Solo Cross Country Road Trip
09/28/2018 - 10/20/2018
Rose Garden, Raleigh, North Carolina
“I left for my trip on a Friday evening. I had spent the last month planning and working my ass off to make the money I needed to explore the country for the month. I was so busy I don’t think I took the time to think about the reality of what I was about to do. I don’t think it hit me until I began to drive. Overwhelming fear and anxiety took over. I played in my mind all the things people said to me before I left. I told people what I was doing and their response would be, “oh honey”, or “I hope you have a gun.” I wondered if they would say the same things to a man going on a trip alone.”
Somewhere in Texas
“There wasn’t a single soul around. The wind was intense but the sun was bright and warm. I don’t remember the last time I felt this at peace. The rest of the drive was so incredible that it made it all worth it. My spirits felt brighter. The drive through New Mexico was neat. The open road led on forever. There was so much empty space. I was surprised by the immense beauty of this state. I arrived to Colorado at around sunset and my soul instantly lit up. I love this state. I felt emotional and I’m not even sure why. There’s just a magic about this place. I think I belong here. I really do.”
Nederland, Colorado
Zion National Park, Moab, Utah
“Zion is another world. There is a crystal blue river, Virgin River, that flows through the park. Our first stop was to hike the famous Emerald Pools. Unfortunately the upper pools were closed so we only got to see a snippet of them. The waterfall flowing in the pool was my favorite part.”
Eagle Falls to Eagle Lake, South Lake Tahoe, California
“We got to the lake and it made the hike more than worth it. The water was an emerald blue and small little boulders popped up out of the water. Carrie, Melissa and I did some yoga together along the lake. There was a bright crescent moon popping up behind the tall pine trees.”
Whispering Soul Photography
California Cabin
Yosemite National Park
“Afterwards we drove to Glacier Point to watch the sunset. You can’t actually see the sun setting but you can watch the sky and color of the rocks change. Carrie and I drank a beer together and enjoyed the view. What a perfect day this was. It was a long drive back to the lodge but it was amazing to watch the sky continue to change color before turning to black—full of stars in the sky. We got back to have another delicious meal at the lodge. We were all beat. We got in the hot tub again before calling it a night.”
‘Half Dome’, Yosemite National Park
“I had a 9 hour drive ahead of me. I last minute bought a ticket to see Hozier that night so I wanted to get there as soon as I could. It was an easy but slightly boring drive. I got to Portland around 6 pm and checked into my Airbnb— a little purple tiny home tucked in the backyard of a family’s home in SE Portland. It was cozy and just what I needed.”
Oregon
“I took a shower before exploring the nature of Portland. I attempted to go to Multnomah Falls but the parking lot was full and I wasn’t able to go. Although I could see it from the highway which was still pretty cool. I pulled off to a nearby state park and spend most of the day there having a perfectly relaxing Sunday. I took photos of the piles of orange and yellow leaves then walked down by the river on the sandy beach area. The water was so clear and beautiful with bright orange leaves floating around. ”
“I grabbed a quick lunch then was heading to Richland, WA to visit my childhood friend, Olivia. I called my mom and dad on my way to tell them my exciting news. I felt really happy and excited about the magic that happened in Portland. ”
7,817 miles. 32 days. 26 states. 5 National Parks. Countless memories. Endless views. A few tears and ONE hell of a ride.
“As soon as I got into PA the drive was a breeze. It all became surreal. I couldn’t believe I drove around the entire country. I felt so proud of myself. I got to Carlisle as the sun was setting. I listened to Hozier and soaked this feeling in. It was a very bittersweet feeling. That is for sure.”
