The trip starts tomorrow! Still getting some final things done and am hoping I don't forget anything too big - batteries for flashlight? sweatshirt? Water? Yea, only the essentials...

I am trying to pack clothes, which is proving to be harder than I thought. I have never been a great packer in figuring out exactly what I will need - I usually pack too much or too little. But for a trip that will last 8 weeks and will include snow, rain, humidity, a wedding, and a conference, I feel like I just should pack everything!

I have a propensity for planning things on the fly, so I am continuing to finalize plans and am now thinking about tacking on a trip to Zion after Vegas and before LA. I will only be three hours away, and I when will I ever be in southwestern Utah again? We shall see how I feel at that point though about another couple of days on the road. I will keep you posted!

Question and Answer Period

I figure I would answer some of the most common questions I have gotten about my trip for everyone's reading please.

Why are you doing this?

Why the trip? It all started with the fact that I have a wedding in Ohio in June, and since I have time off of work I got to thinking that I would drive out instead of flying. Since then it has grown into the trip it has become.

Why the blog? A good way to keep in touch (if I keep it up the whole time!).

How did you get this much time off work?

I am on a 10-month contract with my job, which means I have June and July off. Not so great as I am not getting paid for those two months, but good that I get a bunch of time off! I will also be able to store all my things at my current place and don't need to move them anywhere which is nice.

Are you going alone?

Yes, I will be doing the drive by myself. I will be staying with friends and seeing lots of people, so the only alone time will be the first four days of the trip, the last week or so, and any driving in the middle.

Are you scared/excited/nervous?

To be honest, I am all three of these things. Excited to get out on the road, nervous if I get bored halfway through, scared that my car might not make it!

Why all these random cities?

Almost all the cities I am stopping in (minus Las Vegas, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, etc)are because I have a friend there. Most of the cities I have also never been to, so it will be nice to check out a new part of the country.

So you are just staying with friends?

Pretty much. In the cities/towns where I don't know anyone, I will be camping.

YOU are camping?

Yes, ass, I am camping. I have a tent and sleeping bag and everything!

Here goes...

I didn't think I would actually be using a blog for this trip, but I had it recommended and figured I might as well give it a shot! I will be updating this as much as I can (or want to) to keep people posted.

So, here's the deal. I have June and July off from my job, and I am using that time to be leisurely and travel across the country and back. I am excited for this for many reasons - the ability to visit a lot of friends, see some new parts of the country, take time for myself. I am pretty sure it will be a grand adventure, and I am happy to share parts of it with you on here.

My itinerary is below. I leave on June 1st exactly! More posts to follow.

June 1st: Depart Spokane, WA

June 1st-3rd: Yellowstone

June 3rd: Rapid City, SD (and Mt. Rushmore)

June 4th-6th: Omaha, NE

June 7th-9th: Milwaukee, WI

June 9th-12th: Dayton, OH

June 12th-16th: Baltimore, MD/Washington, DC

June 17th-20th: Dayton, OH (for the Matt Perrys wedding)

June 20th-25th: San Diego, CA (flying there for a conference)

June 25th-27th: Nashville, TN

June 27th-29th: New Orleans, LA

June 29th-July 5th: San Antonio, TX/Corpus Christi, TX

July 5th: Van Horn, TX

July 6th: Tuscon, AZ

July 7th-8th: Flagstaff, AZ and Grand Canyon

July 9th-10th: Las Vegas, NV

July 10th-12th: Los Angeles, CA

July 12th-July 30th: San Francisco, CA

July 31st: Back to Spokane, WA