift, and most certainly a doorway into self-discovery that I’m not sure most people ever want to tread.  A doorway into the unknown, into fear, into bliss, into something beautiful.

And to share my findings.  What I hope to gain from the sharing of these stories, I honestly am not really sure.  This project is in its infancy, and almost certain to evolve over time, and it currently feels more for me than anyone else.   But if I’m compelled to write these stories, then I might as well. A practice in turning the voices of self doubt from ‘who am I to write them’, to ‘who am I NOT to write them’??

So the Road to Somewhere Beautiful is born..…

So here I am, in pursuit, of something, one asphalt hill-crest, one gravel bend at a time, and attempting to document that quest: the reflections, the realizations, the chance encounters, the stories- good, bad, and ugly.  It’s an opportunity for me to refine my skills as a writer, a storyteller, and a photographer.  And take you along with me.  Perhaps we can answer some questions together.  Perhaps you’ll find some enjoyment, some inspiration, some introspection in these stories too.

Maybe one day, answers will be found, conclusions drawn...

Until then, I will continue to pursue, to document, to wander - The Road to Somewhere Beautiful.