but I have the coolest boss ever. She picked up a handy dandy United States map on her last trip to the office supply store to help me mark out my journey. It is now hanging on the once bleak white wall in our office. How awesome is that?
By now my tummy is growling and all I can think of is food. Nom, nom, nom. I decide an essential stop in Grand Rapids is necessary to visit the marvelous HopCat. I deviate the blue bubble to 131N, arriving downtown in about an hour. After a chuckle at the fact they actually have scooter parking, we park the Yaris and wander over to the brewery. To my suprise it wasn't busy at all. We pick a table relatively close to the door and are quickly waited on by a very nice waiter. I order a Hard Apple Cider beer, brewed by Vandermill Winery Spring Lake in Michigan. It was a tasty treat that danced on my taste buds! We ordered an appetizer, Pita chips and their secret cheese dip. I chomped down half of my meal, Rosemary Chicken Salad Wrap, and was completely stuffed. Five out of Five HopCat, hats off to you. If you don't visit HopCat for the assortment of brews or the enticing food, it is worth the trip to just people watch.
Now with a full tummy, some 80's tunes and a tired body we continue our trip up 131N. About 40 miles outside of Cadillac I find it impossible to keep my eyes open. I pull out the TomTom and find the closest Motel. So let me fill you in, since old school travelers stayed in Mom&Pop style motels, so will I. The first one we come to, Paris Motel, was a bit...well...creepy. There were people staring out the windows at us, I was overcast with an eerie feeling. When nobody answered the door we decide to take off to the next place. About 10 miles down the road was Reed City Motel. We arrive to find a 5lb. dog barking at us, a table of "hillbillies" drinking in the yard and 3 drunk 18 year olds checking us in. Let me correct myself, 3 very drunk 18 year olds. They tell us about their tattoos, traveling adventures and finally hand over a key. The door to our room was open, no working air conditioning, no toilet paper and half the blinds were broken. We shall now refer to this as the Motel from Hell. But I was exhausted from being on the run all day, so I plopped on the bed without a second thought. About a half hour later the cops show up looking for someone across the yard. Quite an adventurous motel, to say the least. We wake up in the morning, relieved to still be alive. Cadillac here we come.
Cadillac is quite the quaint little town. Between the gorgeous old structures and the pink strip club, we find ourselves shopping in the antique store(where I picked up an adorable penguin.)
A quick trot by the lake, check out some cool looking bars, and take our pics with the city sign. We head back south, on the long drive home. 131S to 10W to 31S. We stop for lunch at Rays in Grand Haven, an old-school burger shack that has been standing since 1960. I had a two thumbs up Double BeefBurger and fries. Following that we hit up a classic car show in downtown Grand Haven. That made Mandy a very happy girl. 31S to 94W to Red Arrow Highway. I take a quick jump into Lake Michigan outside Lakeside, MI(I forgot my swimsuit, so clothes and all) and hit up Oinks! in New Buffalo for Ice Cream. The blue moon gave me a wicked blue mouth, but was well worth it. I drop Jerry off about 6pm, head home and relax after a whirlwind 24 hour road trip. Total miles: 551. Not too shabby for a starter if you ask me :) Stay Tuned for trip #2.
Off to a late start. Following my first practice teaching a new colorguard(which ran over late) I head home in a quick hurry. Being a "responsible" adult, I did not make it home until 2am in the morning. Leaving absolutely no time to pack for my first Johnny trip before I leave for practice. Oops. I throw some clothes, toothbrush, hairbrush into a bag and run out the door, but not before a guilty look from Jasmine(my lil mutt.) After a quick rummage through the car for garbage, a stop at the gas station to fill up, a purchase of a Monster energy drink and a quick look at the atlas I'm off to pickup my partner in crime, Jerry. I remember thinking to myself, I hope this boy is prepared(looking back, I don't believe he was.) Although, you can't really prepare yourself for a Mandy style road trip, just come with an open mind and sense of adventure.
Just about 5pm, we hop on I-94 East. There's no turning back now. I torture him with the likes of Patsy Cline, Hank SR. and a wide variety of my favorite tunes. We talk about love, life and the lack of upcoming plans. We roll into a gas station just inside of Kalamazoo about two hours later. After a quick purchase of a wonderful Voltage flavor Mountain Dew and some batteries for my camera, a quick Q&A with the cashier about my tattoos, and potty break we head across the street for picture time with the Kalamazoo sign. To our disbelief we get passed by a school city of Hobart bus! 116 miles from home, and we get passed by the white short bus, complete with the brickie painted on the back. We continue to get proof of our trip, thanks to my fantastic Canon PowerShot, then jump into the car for part two.
