| My fascination with traveling all began two | | | | lot of it. I would drive for days and the |
| years ago. I was at a Barnes and Noble and | | | | landscape always remained the same. I was |
| came across Kerouac's legendary novel, "On | | | | starting to wonder if I would ever escape the |
| the Road." I figured enough people have | | | | flat, cornfield-lined highways; until I hit |
| recommended it; I might as well see what all | | | | Colorado. I basked in nature's beauty as my |
| the hype is about. Sure enough, they were | | | | truck climbed through the Rockies. That John |
| right-the book is awesome! The plot is based | | | | Denver knew what he was talking about. The |
| on Kerouac's pickup-and-go attitude and | | | | mountains were gorgeous. I continued on to |
| everything he encounters while exploring all | | | | hit Utah, which has the bluest skies I have |
| that America has to offer. I was fascinated | | | | ever seen. From there I was on to Northern |
| and I wanted more. Next, I got my hands on a | | | | California. |
| copy of "The Electric Cool-Aid Acid Test," | | | | |
| which is of the same flavor. These stories | | | | After a few days of tasting my fair share of |
| fascinate me, so I did what every other | | | | wines and relaxing in the vineyards of |
| recent college grad does-traveled. While most | | | | Sonoma, I continued on down to San Diego. |
| people want to backpack through Europe, | | | | Overall, I had a great trip. I met a lot of |
| bouncing between hostels and drinking | | | | characters, heard a lot of accents, and ate a |
| absinthe, I instead decided to take a deeper | | | | lot of different foods. And I encourage you |
| look at America the beautiful. | | | | to get to know your own country because each |
| | | | city has something to offer. I also recommend |
| Hitch hiking is something of the past. With | | | | two products to anyone considering embarking |
| all the crazies and nut jobs out there today, | | | | on a journey of this magnitude. |
| you would have to be out of your mind to | | | | |
| catch a ride with a complete stranger. Plus, | | | | First, for those who have trucks, a hard |
| I just got a new truck. And what better way | | | | truck bed cover is really helpful. It covered |
| to break in my new ride than by taking a nice | | | | all my gear so I didn't have to worry about |
| long road trip. I didn't want to plan my trip | | | | it falling out along the way or being left |
| too much. You need to leave room for | | | | out in the rain. Personally, I recommend |
| adventure and spontaneity. | | | | Undercover tonneau covers because they have |
| | | | hinges that allow you to prop up the back, |
| I was starting in Northern Maine and all I | | | | turning your truck bed into a nice shaded |
| knew was that I wanted to taste the salty | | | | hang out. Secondly, for those of you who |
| water of the Pacific Ocean. So I packed some | | | | don't have trucks, I recommend a set of |
| clothes, blankets and food into my Toyota | | | | rubber floor mats. I was always getting out |
| Tacoma and hit the road. It was summer, so | | | | of the car and exploring-walking through |
| rather than staying in a hotel, I laid down a | | | | fields, trails, dirt paths-and tracked a lot |
| blanket in my truck's bed to rest my bones at | | | | of mud and funk into my truck. My mats |
| night. | | | | stopped the gunk from my shoes from staining |
| | | | my carpet. And I hosed them off easily when |
| I saw a lot of new things and really got to | | | | they got dirty. |
| experience Middle America, because there is a | | | | |