Sunday, March 8-14, 2015, My solo road trip is not just about self discovery but a search for a reason to stay. I like Bend since it offers many activities but I’m not thrilled with the high desert aspect. I’m searching for lush greenery, sun in the summer, snow in…
I can feel the tears of joy swell up as I see the Welcome to Oregon sign up ahead. It’s been a long journey to this point; not just in driving but planning the next chapter of my life. The western states always had a pull on my heart. Since…
It’s been two months since I started my 6 month solo road trip around the coastal route of the USA. I’ve been through 18 states and the Bahamas so far on my journey. I’ve traveled up the Pacific Coast Highway heading for Oregon. One of my last stops before crossing…
9 am, January 22, 2015 I awake to a beautiful day. Today’s adventure is to continue driving up the Pacific Coast Highway (#PCH) taking in the sites and ending in Carmel. This is such a scenic highway, my favorite of all the roads I’ve driven. The car is packed and I take one…
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Day 3, November 23, 2014: After a restful night sleep at the Waterside Inn, Chincoteague Island, VA (highly recommend staying here), I pack and head back to Assateague Island, VA once more to see the wild ponies. Stopping by the Refuge Visitor’s Center the day before I picked up…
Day 2 of my 6 month solo road trip: Chincoteague Island, VA. Viewing the wild ponies
I awake to sunshine streaming through my hotel room. What a glorious day. I look at my map and see that I’m within 30 miles of Chincoteague Island, VA. I was trying to make it there last night but sleepiness took over. At least I’m close and can leisurely get ready. I grab my computer and check Trip Advisor for hotels in Chincoteague Island. I find one that is on the water and very reasonably priced called the Waterside Inn. I call and make a reservation. Due to being off season they have plenty of rooms. I pack, have a quick breakfast consisting of my Super-food shake and breakfast bar and I’m ready to head out.
View from my hotel room at the Waterside Inn
As soon as I get outside the cold temperature hits me, it’s frigid in the 30’s and windy. It’s the South I don’t expect these temperatures here. Burrrr…Quickly I put on my gloves and hat along with the rest of my winter gear. I arrive in Chincoteague around 1pm. Wayside Inn let’s me check-in early. The room is comfortable with a first floor balcony overlooking the Chincoteague Channel.
After I’m settled, I check out the grounds. There is a 220′ fishing pier,
Fishing pier at Waterside Inn
pool and remnants of a rose garden. The jacuzzi is upstairs overlooking the water; that will be nice for later on tonight. Well it’s 2pm and I’m feeling a little restless so I head for Assateague Island where the wild ponies are. As I’m driving down a road I see cars parked on the side so I pull over and investigate. I see them in the brush about 150′ away.
A small herd of wild ponies
They are small maybe 12-13 hands and their bellies are big from the salty marsh grass. A brown and white pinto stallion is walking towards me. His herd is small maybe ten mares of various colors. It’s funny they are wild but not 100 percent free. They have sections of the island to roam while the rest is fenced off. I watch for a while then head to the beach for a walk.
The sandy beach is long as I make my way down. The wind has picked up and the sand is blowing, hitting my face. It feels like I’m being pelted by razors-ouch. It’s sunny but frigid, I last about 15 minutes before I head back to the warmth of my car. As I sit in the car a seagull lands on the hood and walks up to the glass and peers in at me.
Seagull having lunch on my car
Then he proceeds to eat the leaves that have built up at the bottom of my window wipers. Apparently not a care in the world because he decided to hang out on my car for at least 10 minutes. It must have been the warmth of the engine and free food which made him linger. I finally started the car and proceeded to back up; silly bird, he thought he getting a free ride as well. Finally he flew away and I was free to go.
The family home which my late father designed for our family. Selling it afforded me the time to take this trip. Thank you Dad!
I know I have to get away. Our beloved family home is being sold and new beginnings are beckoning to me. With a portion of the inheritance money I decide to travel for 6 months. Destination Oregon via the coastal route visiting friends and family along the way. Trains, planes, or automobiles? After looking into it, a road trip is best. It will afford me the freedom to go where and when I want on my terms.
I end up driving my Toyota Prius which is a Godsend due to it agility, great gas mileage, and awesome pep. I originally was going to buy a RV and travel that way, but after taking one for a test drive I realized I would feel like a prisoner/slave to it. Always worrying how massive it was, would it fit under bridges, on streets, where would I stay and the gas mileage. 7 miles per gallon? Are you serious? I drive a Prius which gets at least 40 MPG why would I drive a 7 MPG ball and chain?
My past solo road trips consisted of a 4-5 hour jaunts across New England and a few in California but never for a prolonged period of time. In 1988 I drove with a male companion cross-country from Massachusetts to San Diego California in a record time of 3.5 days. I took hundreds of photo’s. Needless to say our car was in each picture. Fifteen hours a day stuck in a car as a passenger on Route 40, only stopping for gas or a pit stop was not much fun. The highlight of the trip was arriving at the Grand Canyon to watch the sunrise on the freshly fallen snow for 45 minutes which I think was our longest stop.
I vowed never to do that again at least not with someone else at the wheel. Winter is bearing down. I can’t take another New England winter. According to the Farmer’s Almanac and plenty of acorns, I know 2014-2015 winter will be worse than last.
Winter of 2013-2014 snowy and cold
It’s time for me to fly.
For the past 25 years I’ve wanted to live in Oregon. I’ve been twice, the first time was September 1990 and I lasted 4 days (a man was in my way) and in 2002 my girlfriend and I went for 9 days and had a wonderful time. Now I have the opportunity to make my dream a reality. There is no man standing in my way, only myself…
The plan starts to take hold. Booking a barefoot sailing adventure in the Bahamas for the second week of December seals the deal. I am now committed to the trip. Everything else falls into place. I will leave on November 20th which gives me enough time to saunter down the coast.
Sailing on a tall ship in the Bahamas
The following are planned destinations:
1. The wild ponies of Chincoteague/Assateague, VA, (what can I say I grew up on books about Stormy and Misty)
The wild ponies of Chincoteague
2. Thanksgiving in Sanford NC with friends.
3. Charleston, SC, to visit friends
4. Del Ray Florida to visit relatives
5. Fly to Nassau from Ft Lauderdale for a week-long sail boat cruise on a tall ship
6. Fly back to Fort Lauderdale to visit a friend (used to live there when it was a fun happening time 1984-1985)
7. Drive to Sanibel Island (I hear the shells are amazing)
8. Tampa to visit a friend
9. Tennessee to visit a friend for Christmas
10. New Years with my Tennessee friend in New Orleans
11. San Diego: The Dana on Mission Bay/Torrey Pines
12. LA to visit family
13. Big Sur via the PCH aka Route 1 aka Pacific Coast Highway-heaven
Big Sur, California
14. Carmel by the Sea/Monterey
15. San Francisco to visit Hungarian relatives
16. Continue following the PCH highway to the Redwoods
17. Final destination: Ashland/Jacksonville Oregon to put down roots.
18. Explore Oregon the perpetual vacation destination
19. In May drive back to Massachusetts to help a friend with her kitchen renovation and take care of personal business
20. The following Fall drive back to Oregon with my horses and belongings in tow
The great thing about solo road trips is that you can change your destinations, following the road less traveled. Best laid plans don’t always go as planned. My adventures did change and many more destinations were added either at the last-minute or planned. When time is on your side; go with the flow. You never know what is around the corner.
Enjoy the ride.
Thanksgiving with friends in Sanford, NC Good Times with old friends
An uplifting sign
A day at the beach. Riding in the Bahamas
A 6 month solo road trip via the coastal route of the USA. Self discovery adventure
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