Blind Prophecy

Some observations:
Small towns are very much the same all over the country. Same fast food joints, same surly woman at every gas station, same confrontational patriotism and Christianity on display in street art or signs. If you want to experience the variety of American culture, stick to the cities. There’s not much that separates Winnemucca, NV from New Point, IN. San Francisco, Reno, Salt Lake, Cheyenne, Omaha, Des Moines, Indianapolis and Cincinnati–on the other hand–all struck me with a different vibe and a different pace.

Cliché as it sounds coming from politicians, you really do have to travel across the country to understand the differences and appreciate the scope of the nation.

Of the states I drove through (California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and a bit of Ohio), Illinois was the overall prettiest. It had the most variety in landscape and stayed consistently interesting from end to end. Every other state was subject to the “too much of a good thing” problem. The buttes and plateaus of Wyoming–for example–are stunning for 15-20 minutes. After 4 hours, you want to drive right off the edge.

The thing about corn… it’s creepy because it’s so unnatural. All those perfectly lined up rows that reach just above your sight-line… I can deal with flat and empty desert, dark mountain forests, violent beaches or crowded cities. Drop me in a corn field and you’ll have to send rescue parties. I’ll be the guy in the fetal position waiting for the demon with Justin Long’s eyes to eat me.

Vegetarians beware! You should either plan to shop in grocery stores along the way or resign yourself to Taco Bell’s 7-layer burritos during the journey.

Gas for journey: $467.30
Lodging: $50.40 (thanks, family, for being appropriately spaced across the nation. If we add someone in central Nebraska, another relative could drive coast-to-coast without paying a dime)
Road trip junk food: *mumble mumble*
Sharing your adventure with friends and family via web 2.0: priceless

(Aaaawwwww…)

Filed under: personal by Jere Keys