A road never travelled

Like most other great adventures, it was essentially planned out in 15 minutes. A car would be driven, beginning in grey wintery cold Ann Arbor. It would travel great distances to the east and south where it was decidedly warmer and perhaps much nicer. There was of course a vague idea of how large of distance would have to be covered. But after five years of conquering the mid west it was time to see what else this country had to offer.

The Route

Total distance traveled: 4029.3 miles/6446 km

As the car gulped down interstates, iphone’s were whipped out to book hotels and read up on oncoming towns. And essentially that was it. Drive, stop, see, eat, drink, sleep and Drive. The beauty lay in the plan’s simplicity and its geographical spread. And it was executed by four wheels. My partner in crime through this journey was my good friend who is suspiciously quiet to those who met him and gladly so.

Fuel consumed: 165 gallons/ 627 liters

I witnessed politicians being elevated to Gods, as Lincoln sat in his temple in Washington DC. The excessive use of roman columns for every building was surprisingly understandable. There was an immense sense of power in that town, where I wondered if the guy in the blue suit next to me was responsible for useless speed limits or the pac-man that is social security. The monuments glistened in the mild east cost sun and small kids waffled outside the white house hoping to catch a glimpse of the black Obama.

How white is my house?

Average fuel cost: $1.65 / gallon

Charleston (South Carolina) was wonderfully quaint and not fake at the same time. People seemed genuinely polite, southern girls were petite and simple. Sea-food was aplenty but so were fried green tomatoes, grits and fried okra! The colonial past with warm coastal weather resulted in beautiful houses with even more pretty balconies. It made for a wonderful visit, aided by endless amounts of sweet tea.

Stunning Charleston

States driven through: 18

Savannah (Georgia) was more of the same. More politeness and fried chicken followed me here. I had a teenager sales girl call me sir and lunch was had with completely strangers on a white table cloth at Mrs. Wilkes House. Crab legs, crab cakes, mussels, and oysters formed decorum for this low country. The accents were now drawing out further, tickling my traveling senses.

Edible? Fry it.

Unique food experience: Alligator meat in New Orleans

White beaches, green waters and blue skies.

No amount of TV or Travel Brochures could have prepared me for the sight I had when I visited the Panama City Beach in Florida’s pan handle area. The gulf coast’s white beaches and crystal clear waters were intoxicating. And while I couldn’t swim in the chilly waters, I did get sand in my shoes doing my morning run on the heavenly beaches. I was over 1500 miles from home now and 80 degrees Fahrenheit warmer.

Most remembered breakfast: Chicory infused coffee and sweet beignets on a levee along Lake Pontchartrain

Bourbon Street,On a balcony with a view

And then New Orleans happened. A dirty Vegas minus the casinos! Yet a mother wandered on Bourbon Street with her toddler in a crib while a female dancer shook her stuff at the club’s door enticing new customers. Open alcoholic containers were displayed proudly by its inebriated street walkers. A very talented band played “the saints come marching in” on a corner, loudly. Yes, it was 8:30 pm in New Orleans. And the party was just starting. Yet next morning, we sobered quickly as we drove through the town. Ransacked houses, near levees that still looked sufficiently insufficient; a broken, neglected New Orleans lay only 10 miles away from the party that is Bourbon Street.

No party here.

Random Observation: The number of Florida license plates you see on the highway is in no means related to the proximity of that state. You are never more than 15 odd cars until you spot a Florida plate.

From New Orleans, we turned north. Towards Nashville TN. The music city found itself defined by country music, gigantic guitar stores, Elvis and all club bouncers wearing cowboy hats. Here, amongst America’s honkey-tonk, 2008 became 2009 and I turned a year older.

Cowboy Country, Nashville

Longest stretch in a day: 615.7 miles

In an America, that I had almost given up on! There is no doubt in my mind now that this land is wonderfully different. People change, their opinions and accents follow. The food options differ and so do the ways they are eaten. Landscapes vary beautifully and so do the houses that lay upon them. But to see all this, you must be prepared to amass long distances. Go through boxes of Clementine’s, chewing gum and bottled water.

Shortest stretch in a day: 214 miles

This winter, I almost did what birds did. They flew south, I drove south. They stayed back, while I did not. In the process realizing that an America by road is a different America altogether.