Why? Beacuse it's there!

If you were to ask the origination of my love of road trips, I would have to say it is part of my genetic makeup, inherited from my Dad.  I have a curiosity about what is around the next curve in the road I’m driving down, or the next bend in the trail I’m hiking.  When I happen on an extraordinary vista for the first time, I feel like I imagine Lewis & Clark must have felt as they made their way west.  

I decided a number of years ago that I wanted to spend as much of my retirement years as possible traveling my home country - taking the back roads in order to see the towns, meet the people and enjoy the local foods.  My Sophomore high school English teacher introduced me to John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley", which was one of the inspirations that fueled this desire.  My children will probably smile (or maybe roll their eyes) on reading this.  They were participants in many road trips with me over the years.  When they were younger, the only vacations we could afford were trips between Idaho and Oregon/California to visit family.  

At this point in my life, I have many more options open to me, and I am fortunate to live in a country where the geography is diverse and beautiful.  My plan is to see as much as possible for as long as I am able, and to share those experiences with my family and friends through the postings on this blog, and hopefully with some as my traveling companions from time to time.