One thing guaranteed to get me daydreaming is a good old-fashioned map. I have all kinds of maps – funky new ones, faded antique ones, maps of places that don’t exist (yes, I own a map of Ankh Morpork– in my defense, it was a present – but I love it, so there!)
There are some pretty great map wallpapers for your computer too, for those times when you’re chained to your desk and need reminding of the world out there waiting to be discovered. Here is my current favourite:
The map that has been of most interest to me recently, however, is this one:
You see, since I first set foot in the US I’ve been dreaming of seeing more of this vast country. I hear tales of people travelling coast to coast and north to south and think about how much fun it would be. I sing along to the radio, “…get your kicks on Route 66” and think about all the places I want to see. Not too long ago, an amazingly vibrant friend of mine sold everything she owned, bought a camper van that used to belong to a Dead Head and hit the road. So.flipping.cool I could barely stand it. I went over to her place to say goodbye and almost stowed away in the back seat!
Fast forward a few weeks and one of my best friends from Seattle called me to tell me she was moving to Boston. She has a dear, sweet doggy who gets kind of car sick, and she was thinking it might be easier to do the journey with a friend in tow. So she asked me if I’d like to do a road trip from Seattle to Boston. Yeah, it took all of, oh, about 2 seconds to say yes. Truth be told, I think I’d already said yes before she finished asking the question.
So my plan is to take a train cross-country from New York to Seattle, (Why train? Because trains are cool!), hang out in Seattle for a few days, drive back across the country to Boston, and then fly back to Seattle to rediscover my love of the west coast.
Three times across the country in as many weeks; by plane, train and automobile. Hey, that would make a great movie title.
Who’s excited? I am!
Follow my adventure here.
Where's my backpack? 
You will love it. My first husband and I took a 3 month trip across country right after college (this was 1978!), living in a van as we traveled. He ended up getting a job as a reporter in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They told us we could finish our trip at our leisure, and then report to work in Idaho in January, 1979. What an adventure. We saw everything!!
What an experience that must have been, Cathy! I won’t get to see everything, but what I see I shall enjoy the heck out of! 🙂
You certainly will, I’m sure. You have a joy and love of life that will always guarantee a good time… 🙂
Envy ur cross country trip
I can’t wait, it’s really only starting to sink in now, I’m packing like crazy with the radio on full blast. 🙂
I’m excited too!! Let us know when your longer trip in Seattle is beginning… I wanna get in on some catching up action 🙂
Will do, Diva! Can’t wait to catch up. Hey, we need to make some theatre magic happen when I’m there. xxx
How exciting. Hope you take plenty of pictures of your travel. If you look carefully at your second map, you will see Pittsburgh, right above Columbus. Maybe one day you will visit here.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
And when I do, Francine, I hope you will be ready to show me your favourite haunts! xxx Ailsa
Will be glad to.
I’ve always wanted to do this! Have a great time!
Thanks Doris. I’ve always wanted to do it too and now it’s going to happen. I hope that one day soon, it will be you writing a post like this, getting ready to hit the road. 🙂
Great time to be in the PNW–we are in the midst of our summer finally. So much to see and do here. Enjoy!
Seattle is so lovely in the summer; there’s usually just not that much of it! The best description I ever heard was: Seattle is like a beautiful woman… who is sick all the time. Good job I like the rain 🙂
Have fun!
I will for sure, Emma, thanks!
Ohhhhhh! Lucky you. I am so jealous! Traveling the USA in every way, shape, and form is my dream. Have a blast. PIX!!!!!!
