Long road trips can take a lot out of you. As a kid, every year, twice a year, we'd book it for 7 hours straight to visit our grandparents in Pennsylvania. Highway after highway passed by without a single thing to do. Sure, we'd stop at road-side rest stops and fast-food joints, but otherwise we were glued to our seat.
This "the trip doesn't matter" attitude, meant that, for the longest time, West Virginia, Maryland and south-central PA were nothing more to me than the highway. Pennsylvania, to me, was an odd mixture of Amish people and adult book stores. (If you've ever driven on 11/15 in PA you'll know what I mean.) I never got to stop and eat at Dodie's Restaurant in Chambersburg, or see downtown Martinsburg, or eat some great food at one of the numerous Amish markets. Instead, I was stuck with my misconceptions and a sore butt.
So, the next time you're going to visit parents, friends, or anyone else within a day's drive (especially if you have kids with you) plan a few side trips. Find that cool farm, a weird restaurant, or just stop in a downtown of somewhere new. You'll find you'll have more to remember from that trip than just your destination. Who knows, that side trip could turn out to be your next real trip.
Like your posts! Short and sweet, but always with a good message (and great pics too!). This one is no exception. Reminds me of William Least Heat Moon's book from the 1980s, Blue Highways, where he got off the interstate highway system and took 2-lane roads. He met some really interesting people! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the compliments and the book mention. I'll have to check that out! :)
preach it :)
We're ramblers, big time. It takes us forever to get from A to B because we have to stop and look at... everything. :)
We are too, sometimes we don't end up where we intended at all! :)
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