Road Trip Inspiration

Some thoughts on the timing and process behind the trip

Sometime in the last few years, I’ve been bitten by the travel bug.

I can’t recall exactly when it happened. I’ve enjoyed many trips throughout the continental US and a few countries in Europe over the past 3 summers. As time has passed, the journeys have become more convoluted; 10 hour drives have turned into 10 day tours of Western Europe. Every work trip or out-of-town event became an opportunity to tack on an extra flight and an extra day to see an NBA game in an new city or find the nearest beach to surf.

Dad and I had a conversation earlier in the year about my plans to travel, in reference to his time spent in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya in the 1990s. He was a great sounding board as we discussed the benefits and potential pitfalls of the trip that (admittedly at the time) didn’t have a whole lot of structure. We agreed that to pull off a big trip, three elements would be necessary – health, time, and good planning.

HEALTH

In my recovery from a debilitating bout with Lyme Disease over the last 5 years, I have welcomed opportunities to systematically desensitize. Exercise and fitness were impossible not so long ago. At the peak of my illness in April 2017, I was wracked with anxiety and depression, and at rock-bottom medically, emotionally, physically, and spiritually with no path towards health. Mom was my biggest advocate as I recovered, and I’ve felt much better since August 2018. Activities (and journeys!) that were once unthinkable have become accessible. I am grateful for God’s healing and excited to embark on a fairly intense trip that is possible only through Him.

TIME

After finishing my degree, I chose to move to Pittsburgh; I had gravitated towards western PA for a number of reasons, the most attractive being a strong community of Orthodox people in the area. I had long planned to depart my job after 3 years of service. Corporate America was never a natural fit for me. I felt a sense of obligation to honor my degree by sticking around as long as the job served me and felt comfortable leaving that role after 2.5 years, leaving me with free time and an opportunity to take a swing on a trip I might not get the chance to block off 7 weeks for in the future!

PLANNING

Any of my friends could tell you that I love to do some damage with a spreadsheet. It’s been a blast mapping out the schedule, costs, and supplies needed while optimizing the routes and flights necessary to see everything I’d like to see (plugging routora.com here – it’s a super useful tool for minimizing travel time on the road). The itinerary includes national parks, NBA/NFL games, museums, restaurants, areas of musical importance, and visiting friends along the way. I’ve geared up with a satellite phone, a car fridge, a big battery to run my appliances, a dash cam, and a sleeping platform for the back of my car (post to come!).

After about a year of deliberation and planning, I will depart for my road trip on October 5!