Oh you KNOW I’ll be taking photos, that’s a promise! 🙂
In my book, American road trips are the BEST, Ailsa. What fun, you and your friend will have. Hope doggy doesn’t get too sick. 😉
It should be quite an adventure, and we’re hoping for a smooth trip with doggy! I figure after the first 1000 miles he’ll have got used to being in a car 🙂
I sure hope so. 😉
So FUN!!!! Let me know if you head through Colorado, which of course you SHOULD! 🙂
Will do – although I suspect that’ll be a little out of the way, going from Seattle to Boston we’ll probably stay north. Which means I’ll just have to do another road trip later to take in Colorado! 🙂
True – would be quite a detour, but I would love to get to meet you and you could get some great photos out here! 🙂
In which case, I’ll make sure to let you know when I do another road trip and am headed your way, I’d love to meet up! It would also be a great opportunity to see the breathtaking scenery in your part of the world! xxx
Happy Trails… to you! (to keep along with your movie reference 😉 )
Haha, thanks CTB 😉
You know the colour of Shrek? Well i’m that colour now!
Such a lovely colour it is too! 😉
When I was in the US back in September/October last year, I caught a train from New York to Washington. The journey was SO smooth… I honestly didn’t notice the train was moving until someone pointed it out….
I’m hoping that will be my experience too! Although it’ll be a slightly longer trip – three days and three nights! There have been some heatwaves in the north east, and that’s caused some trains to derail, but hopefully there’ll be slightly cooler weather for my trip! 🙂
Whoo-hoo! You’re going to have so much to talk/write about! 🙂
(And if you hold doggy in your lap with the window rolled down, so it can look out the window and get fresh air, (s)he may not get carsick at all. Worth a try…)
It’s going to be an awfully big adventure, Susie. The doggy in question (he) is a Rhodesian ridgeback so he might flatten me if he tries to sit in my lap 🙂 but I shall snuggle up next to him as we both look out the window 🙂
Hi! I just nominated you for the inspiring blog award!! http://aparnanairphotography.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/my-first-blog-award/
Woohoo, thanks Aparna. I love that you have nominated my little old blog. I have been the recipient of some wonderful awards over the past couple of months and still haven’t written an awards post, because I’ve been so busy having adventures! But I have tried to respond to everyone with a huge thank you so they know I very much appreciate the nominations, and when things slow down, I shall try to do a very overdue awards post!
Train trips are surreal, the scenery rushing by while you just sit and enjoy. Looking forward to your posts…
I adore train travel, it reminds me of those classic old movies – I always feel like I should be wearing bright red lipstick and a hat!
1989 I did the Transmongolian. Just the best experience ever
Oh boy, now that sounds crazy cool – have you blogged about it?
In 1989 blogging was not heard of. Didn’t even have internet back then. Cameras were not digital and had to wait nearly 2 months before I could get my SLR 35mm film developed when I finally arrived in UK. I have started my second blog memoriesaremadeofthisblog with the intention of posting about those times but am so busy just keeping up with recording and doing present travels that it will have to wait till I am in my rocking chair!!!!!
Gosh, I almost forgot there was a time before blogging. BB and AB 😉 You know what, pommepal, you are an inspiration, and I’m willing to bet what when you’re in your rocking chair, it’ll have wheels and you’ll still be having adventures!
I hope so….
I love trains. Sounds like a blast. Will be looking forward to your posts.
Me too, Penny. I hope the wifi works and that I get power on the train, so I can blog as I watch the countryside roll by. Wish me luck! xxx
Assuming it’s an Amtrak you should be able to. I used the wifi last summer on the train from Santa Barbara to San Jose
It is Amtrak all the way, hurrah!
I really want to do a train trip through the northeast. It’s on my bucket list. 🙂
I hope you get to do it soon, Penny – what places are you hoping to travel to in the northeast?
The Empire route looks interesting, Buffalo, Hudson River Valley, Niagara Falls, The Adirondack route looks great too.
Enjoy the ride, from coast to coast to coast…(to coast?). 😉
Haha, thanks Robin – yes, that final coast is a valid one. NY to Seattle to Boston to Seattle. Whew. I’m exhausted just typing it! 🙂
Okay, then add ANOTHER coast–that is, if you ever plan to return to NY. 😉
I’m sure a trip back to NY will happen, but not right away – I’m getting dizzy just thinking about the number of back-and-forths 🙂
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This is totally our dream – a cross country trip by train, plane, and car, and maybe even a boat to Alaska. Who knows – it could happen!! Have a wonderful journey!!!
