"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans,
safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that
after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us."John Steinbeck
It's been a long time since I've seen that ad that my title of this piece refers to, but one with sentiment that I've always desired to fulfill. I could have flown out to attend my daughter's high school graduation, but instead I chose to make the 7120 mile round trip journey from Belfast, Maine to Arroyo Grande, California and back in my silver 2003 Chevy Cavalier. After spending almost an entire week on the west coast, I finally arrived back home the other day.
And what an adventure. With my cousin as my traveling companion and co-driver, we made the drive out to California in three days flat. The New England states went by quick, but each state after that was a good 300 to 400 miles wide. After driving through Pennsylvania on I-80, and then connecting with I-70 through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, we started to take a southwest trek through Missouri, and finally connected with I-40 in Oklahoma. From there we continued on I-40 all the way to Irving, California. Along the way, we managed to find a couple of stretches of Rt. 66 in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona to drive on. But the real highlight of the trip out was Cadillac Ranch. We were just outside of Amarillo, Texas when my cousin spotted the buried-nose-first-in-the-ground vintage Cadillacs. We managed to turn around at the next exit, and followed the frontage road that lead to a parking area. It's a short walk through a grass field to the 10 cars speckled in layers of painted graffiti. Though what I found particularly curious was that all the cars were facing west. "Rust hedge with cows for a backdrop," I suggested to my cousin. She laughed and said I spend too much time pondering over things that just should be appreciated for what they are. After taking pictures and bemusing over the display, we headed back to the car and continued on with our journey.
We finally arrived in Arroyo Grande the next afternoon, a day earlier than planned. After I dropped my cousin off at a friend's house, I checked into the Great Western Casa Grande Inn. I called my ex-wife to let her know I made it in okay, and was taken aback when she invited me over for a cup of coffee. We hadn't seen each other since we divorced almost 16 years ago, even though we had managed to stay in close contact with each other. Nevertheless, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. Together, we had two children: my son, who lived with me while growing up; and my daughter, who has lived with her mother.
Article comments
1 - alpha
What a great, intimate story to share as a 21st century Kerouac. It sounds like an eviable trip, a nostalgic trip, and, as we said in the 60's "a trip"of a journey.
My wife and I also made that 3 day trip in 1969 from Ithaca to Santa Cruz in one of those $50 cars people paid to ship and you paid to be the driver: a '64 T-bird. It was the obligatory excursion cross-country but in those days of slow highways three days didn't allow for the seeing and feeling of America.
Congratulations for your daughter and for your bravery and ability to get there.
It was a good story and a trip that took you rather than you taking it. That is the way of trips into uncharted emotions.
I envy you an adolescent journey repeated with more wisdom and age.
2 - S. L. Cunningham
Thank you for your response. Kerouac may be too kind but I appreciate the compliment.
3 - SFC Ski
I've been fortunate enough to drive across the US about 7 times, both alone and with someone, I never tired of seeing what was further along the road, and to finally gain sight of the ocean at either end was always a thrill.