This may take a while.... I've been to a handful of these cities over the years, but as a new challenge I'm starting with a clean slate. How many road trips do you think this will take?
I was totin my pack along the long dusty Winnemucca(NV) road
When along came a semi with a high canvas covered load
If your goin' to Winnemucca, Mack with me you can ride
And so I climbed into the cab and then I setteled down inside
He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand
And I said, "Listen! I've traveled every road in this here land!"
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel - I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
I've been to:
Reno (NV)
Chicago (IL)
Fargo (ND)
Minnesota
Buffalo (NY)
Toronto (ON, Canada)
Winslow (AZ)
Sarasota (FL)
Whichta (KS)
Tulsa (OK)
Ottowa (KS)
Oklahoma
Tampa (FL)
Panama (NE)
Mattua (ON, Canada)
LaPaloma (TX)
Bangor (ME)
Baltimore (MD)
Salvador (Brazil)
Amarillo (TX)
Tocapillo (Chile)
Barranquilla (Columbia)
Padilla (Columbia)
I'm a Killer
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel - I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
I've been to:
Boston (MA)
Charleston (SC)
Dayton (OH)
Lousiana
Washington
Houston (TX)
Kingston (ON, Canada)
Texarkana (AR)
Monterey (CA)
Fairaday (LA)
Santa Fe (NM)
Tallapoosa (GA)
Glen Rock (NJ)
Black Rock(AR)
Little Rock (AR)
Oskaloussa (IA)
Tennessee
Hennessey (OK)
Chicopee (MA)
Spirit Lake (IA)
Grand Lake (CO)
Devil's Lake (ND)
Crater Lake (OR)
For Pete's Sake
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel - I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
I've been to:
Louisville (KY)
Nashville (TN)
Knoxville (TN)
Ombabika (ON)
Schefferville (QU, Canada)
Jacksonville (FL)
Waterville (ME)
Costa Rica
Pittsfield (MA)
Springfield (MO)
Bakersfield (CA)
Shreveport (LA)
Hakensack (NJ)
Cadallic (MI)
Fond du Lac (WI)
Davenport (IA)
Idaho
Jellico (TN)
Argentina
Diamondtina (Brazil)
Pasadena(CA)
Catalina (AZ)
See What I Mean
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel - I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
I've been to:
Pittsburgh (PA)
Parkersburg (WV)
Gravelbourg (SK, Canada)
Colorado
Ellisburg (WA)
Rexburg (ID)
Vicksburg (MS)
Eldorado (CA)
Larimore (ND)
Atmore (AL)
Haverstraw (NY)
Chattanooga (TN)
Chaska (MN)
Nebraska
Alaska
Opelika (AL)
Baraboo (WI)
Waterloo (IA)
Kalamazoo (MI)
Kansas City (MO)
Souix City (IA)
Cedar City (UT)
Dodge City (KS)
What A Pity
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breatherd the mountain air, man
Travel - I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere
It all started on a breezy day in early June. It was the kind of air that was crisp, clean and just made you feel good. Aside from every other American, I love to have my windows down breathing it all in. Why breathe compressed, stuffed air conditioning? Gag. Anywho, in good Mandy fashion I had the windows rolled down jammin out to my homeboy, Johnny Cash.
It wasn't until recently I discovered the full spectrum of Johnny's awesomeness. I'd always enjoyed singing out to his tunes on the radio, and along with the movie Johnny and June. Minus all the drug addictions and ambitious women flocking to him at every turn, he was basically just another man trying to make ends meet. He was not only a musician, but a lover, a rebel, a hero, and American badass. I am forever addicted to his CD "Unchained." His voice alone speaks volumes of how I feel in everyday life...the good, the bad, and the truth. He struggled with emotions and life, and felt the pain of love. At this part of my life (27, single, no kids, dysfunctional family, no light at the end of the tunnel) there are times where I feel so alone, so weak, but still not ready to go down without giving a hell of a fight. My eye is on the prize, I want a life full of knee-bending love. I want to look back and not regret wasting time being unhappy. I want to live out my days doing things my way and not giving a damn about what others percieve of me. I love my gypsy lifestyle, and do not intend to give up on it.
So we go back to this day...just me, Johnny and the blue skies ahead. It was exactly at this point that I realized that I was entrapped by the moment. It was a point of pure bliss, no worries, no time, no overanalyzing life. So I continued down the road, belting out the lyrics(most likely as off-tune as possible) and living in the moment. When track #14 came on I knew exactly what I must do. I must live out Johnnys words, "I've been Everywhere." Now I know that critics will blast, it wasn't his song. Sure, it's a cover, but a damn good one. And Johnny has been everywhere...old school style. Pack up the car and let's go. So now, my mission, should I choose to accept it....I'm going Everywhere!