Ooh, I do hope you get to do it soon, LubbyGirl – and the boat to Alaska sounds like an awfully good idea. I have my sights set on Alaska sometime soon. Got to see those Northern Lights!
well, it was that or a road trip this summer – and since we didn’t book early enough to get a good rate, it’s the road trip. aw shucks…gotta take a road trip. 🙂 I’ll do it!!
It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. 🙂
Sounds like a rollicking good time and a truly great road trip. Will you be picking up the Starlight Express in LA to Seattle? Hope you have a chance to stop off at some of the oddball kooky roadside attractions like the mustard museum, and the beautiful national parks along the way. Will you have time to try a ferry boat ride in Seattle? Totally worth it.
On the way over, I’m going through Chicago, and then straight to Seattle, so I won’t be travelling via LA at all. I’ll only have a short turnaround in Seattle before heading off on the roadtrip. We’ll be travelling the north route across to Boston, which goes by/through some incredible countryside – I’m so excited to see the Badlands! Then I’ll spend a little bit of time exploring Boston – and then back to Seattle so will be spending quite some time there at that point. Ferry trips are most definitely on the horizon – one of my favourites is the trip from West Seattle to Vashon, but I also want to make it to the San Juans, I hear they are spectacular.
If you’re heading through the Badlands–you might be interested in Mt. Rushmore and Custer Park. It sounds like a really great road trip. I hope you have alot of fun.
Cool, I’ll make the suggestion to my friend and check them out on Google. Thanks for the tip! 🙂
Road trips and train trips are so much fun! The US is so immensely varied and fascinating, you can’t go wrong. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous!
It’s ok to admit jealousy, Silken, we’re all friends here 😉 I have to admit, I’ve been reading about folks criss-crossing the country and watching friends head off on trips and been green with envy myself, so I’m thrilled I’m finally setting out to see some more of this huge country. Now if I can just fit everything I need in my backpack!
Ailsa,
How wonderful! I just signed up so I can hear all about your wonderful trip and see your photos…have a blast!!
Woohoo, Sue, thanks for joining the adventure. I’m so excited, I’ve had a permanent grin on my face all week.
Train trips can be dreamy – hope you get your wish!
How romantic that sounds, I’m thinking of Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest now 😉
You are way too cool! Looking forward to seeing your travel pics!
Haha, thanks Amy 😉
It is a wonderful life!
It truly is 🙂
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Wow I’m so excited for you!!!! I can’t wait to hear about it. I wish you a happy journey and I hope the dog handles the trip well. Take lots of photos and I hope you share. And yes, trains are cool!
Oh yes, TBM, I shall be taking my camera with me on the road, and it will be put to good use, that’s a promise. Yes, I hope our canine road buddy does ok, but we’ve built in extra time just in case he needs to get out every so often and take a break. 😉
Ooh! So envious 🙂
But then we will get to live it vicariously through you when you return. Have fun 🙂
I’m hoping to try and do at least a few posts while I’m on the road – I don’t know how difficult it will prove, but wish me luck, Madhu. xxx
Ailsa, how can I have missed this exciting news? I’m just back from Kandy and missed your weekly challenge yesterday and came in to see what’s happening – I guess the answer is, you’re on the road! Have lots of fun with puppy – windows down, lots of fresh air (I know, Maggie gets car sick too!). Look forward to hearing about your trip, and seeing your pictures, when you stop a while:)
Whew, I’m back online, Wanderlust – but still on the road. What a spectacular country this is! Just posted the weekly travel theme, I lost track of the days, hee hee! Puppy is doing remarkably well!
Look forward to hearing about it later. Glad puppy is doing ok – that could have been a bit dicky!
I got covered in plenty of drool before he got his ‘road legs’ – but he’s a seasoned traveller now, and I am (almost) drool free. I do believe I shall dedicate a post especially to him, he’s the most adorable dog. 🙂
Found myself grinning broadly, making those funny mewing noises one makes when one is tickled, thinking how lovely! I’m such a sucker for dogs, and those bonds we make with them!