U.S.A. Road Trip – Let’s Go!
After living in Mexico for three months, and spending a few weeks in Costa Rica mid-pandemic and just post signing off on my divorce, I decided that while I may not have a home any longer, I still had a car! A Road Trip Across America with the Rogue was in order. Final destination would be Nashville. Three months there and back.
I had certainly never driven that much in my life. That posed its own challenges. So did following all the COVID rules that changed state to state and sometimes city to city. To mask up, or not mask up, that was the question!
ROAD TRIP OBSERVATIONS
Driving through the wide open spaces of America one mile at a time was awe inspiring. Seeing what has happened to small towns is sad. Abandoned, decrepit, full of poverty, drugs. I made a rule of no night driving, so it was always a challenge to find a place to stay. Many a Motel (not Hotel!). Finding gas stations in safe locations. Places to eat. Trying to stay semi-healthy. Celebrated coming across a known like a Chili’s or Cracker Barrel (not my faves in normal life!).
For the road trip across America, I had the VW Taureug packed in an orderly manner so as not to take everything out each night on the road. Always had water and some snacks at the ready. Music, Audio books, conversation passed the time.
Come along for the journey! This episode is Santa Barbara – LA – Vegas Baby! Part One of Road Trip Across America.
QUICK TRIP BACK “HOME”
April 20, 2021 – Saw a lot of my parents and friends while staying at the Goodland in Goleta, enjoying the pool and fire pits, great gathering places for visitors.
Took care of doctor appointments – annual mammogram. Takes more effort to keep up with routine health as a nomad. Figuring it out as I go.
April 23, 2021 – Drove to LA; dinner with Daughter. Always good catching up.
Later, Rogue and I tried to catch a UFC fight. Covid rules: – no “joiners” at tables, no “mingling”. No TVs for UFC in bars so as to not bring crowds.
Ready to leave to Vegas!
April 25, Sunday – Hit the road to Vegas; 6 hour drive. Stayed at the Cosmopolitan https://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/, same place where Loretta and I had our secret Vegas escape.
Shhh… What Happens in Vegas…
Enjoyed indoor dining for dinner, then spontaneously took the Rogue to a strip club (on the… Strip!) after a few drinks at the gorgeous hotel Chandelier bar. Funny Covid rules: Strippers can’t expose nipples now. Who knew Covid might spray out of them? Hahaha
April 26, Monday – Slept late. 1:00 pm breakfast at the Henry. https://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/restaurants/the-henry Back to bed for a nap, then suddenly it was time for late night pizza. How Vegas rolls.
April 27, Tuesday – up at 2 am. Days turned into nights in the darkness of a Vegas hotel. Early breakfast at the Henry again, then explored other casinos – Caesars, Venetian, Paris, NYNY – Went on the rollercoaster. Laugh out loud fun, something that hasn’t happened a lot lately. Early to bed. Up to continue road trip, destination Grand Canyon!
New York New York
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https://secondchapternomad.blog/2023/08/09/road-trip-across-america-2021-part-2-arizona-to-new-mexico/ (next post)
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