Thursday, August 26, 2010

Let Me Read a Road Again Someday...

I love a road trip.

Growing up, we spent our first vacations at Carpenteria beach. I have lots of wonderful memories from those vacations. Rubber rafts and wave riding, the smell of Coppertone, liverwurst sandwiches on white bread with mustard, lots of mayo, and a little bit of sand, nightly bonfires with marshmallow roasting...

When we moved to the mobile park on the beach, taking vacations at another beach must have seemed redundant to my parents. Not sure how and when the wandering spirit took over for them, but starting the summer after 6th grade, our vacations became road trips. A little bit of camping, a bit of motels as well. We always started going straight up from LA along the coast and spent a few days in the Redwoods. After that we saw most of the Western United States over the next few summers.

It got to the center of my soul and after years of living on an island, one thing I miss the most is hitting the road.

A good friend of mine who moved here from the Seattle area and taught with me for several years moved back to the Northwest a couple of years ago. She sent me a viral email with the photos I put in this post. I am not usually fond of those forwarded emails, but this one, well. Take a look for yourself.

Which of these roads would any of you like to hit first?

Someday, after getting kids through college and elderly parent into assisted living... after recovering from illness and medical bills and furloughed paychecks... one of these days I am going to use my summers appropriately. I hope to hit the road. Nearly any road will do, but one of these would be amazing.

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


#7


#8


#9


#10


#11


#12


#13

Got a road trip to share? Any posts about how to feel like your on vacation even when you hang out around your own home turf? Link on up...

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." ~St. Augustine


21 comments:

CiCi said...

These are such great photos. I think when I grew up in the Riverside area we visited Doheny Beach more often because my cousins in Gardena liked it there.

Sprite's Keeper said...

To HALF those roads, I would say "Hell, no!" Can I just continue living vicariously through you?

cheatymoon said...

I love those roads... so cool!! When I lived in CA, I was quite close to Carpenteria - love those beaches.

I have a road trip themed post that will go up at some point today. xo

Brian Miller said...

fabulous roads...i would love to find all of them at some point...the road she calls me...

Michele said...

We love road trips and take them as often as possible. We went on a short road trip this weekend. I've included the link.

Anonymous said...

They all look awesome. I'm intrigued by #6, a bit terrified by 7 and 9 (same bridge?), and would LOVE to drive on #10 (or climb up to it, as I am a rock climber in my spare time).

Does the email say where any of these are? Would love to know.

Liz Mays said...

I like #2 for the fall colors and the fun lumptybumps!

secret agent woman said...

Don't you think the second one looks like ribbon candy?

tulpen said...

#3 is the best. Even though it reminds me of a recurring nightmare I'd had as a child.


I did the epic cross country road trip. Twice. Haven't dedicated enough blog time to that. I should rememdy it soon eh?

Julie H said...

Oh those are some fantastic roads! I love the one with the wave but that would be really scary too!

Kristan said...

Wow! I think #5 is my fave, and #10/#11 terrify me, lol.

Hope you get a road trip soon!

Scented Leaf said...

Nice pictures! I like trips and those roads are really amazing!

Bill Lisleman said...

that email is making the rounds which in itself is kinda amazing.

The most important road is the road you are on. But yes I've enjoyed road trips and travel in general. At the top of my list and many lists is that Road to Hana on an island near you.

lisahgolden said...

I would have hard time choosing where to begin. Your idea of what to do when the dust settles sounds very familiar. I'm looking forward to some road trips without all the extra baggage.

sage said...

Disregard my first link--it isn't working. I love the #6 picture--it looks like a lot of roads across central Nevada--where you cross wide valleys between fault block mountains.

ds said...

Oh, my. Nos 8 and 13 (with 1 right behind) would probably be my first choices. But then, I have driven over the Hoover dam. Don't know if I could take weaving in and out of rock formations.
Woody Guthrie was right, however. It is a "ribbon" of highway.
Whenever you take your road trip, it will be awesome.

Eddie Bluelights said...

All brilliant photos Pseudo - very impressive shots, all of them.

Your roast is on the dinner table for everyone to feast LOL. Don't forget the mice sauce!
Cheers
Eddie

Maggie May said...

The roads that seem to draw me into driving through, are numbers 1 & 8. Some of them are crazy and you'd have to pay me to go there!
I came over from my brother Eddie's Sunday Roast and found your interview made compulsive reading. I am no closer to knowing what you look like...... but do envy your ability to dive. I can't even swim!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

creative kerfuffle said...

i LOVE that quote at the bottom and all of the cool road pics. makes me want to take a trip down each one of them.

Tom said...

Those are amazing pictures!

hillgrandmom said...

All such interesting looking roads! I love 3, 4, 5 & 8 the best I think.