One of the best decisions I have ever made, was quitting my consulting job in Upstate New York, packing up my apartment and taking a six-week road trip across the U.S. This was my first real job since graduating college almost three years earlier and I already felt like a drone; monotonously performing the same activities over and over. Don’t get me wrong, I was very grateful for this job opportunity, but after a few years I knew it was not going to be a career. One day, my buddy and I walked into our bosses office and handed in our resignation. We had already determined that a road trip across the country was going to “cleanse our souls” and give a foundation to start anew upon our return. A week after our resignation and move, we ventured out west wide eyed and enthusiastic for the unknown.
This trip would entail 13,000 total miles, 32 states, three time zones, four oil changes and one bad ass 255,678 mile Toyota-Camry. My goal with this post is to not tell you how to plan your sabbatical or urge you to quit your job, but to share some of my experiences and advice. Our purpose was to explore and appreciate other parts of our country, seek out answers to what the hell we wanted to do with our lives and most importantly, quench our adventure thirst.
SLEEP– you will barely get any if you plan on trekking across country with your buddies. This picture was taken as a “remake” from how we ended up in the middle of Arches National Park in Utah. We arrived around 2:30AM after a long drive from Las Vegas, plagued by headaches and sleep deprivation. We ended up sleeping on the side of a road in the park, one of us in the car and the two others on the ground on sleeping bags. The giggles from tourist a few hours later, woke us up and prompt us to get hiking. That was one of the most memorable nights of the trip. My advice, grab a hotel or comfy tent site after two full days in Las Vegas. You need rest.
CAMARADERIE- My buddy and I planned this trip together for months prior to giving our boss the gas face. It was easy, because we worked at the same company and were roommates. If you plan on taking your trip alone, no sweat, this part of the article does not apply to you. Traveling with my buddy was awesome. We got to share the amazing landscapes, culture and experiences together, while individually seeking out direction. I generally did not drive, which was perfect, because I got to sleep and be annoying to the gomer who did. I worked the map, took pictures and videos, watched our spending budget and shouted back seat commands. It got tense here and there, but with every new mountain or portrait that came into view, we dropped jaws and soaked it in. Also, taking selfies with someone is way cooler than holding the phone up alone and snapping one off.
Prepare to have your mind BLOWN- I grew up in Upstate NY, so I was used to seeing green everywhere, then bright fall colors followed by awful snow and muddy springs. I never went past Ohio.The second we hit the mid-west, my mind started to melt. The vast plains, massive windmills, mountain ranges, the colors of fall in Colorado and the black volcanic sand on the coast of Oregon. It was unreal. If you are ever at a point in your life where you do not necessarily know what is next, I would advise taking a personalized road trip. You will learn things about yourself and experience new adventures, then with a clear mind, figure out your next steps! Take a look at some cool shots below:
Green Lake Chronicles 