How do you prepare for something like this? I started this process with the naive thinking that I could literally leave my job, pack up my apt and move into my car and start driving around to cool places without much thought or scheduling. I quickly realized that taking a dog on a trip like this will take a little more care, considering the restrictions at most national parks and the timing of visiting some of the more popular ones. I also quickly realized that if I’m going to be able to live out of my car for up to 8 months, I am going to have to adopt a system of organization to eliminate clutter and hopefully keep it clean.  Sure, there are people out there that could in fact just leave on a whim without mapping out every last inch of space in their car, that could literally just pack up a bag and take off for a monster road trip, but as I have quickly realized… I am not one of them.  After coming to grips with my lack of spontaneity, I started my prep.

Research

I used the good old google machine for most of my research. Reading the many travel blogs out on the internet from experienced travelers. Although I realized that most of them were for international travel, there are some that I have dog-eared and referenced many-a-times. Nomadic Matt is great one with a ton of content covering both international travel and domestic road tripping. He targets the budget conscious traveler with a book called “Travel the World on $50 a Day.” I highly recommend this blog for research or simple inspiration.

I have decided on using the app Roadtrippers to map out my route. So far it looks pretty awesome and I have mapped out most of my route using it (see Our Route for details). Although things change and it is completely up in the air, it does make me feel better knowing I at least have the framework in place.  The great thing about this app, is once you have your route entered, you can then search for things within a certain distance of that route. Say for instance, you want a campground, a gas station or a scenic route, just click that option from the search and it will add all available to your map. I have high expectations for this so I’m hoping it works out!

Friends and family have earned the title of most helpful. I have a list on my phone that I created to quickly jot down any recommendations that people may have for me. Whether it is an obscure town in Wisconsin or the best place for lobster in Maine, whatever recommendation you may have for me, I welcome it with open arms!  There is also the what-to-bring recommendations that have come up, “did you think of XYZ?” or “what about ABC?” It’s because of comments like this that I will be fully prepared (hopefully) for any situation that may occur. So thank you!

Packing

Ugh! Packing… The worst! Even though I have managed to do it every 1-2 years for most of my life… I still hate it! You would think by this point I wouldn’t have very much stuff but alas, random things stuffed in random places continue to collect.  When do you ditch your trophies from elementary school? Maybe when you are 40?

This time around the sorting piles are a little more difficult.  A pile for stuff I’m keeping and storing at friend’s houses (THANK YOU FRIENDS, you know who you are!), stuff I’m donating, stuff I haven’t figured out what to do with and the pile of stuff I’m supposedly taking with me. At this point, that last pile looks a little too big to fit in my Compact SUV.

We will see!  That phrase has quickly become the slogan for this trip. When conversing about this subject, you will hear those three words come out of my mouth at least a dozen times.  We… Will… See…

Details

The details, all the little things that pop up in my head, change my address, cancel the unnecessary luxuries like Hulu and Netflix, cancel utilities, get a National Park pass, get AAA (Thanks girls!), Jumper cables? Oil? Coolant? The list could get so long if you let it. A friend of mine quickly pointed out that there will be stores in other cities, so don’t stress out about remembering every detail and getting everything now.  #truth

The Goodbyes

Once you’re prepped, packed, and pumped… It’s time to say goodbye and hit the road. I can’t say I’m quite to this step, but getting closer!

10 DAYS!