Itinerary

July 8th Bowling Green, OH to Omaha, NE (stay w/LaCroix family)
July 9th Omaha, NE to Aurora, CO (stay w/Joe & Cindy)

July 10th Aurora, CO to Grand Tetons, WY (stay w/Lily & Cody)
July 11th Grand Tetons, WY
July 12th Grand Tetons, WY

July 13th Grand Tetons, WY to Missoula, MT (Andrea’s friend?)
July 14th Missoula, MT

July 15th Missoula, MT to Spokane, WA (stay w/Gordon & Jillian)
July 16th Spokane, WA

July 17th Spokane, WA to Bellingham, WA (stay w/Lesley)
July 18th Bellingham, WA
July 19th Bellingham, WA

July 20th Bellingham, WA to Portland, OR (Jay’s friend?)
July 21st Portland, OR

July 22nd Portland, OR to Berkeley, CA (stay w/Sarah)
July 23rd Berkeley, CA to Napa Valley, CA (side trip w/Sarah?)
July 24th Napa Valley, CA
July 25th Napa Valley, CA to Berkeley, CA
July 26th Berkeley, CA
July 27th Berkeley, CA

July 28th Berkeley, CA to Santa Monica, CA (stay w/Topher & Emily)
July 29th Santa Monica, CA
July 30th Santa Monica, CA to Burbank, CA (stay w/Lydecker family)
July 31st Burbank, CA
August 1st Burbank, CA to San Diego, CA (side trip w/Lindsey)
August 2nd San Diego, CA to Burbank, CA
August 3rd Burbank, CA

August 4th Burbank, CA to Peoria, AZ (stay w/Coop)
August 5th Peoria, AZ
August 6th Peoria, AZ
August 7th Peoria, AZ
August 8th Peoria, AZ

August 9th Peoria, AZ to Albuquerque, NM (Dr. Mara contact?)
August 10th Albuquerque, NM

August 11th Albuquerque, NM to Oklahoma City, OK (HOTEL)
August 12th Oklahoma City, OK to Memphis, TN (HOTEL)
August 13th Memphis, TN to Louisville, KY (HOTEL)
August 14th Louisville, KY to Bowling Green, OH

The Time of My Life

You would think since I'm such a detail-oriented, Type A, classic overachiever, I would relish the opportunity to plan such a grand road trip. I'll admit, I do love putting names, addresses and phone numbers into a spreadsheet, pushing multi-colored pins into the map I've posted at home, and neurotically listing mileage, travel dates and things to do. What I don't like is the possibility that this whole trip could come crashing down if I can't get the funds together or if something major happens with my car or if Jenna and I get thrown in jail for any number of questionable, under the influence acts (KNOCK ON WOOD everyone!).

As with any other thought process, the "what if"s are poisoning my ability to see the big picture. There are two reasons for this trip: first, to check out potential MFA programs/schools and their locations; second, just to do it. I know so many people who have said to me, "I planned a trip out west once...It never happened." I know gas prices are through the roof and taking an SUV across country is not the most economical idea, but I refuse to regret this. I have a great travel buddy--Jenna--and will pick up her mate and his brother (from Leeds) in Oregon as well. [Jenna and I recently embarked on a one-week, music influenced tour of Canada for "spring break." As if Ohio wasn't cold enough, we set out to Toronto and Montreal to check out the music scene. The trip went swimmingly. Jenna's a top notch navigator and I--the neurotic road tripper, unwilling to relinquish control of my car--prefer to just drive without having to worry about directions. We're a good team.]

Let's not forget the family and homies I will visit along the way: Lily, Lesley, Pinkelman, Topher & Emily, the Lydeckers, and Coop. I've never been afraid to travel--in fact, I relish the opportunity--but, it seems that since I've been stuck in Bowling Green, anyone west of Chicago seems to have fallen off the edge of the planet. Now, instead of bitching and moaning, I'll just go to them. I can't wait to sit on my ass for 35 days, the country a blur in my side mirrors, smelly and wrinkled, surviving on granola and sight-seeing, experiencing what I expect to be the time of my life.

Road Trippin' Out West

This will be my official, on-the-road journal. Feel free to comment.

I'm not going to self-edit my experiences; so readers beware!