Every summer growing up we would load up the family van, packed to the brim, and drive for hours and hours south to visit my relatives in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. These road trips were full of fun, fighting, motion sick disasters, and discovery. Each trip was chaotic and unforgettable. Staying in hotels, seeing new sights, and knowing that we would soon be having new adventures with family that we had not seen for over a year was amazing. I would have to say now reflecting on all of our trips that they instilled in me a love for the road and a love for adventure. I know that we always travelled to the same places summer after summer but looking back now, each and every trip was different. The places where we slept, the restaurants we ate at, the roads we drove and the museums and historical spots that we stopped at along the way were all the same but somehow changed with every visit. There was always something new to discover even if we had been there before. It is amazing how perspectives and perceptions change so much as we age. And of course I m sure I have some rose coloured glasses on when I look back on those road trips, however, I know that each trip had a part in shaping and molding me into the wandering soul that I am today.
Road trips make me feel absolutely free. Like the world is mine to conquer between here and there. I am ready for whatever crosses my path. Road trips provide opportunities to slow down, to be curious, spontaneous, and to really appreciate the small things in life.
This has been the longest road trip I have ever been on and I hope it will not be the last.
Whether it is long, short, complicated, frustrating, smooth sailing, you name it, I love it. Road trips have some sort of mystery surrounding them because you never know what may happen. They bring the unexpected. There are so many variable that come into play when you are on the road on your own. For some reason it feels like the possibilities are endless when you get in a car and drive. You never know what will happen and what you may come across. You can stop anywhere you want and whenever you want. Unless, of course, you have some sort of deadline, in which case that is a whole other kind of road trip. Fortunately this was not the kind of road trip I was on. Zero deadlines here.
Road trips provide time to listen to music endlessly, while singing at the top of your lungs, getting lost in the music and the scenery passing you by. Road trips bring about some of the best conversations you may ever have. There is something about being on the open road that makes the mind wander and think of the most random topics of conversation or make you question the meaning of life. Whatever it may be, road trips allow space for memorable and unforgettable conversations. And of course for anyone that knows me should be well aware that regardless of where I am or how much time I have on my hands, I have a hard time shutting up and keeping my thoughts to myself. Maybe that is the only reason why road trips that I am on lead to great conversations. I have all the time in the world to chat, think and aimlessly ramble. And we take our road tripping and conversations very seriously as you can see from the photographic evidence we have from the road.
I have probably mentioned this at some point here but I will say it again. The fact that New Zealand has generously opened its arms for travellers to enjoy their incredible land is amazing. The country has allowed so many"freedom camping" locations so that people can take in the amazing landscape is so generous. The country is trusting the people touring about to respect the land and travel in an environmentally friendly way. And for the most part people understand the fragility of the land, and they treat it with respect.
We took our road side pit stops very seriously. It was always easy to find a picturesque location to stop anywhere along our route for a meal, to stretch our legs, take some photos, catch a sunrise/sunset, or to find a place to sleep for the night. It was a constant reminder that we were travelling though an incredibly gorgeous country that had so much to offer us.
The sights were breath taking and never ending.
At times it is as though time stopped. This has always been the most amazing gift on this trip. The incredibly easy ability to just "be" in the moment. No wishing for time to pass on quicker or to just get moving on to the next place. I would have been perfectly content for the moments captured in these photos to go on an on forever. This is such a huge part of why I feel so at home when I am travelling. You let go of life's stress and learn to really just be in the moment. One day I will figure out how to bring this exact feeling to life when I do not have my travelling shoes on. Of course there have of course been those days that I desperately just want to be out of the car, no longer navigating our next destination, trapped inside a metal box on wheels. These kind of days are when we blast the music and I just try to get lost in the surroundings in hopes that time will pass faster and the kilometres left to go will decrease quickly without notice. These moments have been few and far between, but nevertheless they come.
The roads that we drove, whether it was a road we had never been on or a road that had become very familiar, brought us to incredibly magical places and past ever changing scenery and landscapes. These roads have given me some of the most amazing memories made with a new dear friend and some friends who I will never speak to again but will live in my memories. These roads have seen every side of me and it is hard to believe that these roads that I have come to love and know so well will most likely never see me again. Just like every other trip I have ever gone on, it is always a sad realization that there is a place that you have shared so much of yourself with and it will only become another place you leave behind, taking only the memories you made home with you.
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