Road Trip!
Over 1400 miles in 4 days and 6 states. Quick trip. Not one to really see the sites, but driving your own vehicle and seeing the heart of America from a different angle. Flying over from WA to Indiana, you go across the mountain ranges, feel the ruggedness of Montana and the flat farm lands of the Mid West. How ever driving from Indiana to Texas on the road is a different perspective.
Quick trip, no extra stops, seeing the scenery other than over a bridge, crossing several rivers and state lines. However, this is the Heart of America. Miles, well, states of corn fields and farmland, not only the heart of the country but the heart of the people of our country, the farmer. Crossing state lines the corn fields merge into cotton fields, never seen the cotton fields or rolled the same way they roll hay to transfer.
Leaving Missouri and entering Tennessee from cotton to your larger industrial plants and increased semi truck traffic, the blue collar workers of our country.
No travel is complete with out playing DJ and enjoying the company of many but among my favorites Zepplin, Stones, The Boss and really on this trip my favorite, Mellencamp. Something about the lyrics of Pink Houses, because, " Oh but ain't that America for you and me Ain't that America somethin' to see baby Ain't that America home of the free Little pink houses for you and me".
The terrain changes across state lines, the Fall foliage is amazing on a blue sky sunny day in Kentucky. Deciduous trees with quite the show of colors.
Leaving Arkansas into Texas, beautiful farmlands just change a little and now into live stock ranches ( farming animals). Texas, home of the Long Horn, raising beef! Arkansas certainly has warm people with good Southern hospitality and kindness. Texas, just ask them, they are their own proud breed of Americans, people with deep hearts. Texans pride on love of God, Country and Family.
Its is always refreshing and an eye opener to see other parts of the United States of America, but I would not trade it for the Columbia River Gorge and the Pacific Northwest. There is no place like home. Home of the free, isn't it grand where we live in a country we are free to travel across, move to and try out a new area?
Best part of driving across part of the country? Seeing the American flag flying high state to state. The US has so much to offer, such diverse lands climates and terrain.
Of course I would enjoy really seeing more of it, but I still have plenty to see here in the Pacific North West, I like to spend much of my seeing in hiking boots and exploring and with a real camera not just a quick shot out of the car window. But all is a new adventure and after a week road trip and circling back in flight to WA state, road trip is not in the near future, stay- cation looks inviting.
