Where Am I Going?

Maps, and final musings

We are one week away from departure, or as my Uncle Bob put it, “wheels up” day!

Barring any major changes or inclement weather, the road trip will take me through 22 states and stay mostly in line with the stops as shown on the map below. More detail for each stop can be seen by clicking this link.

Here’s a close-up of the CA-UT-CO stretch; there are many stops close together, which makes it a bit harder to see on the big map.

Selecting points of interest didn’t follow a very scientific approach. I watched some travel videos, conducted a bit of light research, and tapped some well-traveled friends for suggestions. I also cross-referenced my route with a database containing the coordinates of every location Bob Dylan has mentioned throughout his 60 year career; I’ll be passing through many of those areas and playing specific tracks as they become geographically appropriate! The final itinerary was whittled down from a larger list and contains pretty much everything I’ll have time to see while I’m on the road. 90% of the stops will be for just one night before I’m off to the next destination.

Of those that have provided planning assistance and tossed around ideas for properly documenting my travels, Dad’s brother has been a particularly helpful resource. Following his retirement, Uncle Bob set off for lengthy cycling trips in the northwest US and New Zealand, among other places. Earlier this year, we went for a 20 mile ride (easy for him, soreness-inducing for me) and sat down afterwards to discuss tips for life on the road. He offered many reflections that will serve me well in regards to lodging, dining, safety, and record-keeping. Years ago, he created a website so that family could follow his travels. I’ll be following suit here (weekly, probably) in addition to keeping a personal journal.

Last weekend, I spent a night in my car to confirm my sleeping setup will be sustainable/comfortable, and to ensure all of my appliances (battery, car fridge, power inverters, electric blanket, lanterns, etc.) work as intended. All systems go on those fronts! I’ll cross a few more Ts, dot a few more Is, and make sure my Kindle is loaded up with a few books this week, but there isn’t much more that needs to be done before departure.

Of all the things that could go wrong, I’m most concerned about overnight safety and rough weather. I ask for your prayers as my departure approaches. St. Nicholas (for whom I was named) is the patron saint of travelers, which is reassuring!

I anticipate being a bit harder to reach while I’m on the road, but don’t hesitate to reach out, check in, or shoot me a Spotify playlist (seriously). Thanks for following! More to come in two weeks or so :)