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The American Road: Countries within countries

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Over the last two days I drove with my dog from the sunny, warm Tampa, Florida to the cold and wintery Binghamton in upstate New York, and I’ll be making the same drive back in three days time — it’s approximately 18 hours each way without accounting for stops. Just over Thanksgiving, I made a trip from Tampa to Northwest Arkansas and eventually eastern Kansas, and back again a few days later. I’ve driven clear across the country several times, using all sorts of routes. I’ve cut across the middle, from Arkansas to Oregon and back again a month later. I’ve driven from San Francisco to Tampa, stopping at a motel only once, while hauling a U-Haul and towing my car with my friend. I’m not sure how many miles in how many cars I’ve sat through across the United States, but I’m sure the number is high.

I didn’t grow up in the U.S. While I was born in on a small Air Force base in eastern Michigan, my family moved away when I was three years old. I lived in Pakistan for nine years, came back to the U.S. for six months, then went to Thailand to finish out my remaining five years of school — my parents still live in Thailand.

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  • Mase

    I’ve been known to hit the no highways and no tolls settings on my GPS. You see some interesting stuff that way.

  • LPD256

    Luke-Love Northwest Arkansas. I go there at least once a year. My wife and I were married in Eureka Springs. We always enjoy a good road trip.

  • George C

    Having lived most of my life on the West Coast, it’s quite amazing what a few hours drive to the East will yield. From Sandy Beaches to Forrests to Mountains to Deserts. One of my favorite aspects of living in California.

  • Joni S

    As long as you have good weather let him stick his head out. I love seeing dogs with their head out the window. It always makes me smile. My doberman liked to stick her head out the window if it was cool outside, but when it was hot she wanted right in front of that AC vent. She was no dummy.
    There’s not much to Twitty, Texas. It used to be big cotton ginning town just like many West Texas towns. Now, there is not much there. But if you stop for gas, the people are quite interesting and friendly and will tell you all about their little town back in its heyday. You just have to take the time to stop and sit for a spell. 🙂

  • Luke Ryan

    Thanks for reading! And yes, very very blessed. I love living here and exploring — especially since all the sub-cultures are quite different but very welcoming (compared to many other places in the world).