"I need to get out."
...were the fateful words I blurted as Jeff and I planned our road trip to the West. It was the summer of 2015, and we had taken 3 days off to squeeze in a 5 day road trip to wherever we wanted. A couple years back, Jeff and I had just entered the workforce full-time, and the stress from our jobs had us kicking for some excitement. We threw ideas back and forth, pulled items off old bucket lists and scoured 'r/earthporn' for some of the prettiest landscapes the continental U.S. could provide. Despite the long list of potential stops on our road trip, the top two priorities were clear on our minds: 1. visit the Grand Canyon, and 2. drive as far from the Mid West as we possibly can.
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Thus kicked the travel bug.
I don't know when it started or when it stopped, but I wasn't foreign to it. The second child to two amateur mountaineers, I've been extremely lucky at a young age to travel to some unique locations around Asia. I loved to get around to experience new cultures and climb taller hills - but for some reason it all went away near my tweens.
I don't know when it started or when it stopped, but I wasn't foreign to it. The second child to two amateur mountaineers, I've been extremely lucky at a young age to travel to some unique locations around Asia. I loved to get around to experience new cultures and climb taller hills - but for some reason it all went away near my tweens.
Fast forward a couple years, I took an internship in Milwaukee, WI where I met Jeff. Jeff and I shared similar interests; sports, girls, and travel. But, we were also a part of the herd; graduate with college degrees, get an internship at a reputable company, and live a low life with a good paying job at a decent company... and we shared our distaste for that lifestyle. What we truly wanted was to get out and explore the world.
For countless days over countless drinks, Jeff and I would plan our "big trip". Climb the Appalachians. Hike Iceland. Drive through the Youkon. But over and over, we both put excuses ahead of us and never settled on a date or time. Finally, half of summer had already flown by and we needed to make decisions. So with a firm "f*** this" attitude, we marked our vacation days, packed our bags, rented a car, and drove as far away from home as we possible could.
That feeling of risk and uncertainty is what I crave. Since the road trip, flashbacks and dreams of my memories abroad persistently haunts me to get out, hop on a train, and explore something new. I plan on keeping this momentum going, and log my journey through "The Second Frontier".
I want to thank all my family and friends who push me to do what I love. Thank you for all the support, and I hope this blog will at least keep you entertained!
For countless days over countless drinks, Jeff and I would plan our "big trip". Climb the Appalachians. Hike Iceland. Drive through the Youkon. But over and over, we both put excuses ahead of us and never settled on a date or time. Finally, half of summer had already flown by and we needed to make decisions. So with a firm "f*** this" attitude, we marked our vacation days, packed our bags, rented a car, and drove as far away from home as we possible could.
That feeling of risk and uncertainty is what I crave. Since the road trip, flashbacks and dreams of my memories abroad persistently haunts me to get out, hop on a train, and explore something new. I plan on keeping this momentum going, and log my journey through "The Second Frontier".
I want to thank all my family and friends who push me to do what I love. Thank you for all the support, and I hope this blog will at least keep you entertained!
All About Jeff
“To make a journey, typically of some length or abroad,” is the textbook definition of the word travel. What intrigues me about the notion of travel is the sense of wonderment paired with risk that comes with the various stages of a journey. I gravitate towards this feeling of needing to constantly be in motion and experience and discover new things.
Now, my travel record may not be as impressive as most, as I’ve remained in the U.S., BUT, since I was a young kid I’ve been routinely heading to my family’s cabins in Tomahawk, WI and the Upper Peninsula of MI. Not to mention, I’ve been as far south as Georgia and as far west as California (both occurrences were centered on road trips). There has always been a spark in my life to travel constantly, no matter how far, and the unforgettable Journey West with Charles ignited that spark into a full-blown bonfire.
As I’ve grown older and watched opportunities come and go, I decided it’s time to just go for it – to fulfill my passion of all things travel-related. It’s time to stop using limitations as excuses and continuously retain that feeling of the open road and freedom that I had on the Journey West. So, I look forward to embarking on countless journeys with Charles, and friends, as we explore an assortment of places and cultures in our own backyard, as well as abroad.
Now, my travel record may not be as impressive as most, as I’ve remained in the U.S., BUT, since I was a young kid I’ve been routinely heading to my family’s cabins in Tomahawk, WI and the Upper Peninsula of MI. Not to mention, I’ve been as far south as Georgia and as far west as California (both occurrences were centered on road trips). There has always been a spark in my life to travel constantly, no matter how far, and the unforgettable Journey West with Charles ignited that spark into a full-blown bonfire.
As I’ve grown older and watched opportunities come and go, I decided it’s time to just go for it – to fulfill my passion of all things travel-related. It’s time to stop using limitations as excuses and continuously retain that feeling of the open road and freedom that I had on the Journey West. So, I look forward to embarking on countless journeys with Charles, and friends, as we explore an assortment of places and cultures in our own backyard, as well as abroad.