It Has Begun!

It was right when the Washington Monument peered over the horizon that I realized I actually did it: I packed up what little belongings I could take with me, shoved them into my car, and left home. Up until that point, it didn’t feel like I had done anything but drive. It certainly didn’t feel like any adventure had begun. But when I realized that I was already passing DC, I knew that I actually left home in search of a city to call home.

I’ll admit, I’ve done very little planning for this excursion – a map, a blog, and a rough idea of where to go. That’s part of the appeal of the whole thing – more action, less thinking. I’m not sure where I’m going to end up, I’ve got some ideas, but I want to find that awesome city that I can feel at home in. I want warm, cultured, and fun. 

I didn’t end up leaving my home until almost four. I finished packing, and said goodbye to my dog. Then I got on the road. The first few hours were not very exciting. I picked up some coffee, and stopped about 20 minutes away to get my new glasses, which arrived just in time. I managed to catch rush hour traffic, and proceeded to swear up and down about how all of these people are suckers for living in New Jersey.

The rest of the trip went pretty much as you’d expect. Lots of driving. Starting in New Jersey, we had 4 lanes of awesome highways to plow through. Then merger after merger, 95 goes down to 2 lanes and pretty much stays like that. Two lanes are about as efficient as mowing the yard with scissors, and will get the job done just as fast. But eventually, I got to Richmond.

The ultimate success of this road trip is going to rely heavily on other people - through interactions in person, and through suggestions or ideas from people online. If I travel through these cities, I will only pick up so much on my own. Traveling through these places with locals, or with people who have been to these places and has suggestions, or from those who know somewhere there now. etc. Those are going to be the real ways that you get to know a city. I'm pretty excited, all in all. Especially, once I start getting to the warmer cities.