The is an account of my solo cross-country drive from Massachusetts to California, taking the southern route of I-40W (for most of the way).
Day 1 (MA to Herndon VA); Total drive time - 9 hours 45 minutes; Gas total - $29.69; Tolls - $23.95
It was a beautiful, sunny day; cold in the 30's degrees Fahrenheit but dry. I drove across 7 states (MA, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA), crossed 3 bridges (the Leonard P Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston MA, the George Washington Bridge in NYC and the Delaware Memorial Bridge in DE) and paid many tolls (@ the MA Turnpike, NJ Turnpike, DE Memorial Bridge, DE Turnpike, MD Fort McHenry Tunnel and the IAD Airports Authority). By the time I arrived at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport hotel in Herndon, VA, I was wiped out.
Day 2 (Herndon VA to Lexington KY, via West VA); Total drive time - 10 hours; Toll - $2.00; Gas total - $55.79
Driving along I-81S and then I-64W, I came across many familiar restaurants from my past life. Do any of these ring a bell and conjure up fond memories?1. Bob Evans
2. Ruby Tuesday
3. Waffle House
4. Hardees
5. Arby's
6. Shoney's
7. Cracker Barrel
8. Dairy Queen
9. Sonic's
The drive on the second day was a tad stressful. The snowy conditions up in the Appalachians and the noise from the radio really tested my patience. I did not mind the country music (which dominated the air waves in this part of the country) but all that mindless chatter and commercials after EACH song was too much to bear. Haven't they heard of the saying, "Talk less and say more"? The other two options were to turn off the radio or listen to Christian music and scripture readings from the other radio stations, both of which I did at various points of the drive. This was after all "Bible Country" too.
Day 3 (Lexington KY to Little Rock AR, via TN); Total drive time - 9 hours; Gas total - $52.78
I was thrilled to get an extra hour of sleep in the Central Time Zone :) The later sunset at 6 PM EST or 5 PM CST was another huge welcome - the longer day was definitely a nice change from the dreadful 4-ish PM nightfall in Boston!
The drive today was much more pleasant than yesterday's snowy conditions and hilly slopes. I was presented with bright skies, cotton-ball clouds, and everything in between. When not pressed to be alert, I sometimes found myself daydreaming and looking up into the sky, with classical/choral/Christmas music from the radio playing in the background...
En-route to Arkansas from Lexington KY, I crossed Tennessee's Dixieland, driving on the so-called "Music Highway" and passing cities like Nashville, Jackson and Memphis. Many Tennessee drivers seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere... a distinct difference from their seemingly more gentle and polite Kentuckian neighbors, generally-speaking of course.
Day 4 (Little Rock AR to Amarillo TX, via OK); Total drive time - 9 hours 30 minutes; Gas total - $74.20
Some notes about Oklahoma:
1) Open space - it was nice to be able to look out into the flat horizon
2) Indian nation - I came across many Indian-sounding names like "Okfuskee", "Weleetka", "Okemah", "Kickapoo Nation" or "Shawnee Maker" on the road signs; casinos were also commonly seen3) I saw some creative outdoor billboards along the Oklahoma stretch of I-40W - a favorite would be Chick-fil-a's "Detour from Beef - eat Chikin!" with an image of 2 cows, each holding the banner on opposite ends :)
4) I didn't know that country singer Reba McEntire and American Idol 2005 Carrie Underwood were both from Oklahoma.
Day 5 (Amarillo TX to Flagstaff AZ, via NM); Total drive time - 9 hours 45 minutes; Gas total - $34.52
New Mexico, "The land of enchantment", truly lived up to its name. I felt a spiritual "presence" here, a form of "land energy" that I could not put my finger on; perhaps it was part UFO (think Roswell) and part Native American spirit? I noticed an emphasis on natural elements like birds, water, etc on public infrastructure such as billboards, sound barriers and overhead bridges. There was definitely a distinct culture in NM; roadside billboards called-out to drivers to stop and buy Indian pottery, rattlesnake souvenirs and Native American arts and crafts.
My friend Kumi was right - as I drove out west, I felt more and more comfortable inside. The west seemed to fit me better like a glove. I was completely at ease on this drive. The open road, the flat horizon, the bright sun and blue sky with instrumental Christmas music playing on the radio, I felt FREE. I also noticed the quiet peace in the mountains and the calm desert and canyons, and I was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this moment - on Christmas day, no less.
