Roooooaaadddd ttttrrrrrriiiiiipppp!!!!!!
For most people that will bring up feelings of excitement or anxiety. I can hear the groans already.
What about you?
In my life I have taken many, many road trips. Some with family, some with friends and some alone. Some long and some short. Every road trip looks a little bit different than the others. Even if you have worn the path down going to the same place you have gone so many times before.
Every road trip brings up different memories. Some good and some bad. Some you either want to remember forever or forget immediately. It really just depends. It could have depended on who you were with or where you were going that made the difference.
Or what happened on the way there or back that affected the whole trip. When I was younger I used to throw everything in my vehicle for holiday weekends and hit the road as soon as I was done work. Going to the farm took a bit of time so those would be late nights.
Those trips were much, much easier back then. Now I’m far less willing to hit the road and get to my destination really late. Oh I’ll do it if I have to, but yuck! Not if I can help it.
When I first moved to Regina I met a few people who told me they had never left Regina. NEVER. I don’t even think they were kidding. Wow, I couldn’t believe it. I had just moved back to Saskatchewan after graduating from school in Alberta. At that point in my life I had been to South America, 4 Canadian provinces and at least 4 US states. I couldn’t even understand not travelling anywhere at all.
So even if you aren’t terribly fond of road trips, there must be some part of them that you like or might have fun doing. Tell me about it. What do you like?
Do you have some special snacks you save especially for road trips?
Do you have some favourite music you love to crank and sing along to no matter who sees you?
Who gets to play the DJ? Playlists are critical. What about podcasts? Any go-to ones?
Do you diligently plan out your route or just wing it? Who is the best navigator? (Sometimes you don’t have a choice).
The road trips I have taken through the years have looked very different. When I was a kid I grew to love (mostly) all of our road trips as a family. Some of those were LONG trips to the United States. Let’s just say the back seat of any vehicle becomes close quarters for any siblings.
I enjoyed these trips because I could bring my stack of books (yes I accept that I was and still am a book nerd) and just lose myself in whatever stories I could. I mention one particular trip to see royalty as a kid in this post.
Another reason I enjoyed those trips as a kid was because I wasn’t responsible for driving. It’s unfortunately one of those things that changes when you get old. You get to (have to) drive yourself. Ah sigh, I love being a passenger.
There were many, many road trips taken going the 2 hours to Saskatoon to visit the cancer clinic for appointments, tests and cancer treatments for me. You probably won’t be too surprised that those road trips were my least favourite and still are to this day. Those trips usually consisted of leaving the garage-less farmhouse around 6 AM, and hustling to the city. Much of that time happened during the cold, Saskatchewan winter when I was 16 and 17. I remember I would just be able to spread out in the backseat and try to sleep while my Mom or Dad drove. There was at least once I remember my sister taking me to the city. I can still hear our discussion about what music to play.
Road trips have played a part of so many different aspects of my life. I have been on a very long road trip in my 20’s to Chicago. A road trip to Tofino, British Columbia, in my 20’s. And finally a VERY LONG road trip on a charter bus as a chaperone to Disneyland in California. Yup you guessed it! In my 20’s. I guess I tapped out of doing any long road trips after my 20’s. All of those adventures had high points and low points. But I appreciate all of the memories of each one of them. Except having to sleep on the floor of the charter bus. Not much appreciation for that one right there!
I recently went on a trip that involved a lot of driving around. It was quite the adventure. Find out more here.
But I do enjoy driving myself, especially through Saskatchewan. Yes I know the Saskatchewan scenery can leave a lot to be desired, but I enjoy it. Most of the time. I enjoy the openness and vast expanse of the prairies. Driving through the mountains for more than a few hours isn’t my favourite. Land of living skies runs deep in my veins.
There have been many times that I have been driving and it has been a great time to think through many things. Sometimes I’ve been able to work through something I’ve been struggling with. Or maybe find some new insight or clarity about a part of my life. Those times are really helpful.
I think I do my best thinking on the road. What about you friend? Do you love them or maybe are indifferent to road trips? For a lot of us, they are just necessary parts of our life at some point. But I would truly love to hear about your best road trip stories or hints for great things to do to make the time pass faster. Let me know in the comments.
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Melodee Glassford 