7 Days in America

Leaving DC

After weeks of packing and a few tearful goodbyes, I was finally ready to leave DC – or so I thought. My Prius was packed, literally, when I realized I had accidentally packed my GPS/phone charger. When you’re about to embark on a solo cross-country trip, a charged GPS and phone are both essential. A trip to Target to buy a new charger briefly delayed my departure, but eventually I was off, headed for Chicago.

Packed Prius

Day 1: DC to Chicago

Day 1: DC to Chicago

Day 1 took me from DC to Chicago. I spent 12 hours on the road, went back an hour in time, and covered just over 700 miles. Just as I left Maryland the sky turned dark and I drove into a storm. As I continued the skies cleared and the rest of the drive was uneventful. There’s not too much to see on this leg of the trip, but here are a few photos from that day!

Day 1 – Welcome to Pennsylvania!

Day 1 – Beginning of the Storm

Day 1 – Rain Storm

Day 1 – Ohio!

Day 1 – Entering Chicago

Day 1 – Sunset in Chicago

Day 2: Chicago

I didn’t drive on day 2, but instead used the day to rest, explore Chicago, and visit with some friends from the Guatemala Habitat trip last summer. Chicago seems like a great city, and I hope to go back for a longer visit soon!

Day 2 – Boat Parking for Lake Michigan

Day 2 – Sailing on Lake Michigan

Day 2 – Tons of Sailboats!

Day 2 – Hello!

Day 2 – View of the City Skyline

Day 2 – My wonderful hosts: Bonnie and Pierre

Day 3: Chicago to Nebraska

Day 3: Chicago to Nebraska

On day three I drove from Chicago, Illinois to Kearney Nebraska. Along the way I stopped at Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. I covered 670 miles in just over 11 hours. The following pictures are mostly from my stop at Starved Rock, as there was not much to see in Nebraska!

Day 3 – The view from Starved Rock

Day 3 – Butterfly on the Rock

Day 3 – Te Amo Carlos

Day 3 – The Rock!

Day 3 – Corn Fields

Day 3 – Wind Mills

Day 3 – More Windmills!

Day 4: Nebraska to Denver

Day 4: Nebraska to Denver

On Day 4 I drove to Denver, Colorado. I entered Mountain Time, went back another hour, traveled 360 miles, and spent approximately 5 and a half hours on the road. I was so surprised how much the landscape changed as soon as I entered Colorado. Nebraska was just flat – cornfields and windmill fields – but as soon as I got into Colorado the hills began rolling and mountains came into view.

Day 4 – A farm in Nebraska

Day 4 – Colorado!

Day 4 – Country Road 91 – Open RangeThis was an exit off of highway 70. It went straight back parallel to the highway and immediately turned into a dirt road that went out into pasture. The following slide has a video I took while on “Country Road 91”.

Day 4 – Country Road 91

Day 4 – Country Road 91

Day 4 – Finally in Denver!

Day 4 – My Denver host, and former coworker, Jess with her new house!

Day 5: Denver to Utah

Day 5: Denver to Utah

This was my favorite day of the trip. I crossed the Rocky Mountains and I couldn’t believe how beautiful they were. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen. However this day did not go without challenges. After 10 hours and 580 miles of driving, I arrived in Cedar City only to find that every hotel was sold out to a bunch of little baseball players and their families. I drove on to St. George Utah, where the Jehovah's Witnesses did all they could to keep me from sleeping, however, I found a room despite their greatest efforts.

Day 5 – Leaving Denver and Entering the Rockies

Day 5 – Going Up!

Day 5 – Look-out Point

Day 5 – Going Down!

Day 5 – At a rest stop in Colorado

Day 5 – Leaving Colorado!

Day 5 – And Entering Utah!

Day 5 – First Viewing Point

Day 5 – Mountain Video

Day 6: Utah to Alameda, California

Day 6: Utah to Alameda, California After an unexpected late night, I planned on having a

short day of driving day 6. However, I decided to get close enough that I wouldn’t have to drive much at all on the final day of the trip, and ended up covering 670 miles in just over 11 hours. Day 6 had the scariest driving conditions. Once I entered California and started up the coast, I could see a huge storm coming from the West. Pretty soon the wind was blowing so hard I had trouble keeping the car on the road. Sand was flying all over the place. And then it began to rain.

Day 6: Utah to Alameda, California The rain washed over my car and I couldn’t see anything. It

was as if someone had thrown a blanket over my windshield. I pulled off the road and sat there in the rain for what seemed like forever, but was probably more like 5 minutes. As the rain let up (barely) I was able to see the lightning hitting the ground all around me. About 20 feet away, I saw lightning hit a bush, which caught on fire, only to be put out by the pounding rain. It was at that point that I decided I didn’t want to sit in that spot anymore, so I pulled back on the road and began to inch my way along. I saw lighting come down two bolts at a time and heard thunder that literally shook my car. I was so relieved when the storm finally passed. Not the best introduction to the state I am about to call home.

Day 6 – Desert Plants

Day 7: Alameda to San Francisco

Day 7: Alameda to San Francisco

On Day 7 I finally arrived! I drove just 17 miles over the Bay Bridge and into San Francisco. I was relieved to be ending my weeklong trip, but nervous about all the extra time I would have now that I wouldn’t be driving 10 hours a day. Here I go in San Francisco!

Day 7: Over the Bridge

The End

I hope these notes, pictures, and videos give you a better glimpse into my trip. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!!