Day 6 (Flagstaff AZ to Barstow CA); Total drive time - 6 hours 25 minutes; Gas total - $47.05
At 7,000 ft (2,130 m) elevation, Flagstaff, Arizona was bitterly cold at this time of the year - the combination of the cold air and gusty wind felt like sharp daggers on the skin. The scenic drive passing through Coconino National Forest and Kaibab National Forest, where I saw snow and Ponderosa pine trees, was a pleasant change from the otherwise desert and flat plain scenes that dominated the journey west. As there was no rest area between Flagstaff and the next gas station at Petro Stopping Center, about 113 miles apart, Petro was naturally packed with travelers. I developed a new-found adoration for the people who operate remote travel stops for the benefit of truckers and travelers. Without them, life on the road would have been rough.
I was all smiles when I crossed the border from Arizona into California at 1:30 PM (PST). Spontaneously, I cried out in joy, "Woohoo! I made it!" :D
I had one of those "grateful-to-be-alive" moments at Needles, CA when I realized that the (!) light on the dashboard (that had re-appeared after I pumped some air into the tires at Flagstaff AZ) was actually a warning of a possible explosion that could have been life-threatening.
After a gas refill at a Shell station in Needles, CA, I decided to get my tires checked. I thought that perhaps they needed more air in them (since that was how I had gotten rid of the (!) light in NJ). The gas attendant took the liberty to check the air pressure for me for each tire. He could not believe his eyes when he saw that the air pressure on all 4 tires were over 3x the max limit! Each tire had a pressure of over 100 psi! Immediately, he asked the owner of a tire shop next to the gas station to verify; he was right. The elderly owner took over to help me "bleed" air off the tires down to the standard 35 psi. Everyone at the gas station who heard about this were astounded that I could drive the long distance from Flagstaff AZ to Needles CA on such high-pressure tires. One guy said that I was very lucky. Indeed. Not only was I shocked speechless, I was extremely grateful to be alive. Oh silly, reckless and ignorant me! The elderly man who helped me had these pair of sparkling blue eyes that spoke to your heart. When I asked him how much I owed him, he said "nothing". He and the kind attendant were some of the angels I had encountered on this trip. I was (and still am) very blessed.
Day 7 (Barstow CA to Bay Area); Total drive time - 8 hours 45 minutes; Gas total - $30.47
On this final leg of the journey, here's a reflection on some of the lessons learned:
1) While there is a goal of getting from point A to point B, there is no need to rush it. Under normal circumstances, appreciate the present, the moment and the beauty that surrounds us. There is no need to speed and become aggressive on the road. Who are these people trying to impress anyway?
2) We all need road maps in life to get to our destination(s) and achieve our personal goal(s). Unfortunately, not many people plan where to go in life - either because of ignorance or inertia. For the latter, they tend to wait for change to happen to them (much like the story of "Who moved my cheese?"). Without a road map, we may end up lost, frustrated, or run out of gas (resources). We should also be prepared that our plans may not be God's plans - be ready for u-turns, dead-ends, long journeys, traffic stops and even possible vehicle malfunction (as I had learned first-hand).
3) Pray and talk to God; marvel at God's glorious creations.
4) Keep an open mind and do not judge others by their appearance. They may not be who they seem to be - and it works both ways. Often times, the unlikeliest people may turn out to be our saviors. While God may have created each of us equally, He gives each of us different gifts and talents so that together, we can help one another out.
5) There is humility in the ordinary. I have total respect for the ordinary folks who work hard to make an honest living. Take the semi-truckers for example - they are outdoors driving on the road while people are indoors celebrating the holidays with their families. They keep our local stores stocked with the latest stuff like toys, food, clothing, etc.
6) My perspectives have changed over time and with travel. Urban-living for the most of 2010 has renewed my appreciation for California's natural beauty and grandeur. I was so captivated by the rolling green hills near Tehachapi and the orchards and farms on the fertile valley of central California along I-58W that I found myself "oohing" and "ahhing" along the way! We never really miss something until we are apart from it.
As the sun began to set, I realized with some sadness the end(ing) of a journey. I have learned a lot along the way, and not just on this journey; if you were to ask me now if I would do it all over again, I would reply in a heartbeat, "I won't have it any other way." The end is also a new beginning.
Trip duration - 7 days/6 nights; Total distance driven - 3,619 miles (5,824 KM); One-way car rental - $420; Total tolls - $25.95; Total gas (including final distance to rental car return at SJC) - $347.87. Excluding meals and lodging, the transportation expense alone amounted to almost $800. I paid a premium for doing this trip solo. While this was pricier than one economy class airplane ticket for the BOS-SFO sector, I have to say that the experience was priceless. Also, I was able to load all of my belongings in the car and did not have to deal with excess baggage charges, TSA screenings and the like. Happy and safe travels to you if you're planning on doing this road trip too!
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