Experiencing the great American adventure

There are many stories and movies about the great American adventure where somebody heads out on a cross-country drive to see the United States.

This week I am taking part in such and adventure. While I have been to the West Coast on three previous occasions, my trip to Seattle this week will be the first time I have made the journey by car.

A good friend of mine called me a couple of months ago to let me know he, his wife and child would be heading to Seattle and wanted to know if I would be interested in going. I told him I would love to, but I could not afford the plane ticket.

When he told me they were driving I thought he was joking. After I found out he was serious, I began thinking about taking the trip.

I began to think about all of the negatives to the trip. The cost of gas and hotels on the trip out there and back. Spending long hours in the car as we drive across the continent. His 3-years-old son getting bored while we drive through Kansas because there is nothing to see but miles and miles of corn.

Yes, there are several reasons why I could have easily walked away from my friend’s offer. But in the end I couldn’t walk away because I am in need of a great American adventure.

I have no doubts the drive out and back will be full of frustrating misadventures, but I love to travel and I am eager to see parts of the country I have only seen from and altitude of 35,000 feet.

While I am not too thrilled about the miles of Kansan corn, I can’t wait to drive through the Rockies or the Pacific Northwest. I will have the opportunity to see cities I have always wanted to visit such as St. Louis and Denver.

I will get to try new regional foods such as Kansas City barbecue. When we get to Seattle we can drive to the Olympic Peninsula and see the Pacific Ocean. While we are in town we can look to the south and see the majesty of Mount Rainier — and hope the active volcano decides to wait until we leave before erupting.

I will get to experience many of the things that make the United States a great country. I will see the agricultural heartland. I will see the results of the determination of our forefathers as they pushed the wilderness further and further west until it fell into the Pacific Ocean. I will get to see much of the natural beauty of the country untouched by the urban sprawl that dominates the East Coast.

Perhaps the best thing about this trip is the highest predicted temperature in Seattle during our trip will be 74 degrees.

I have been to Seattle once before, and I have no doubt it will be difficult for me to return to Alabama, but I will. My great American adventure will refresh my batteries and stimulate my mind.

In the end there is nothing better than sleeping in your own bed, and my bed is in Alabama.