I have some time, about a year or so, before any of this starts happening, but some i think some forethought and planning are a necessaity. I’m looking to network with some folks for this trip. People with helpful advice, whom might be able to put me up or show me their town, whom have life experience and stories of their own to share, know people whom know people whom can help in anyway to make this trip possible and fulfilling. Please email me markeomau@hotmail.com or to get a little better idea of who I am visit my Myspace page. So here’s my story.
I’m young. Twenty two to be exact and I am making my way across the country. “Where to?” you might ask. Well, to Maryland. Why? Because my aunt and uncle live there and it’s entirely across the country from me.
Currently I reside in Washington. Home of the emerald city, one of the most fertile and productive growing regions for hops in the world, and Olympia beer. Olympia is the city I specifically reside in, which doubles as the states capital. I’ve lived in this area for nearly 17 years and it’s finally time to get out. Now don’t get me wrong Olympia is a beautiful place. The people are kind, the city has a strong history and it generally is a very laid back place to be. In fact people come from all over the country and the world to attend the evergreen state college. Probably one of the greatest benefits of living here is getting to meet these people and learning where they’re from, where they’ve been, the experiences they had, the people they’ve met, etc. and so on. The list goes on and on. Most all of my closest friends are of these people, and I feel it’s finally my time to step out into the world and become one of them, but in my own unique way.
I look forward to meeting crazy, passionate, helpful, awesome, adventurous, wise, kind hearted types of folks. I look forward to leaving my home town, to taking myself out of my norm and embarking on a trip of self discovery. It’s my feeling that the best way for one to learn the most about themselves and what they’re capable of , is to take one’s self out of their norms of the day to day. It’s really time for me to get out and challenge myself.
So here’s my plan. Drive across the country to Maryland, but take my time. If I were to race across the country in as short of a trip as possible, then I might as well fly. I am going to take my time. Maybe a month, give or take, but I really want to take some time and see as much as I can and to get as much as I can out of the trip. I want to stop in major cities and little towns. I want to see the amazing sites and landscapes this country has to offer. It’s all about the experience and that is my motto.
I am still very young and I know I have a lot to do and experience and to learn about myself before I’m ready to settle down, start a career, meet someone special to build a life and start a family with. The latter are very important to me, so It’s time to get some restlessness out of me. Thank you for reading and I appreciate your time.
Sincerely,
Mareko Maumasi (most people call me Mark)
I'm all in favor of road trips, especially when you're young. How are you going to pay for it? Whose car?
When my husband was around your age, he did a road trip with a friend between LA and NY. They took a detour through the south. They visited every ballpark they could. While not exactly life-changing, he still remembers it fondly 30+ years later. Happy planning.
Mark, Mr. W. Snout lives not far from you. Perhaps you could start the journey by caravaning with him and having him treat you to an extravagant dinner. You may not be able to keep up with him unless you have a very fast car. Do you have any specifics in mind for your trip or are you just going to go where your experiences lead you? Will you seek natural wonders?
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<hr>That might be something to think about, are the life changing travel experiences best acomplished by going out into the great unknown all by yourself?<hr></blockquote>
When I was 20, I hitched (back in the days when it was still in style) from Ketchu, Idaho to San Francisco. Took me two days. I had a backpack. Yes, I was a backpacker. I slept on a football field in Winnemucca, NV. I don't know if it changed my life, but it was a hell of a great adventure. I think the most memorable moment was when a pickup truck with a man, wife and kid stopped for me, They opened the little window in the back of the cab, shoved their 10-year-old son into the pickup bed (he was thrilled -- seriously, he was), invited me into the front seat and fed me beers all the way across the state. on I-80.
I seriously wish I'd done that at 22 (not that 25 is so old and unadventurous, but right out of college just seems ideal). If you're nervous, the AAA "Triptik" route is nice - they can plan the driving part of your trip for you if you tell them what you want to see.
Christ, having the AAA map out your route renders the whole thing beside the point. If you can't read a Rand McNally Road Atlas you don't belong in a car, and the same goes if you can't deal with whatever detours you find along the way. This isn't rocket science.
Go for it. Why not think bigger and go to Europe or Australia or New Zealand or SE Asia?
When I was 22 I schlepped a backpack around Europe for the first time. It was fantastic. Remembering it puts a smile on my face...even when I was freezing my ass off in England. It was a nice sunny June morning. Who would have thought it would end up as freezing rain in the afternoon. The locals made fun of me and my "brass monkeys" as I was in shorts as well. Good times!
If you can't read a Rand McNally Road Atlas you don't belong in a car
Well, gee, pardon me for trying to supply another idea to someone who might be nervous about doing it alone. There is a middle ground, you know, between taking a tourist bus across the country and driving with just an atlas and a flask.
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