Roadtrip Recap

We’ve shared a lot of photos from our roadtrip on our travel blog, but we wanted to do a little recap of our personal photos here. Looking back through these images makes me unbelievably happy. It was six weeks filled with new places, amazing people, and the best traveling companion I could’ve asked for (I married him just so I could always travel with him. Not really, but kinda). As I remember our trip, it wasn’t only the destinations that were amazing, but also the driving. Bryan and I filled our hours in the car with listening to audio books (such as On the Road by Jack Kerouac…how fitting?), singing along with everything from Robyn to Fleet Foxes to Jay-Z (okay, that was just me at 8am keeping myself awake on my driving shift after a full night in the car), eating SO MUCH TRAIL MIX, and laughing. There was A LOT of laughing. Not entirely sure why, but everything becomes a lot funnier when you have been in a car for weeks on end. That creepy gas station we stopped at in the middle of the desert at 2am, with the flickering lights? Hilarious. And when our car got searched by border patrol in far west Texas and the dog was going crazy (who owned the car before us and what did they hide??)? So funny. Not really. But don’t worry, the dog just smelled our trail mix and got confused.

This was a trip that I don’t want to forget, and I am so happy that we have photos to remember it by. Each image takes me back to those specific moments and the stories around them. Eating at a food truck in Austin with a man we had just met. Staying up late with Sarah & Adam, playing music and drinking Michigan wine. Standing just miles from the border of Mexico and feeling as if the whole world is so very close and connected. Spending two relaxing days in Marfa, TX, where we ate Marfalafel and wandered the quiet streets. And then we drove to Arizona and fell in love with Tucson (thanks for showing us around, Casia & Eric!), the Grand Canyon, and especially Sedona (and the amazing vegan waffle I ate there).  And then all the goodness of California and Colorado, and why do all the good states start with the letter ‘C’??? Well, besides Michigan, that is.

When we got home from our trip, I was exhausted, probably smelly, but so happy. Happy for the adventure. For the friends we made, for the people we got to know even better, for the margaritas, for the creepy gas station in the middle of nowhere…this life is good, pals. You know that, right? It’s really good. And as amazing as our trip was, coming home to our city, our amazing city (seriously, it’s my favorite) was such a good feeling. Sitting on our porch with some of our dearest friends the night we got home, catching up on the last six weeks of all of our lives made the perfect ending to our journey. It made us realize that what made our whole trip so great was the people. The folks who gave us tours of their cities, took us to their art shows, made us yummy meals, modeled for us, took photos of us…they are the ones that made our trip so wonderful. People are good. I am convinced. So be sure to hug your friends and family and that annoying neighbor that plays his music too loud every night of the week, because they are who make your life interesting. Worthwhile. It’s true. And to everyone whose paths we crossed on the road…thank you. It was a pleasure to share moments with you, even if they weren’t quite long enough. Can’t wait to get out and do it again!