“For fast acting relief, try slowing down.” ― Lily Tomlin
I enjoyed family road trips when I was young.
I remember packing everything in our family’s non air-conditioned sedan and heading off somewhere. Even our dog squeezed into the back seat next to me. I loved those adventures and always got excited when the time finally arrived.
The Burma Shave signs were our entertainment. We read them aloud as they popped up and all laughed at the punchline of the final sign. Alas, those funny little signs are now all but gone, replaced by giant billboards that whiz by so fast I can’t make out their message.
Today, I’ve come to rely on the large green signs to get me where I’m going, and the faster the better. At least they WERE my choice until a friend told me about the signs he follows. His signs aren’t placed to speed up the trip but to slow it down.
Beverly and Richard Darlington follow brown signs on road trips. They’re the ones that direct travelers to historic buildings, museums, state parks and other places that put the “entertainment” back in driving.
This slow travel was the perfect way for the Darlingtons to complete their dreams. Beverly had wanted to visit all thirteen Presidential Libraries and Dick longed to drive across our great country, from one edge to the other.
They’re retired now; so this is the perfect time for the compatible and curious pair to cross both goals off their list, with a relaxed trip they both can enjoy and remember.
First, there was a twenty-two day jaunt into New England’s countryside following their favorite brown signs.
Then came the main event; an 8600-mile journey lasting thirty-eight days. “This trip of a lifetime showed me the beauty of our great country,” Richard recalled. “From our farmlands to our national treasures. From the rushing water to the green fields there was always beauty around me. Even in areas of poverty there was a richness where my eyes were opened. My camera didn’t capture it all – but my heart did.”
After those two big adventures, the Darlington’s composed seven helpful tips for all wannabe happy road trippers:
Tip One. Brown signs are easier to spot when you get off the Interstate. You see real things on back roads and you have more time to react when you spot your next great adventure.
Tip Two. Don’t plan to end up where you’re headed unless you have something inked into your calendar. The best route from here to there is never straight when you’re traveling slow. Flexibility is key.
Tip Three. Take time to visit downtown. That’s where you’ll find the heart and you don’t want to leave before checking its pulse.
Tip Four. Invest in paper maps. A GPS is fine for some things but paper lets you touch and feel the journey. You can write on paper, take notes, fold it as you wish, and then save your memories along with your pictures.
Tip Five. Yes, Pictures Do Matter. They tell your story – sometimes in a single image. A person is important but the look and feel, the scenery and the scope of the long road trip are the real story; the people are just shown enjoying their memory.
Tip Six. Buy a National Parks Pass (now called the America the Beautiful Pass), and do it NOW – before the price goes up. Buy it even if your trip is a few years off, then keep it with you. You never know when you’ll spot a park or monument and your pass number is not searchable from a ranger’s database.
Tip Seven. Enjoy your trip, relax, breathe and have fun. Road trips are never tiring when you’re both having fun.
Now back to Tip Two. There were two inked-in dates on the Darlington’s calendar.
The first ‘must’ was a vacation home on the San Juan Islands, just off Seattle’s coast in the Puget Sound. They would live there for a full week with their grandchildren; everyone hiking, swimming, and kayaking. These memories will be with the Darlingtons and their grandchildren forever, making that time alone worth the trip.
The other inked-in must was a wedding in Bozeman. Their friend’s daughter works at Yellowstone and the groom is with the state environmental department. This was the perfect chance to catch up with Charlotte friends in unique surroundings. Plus, once you leave Bozeman it’s only a short – almost eight hour – drive over to Mt. Rushmore. There they could see the four gigantic carved faces of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. Four presidents for just one admission ticket.
That was the Darlington’s trip. Now tell me about yours, or the one you’re dreaming of. Where are you headed? Who’s your companion? What’s the vehicle (car, pickup, RV, VW microbus?) It’s all worth sharing.
Would you want motel reservations or why would you prefer a flashing “VACANCY” sign along the old state road?
Have you ever found times when the wrong turn on any journey became the right turn? That would be a good story to share.
As always, the conversation starts here.
“In the ordinary choices of every day we begin to change the direction of our lives.” – Eknath Easwaran
Epilogue
And here’s your bonus!
Tip Eight. Don’t pass up the fly-over states. Skipping our heartland would be a mistake.
“From pristine forests and awe-inspiring landscapes to sweeping prairies, flowing water and free-roaming wildlife – meet an endless adventure in The Mount Rushmore State.”
Take a look at what this tip gives you.
