Don’t lie.  Tell the truth.  At some point in your life you’ve wanted to run away. When you were a kid maybe you wanted to run away from school or siblings or parents. As an adult perhaps you wanted to disappear from responsibilities or relationships.  I think we’ve all dreamed of running away to be free of some challenge we don’t want to face.

Personally, I wanted to run away to be a cowboy.  Not a cowgirl because I didn’t want to wear a stupid cowgirl skirt like Dale Evans.  

Get lost Tonto!  I wanted to be the Lone Ranger’s sidekick.  I wanted to gamble with Maverick, ride with the Cartwrights, fly with Sky King, shoot with the Rifleman, right wrongs with Cheyenne and Sugarfoot, Johnny Yuma, Wyatt Earp,  Bat Masterson, et al.

Well, after all these years I’m finally doing it.  I’m running toward my childhood dreams of the Wild West.  I’ve packed my car and will be taking the ultimate roadtrip solo.  From Port Charlotte, FL to Seattle, WA.  I will be SUV camping in state and national parks along the way with only myself and my audio books for company, my travel apps and Atlas to guide me and 50 years of imagining, dreaming and planning.

Many of my friends and family are appalled that I’m driving across the country by myself, flying by the seat of my pants, following my nose, drifting with the wind. I’ve made no reservations for campsites or hotel rooms because I don’t know how far I will drive each day or how long I will tarry at various locations.  What they don’t realize is that I have spent months poring over my maps and brochures from state tourism bureaus and Chambers of Commerce and have made this trip numerous times in my mind.  I want no schedules or appointments, no time limits or responsibilities.

So, if you’ve ever dreamed of running away you’re welcome to join me. I will describe what I see and feel along the way – – Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, a little bit of Illinois, Missouri, a tiny bit of Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Hi, ho Silver, away!