Wonderful! The South Dakota video brought back many memories of one of our three cross-country driving trips when the children were young! We pitched our tent by many gorgeous areas of our National parks! Once, we pitched our tent in the primitive back country camping area of Badlands National Park! Having just seen Dances With Wolves, we held out our hands to feel the waist high grasses of the plains just as Lieutenant Dunbar did. During the night, we heard a great deal of snuffling and snorting outside of the tent. We stayed very still and just listened as we… Read more »
Tammy – I’m glad this story brought back memories. I’ll bet you have many from those adventures. “The Sounds You Hear, While Sleeping In A Tent” would be a full chapter, I’m sure. I can only imagine waking up, surrounded by a herd of buffalo – they’re BIG. I hope your breakfast included bacon, fried in a cast iron skillet over the small fire used to brew early morning coffee in its enamel pot. Those things never happen on a fully mapped out road trip. It’s the unplanned that linger far longer. Thanks for bringing your voice to this conversation.… Read more »
Ha Bruce, yes, sounds galore! The quietness of snow on the tent in Grand Teton National Park when we had just been swimming in Jackson Lake the afternoon before…such changing weather…the sound of a huge thunderstorm in Glacier/Waterton National Park…camping outside of Aspen, Colorado without the tent…just sleeping bags on the ground…a little closer to nature than was comfortable but oh those stars!!! Yes, the breakfasts of eggs, bacon and hash browns in a cast iron skillet on the fire with “cowboy” coffee in the blue porcelain pot…the BEST of memories! Reading about the Darlington’s trip makes me want to… Read more »
Tammy –
…and you should!
“Just pack up and go,” we all say, but we need to do THIS first, or THAT other something. We’re saving our money for … for what?
Are you like me, having found that time and money spent on experiences has been a better investment than choosing only things?
– Bruce
Thanks for sharing, Tammy. Sends chills…
Beverly –
Yes, that must have been something for Tammy. I’m sure she and her family have many stories they could share.
They could have used your tips on their three cross country trips.
Thanks for sharing your story. It was fun to help with.
– Bruce
Takes me back to my childhood and trips were more leisurely than now and then to a road trip several years ago that I took with Rebecca and Gordon Schenck to visit the Blaines at their summer home in New Jersey. I thought we would never get there, but the trip was wonderful going down roads that were not on the map to see sights one would never see from the highways. We ate at wonderful restaurants and went back in history long forgotten. It made me realize what I had missed by being in such a hurry.
Mary Lou –
We are ALL in such a hurry today. It’s sad, I know my life has been full of that hurry. Rushing from this big thing to the next big thing without any time for the REAL thing.
The eye-opener for me is in Tip Two: “The best route from here to there is never straight when you’re traveling slow.”
Traveling with old friends to visit more old friends is always rewarding.
– Bruce
For Brenda and me, our dream road trip took place decades ago when our three sons were just kids. We loved camping. Tent camping. So we packed up our gear, put it in a small utility trailer connected to the bumper of our Opel station wagon. First stop Washington, DC. we camped near Arlington and drove into the city. Next stop Pennsylvania. Mosquitos galore. Next stop Canada. First , of course, marveled at Niagara Falls and even — well below the falls — took a steep zigzag trail down to the water’s edge. THEN we drove on into Canada, did… Read more »
Loyd – I’ll bet that was indeed an indelible memory. All of that adventure takes only a small part of our brain but gives us so much more, and for far longer, than we could have imagined at the time. Two adults, three sons, all in one Opel station wagon; but certainly there would have been room for one little mouse. I would have loved it, plus I’ll bet there would have been plenty for me to eat with three boys loose in the back seat. Thanks for lending your voice to the conversation as part of the Choices Do… Read more »
A two month trip to Alaska last year with a trailer and six weeks this year driving Route 66 with a tent made me recall all the trips we took as a kid…we took back roads and ate at mom and pop restaurants when possible… The only fast food we had was a McDonalds but, it was in a railroad car and just had to…the Route 66 trip was outstanding because for the most part we were on the back roads going thru small towns I wish I lived in… If you want to get a feel of this country,… Read more »
Cuz –
Thanks for joining the discussion!
I started thinking about this story in the middle of following your Route 66 adventure on your FB profile. The pictures were fabulous, especially with your period-appropriate red Chrysler convertible finding it’s way into almost every shot.
Yes, wouldn’t it be great to follow old Route 66 and spend enough time in each small town to get to know some names – and hear them calls yours!
– Bruce
Bruce,
I really enjoyed this post and the timing was perfect. The family and I just returned from a very memorable trip that consisted of a number of “brown signs”. We drove almost 2000 miles over 11 days and 95% of those miles were on 2 lane roads through some of the most impressive and breathtaking landscapes I have ever seen. The family time was wonderful and I my 7 and 5 year old boys are already planning the next trip!
All the best,
Christian –
I’m impressed. All those miles, over all those two lane roads, with so many brown signs – wonderful. There will be hundreds of family memories with shared stories, lasting forever.
Two young boys are entering on the ground floor of a legacy. They don’t know it today, but soon they will.
I can’t wait to learn about the next trip.
Thanks for being in the conversation.
– Bruce