It’s amazing out there and Steve and I have gone to explore it all. We are now underway on a trip we have been planning for the better part of a year, or maybe a lifetime. With nothing but an open road and our beautiful country in front of us, we plan to travel to the West Coast from Washington, DC area in our 25-foot RV that we will call home for the next several weeks. And, if all goes well, we’ll turn around and explore a different path back home on this coast-to-coast-to-coast adventure. Along the way, we hope to share some of our observations, stories and images that we gather as we travel so others can learn alongside us.
Rolling out of the countryside of Virginia, where we have a family farm, I was wondering how many people leave their home community for such a trip with just a touch of sadness — as I recognize that we are blessed to call one of America’s most beautiful regions home. But we took one look at the Shenandoah mountains laid out before us and gave a nod — almost as if to say (paraphrasing John Muir), “You understand, don’t you? The land is calling and we must go.”
There is so much rich history in the Mid-Atlantic region, and so much remarkable natural beauty, that as we began our trip we realized that some of the sites at the beginning may end up being among the highlights as we return. But some might call that bias.
The route took us through the mountains of Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Interesting small towns dotted the route, and reflected rich history tying back to pre-Revolutionary times and conveying a narrative of people who chose a life outside of the big city, settling in towns that were consequential to our nation’s story.
Because these areas are more near to us, they are not new to us. Towns like Berkeley Springs, West Virginia and Cumberland, Maryland are true destinations in their own right, where history and charm and aesthetic come together to please any traveler.
One of the most famous roads in America cuts through this region, and the story of the road itself and those who have traveled it tell a uniquely American story. The National Historic Highway, or as it was sometimes called, The National Road, first began as a military trail to enable passage of troops through the challenging mountainous region around the area of Cumberland, Maryland in the French and Indian War. This early “road” continued to expand, and in the early 19th century a major extension was approved by the states of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. In 1806 Thomas Jefferson declared his interest in seeing the road stretch all the way to St. Louis to enable more settlement of the newly acquired federal lands. A plan was devised to allow proceeds from the sale of federal land grants from the new states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois to fund the extension of the road into these regions. The National Road would serve as a primary passageway to the west for generations to follow — fearless pioneers who were settlers of the new American territories. Indeed, my own ancestors, like that of so many Americans, took advantage of a land grant as Indiana was being settled and they traveled this road as they left Virginia to build a new life in these new territories.
In Pennsylvania, the National Road travels past Lake Youghiogheny and just a little to the northwest of the lake sits a beautiful state park, Ohiopyle State Park, our destination for the first evening. Even the name reflects the rich history of the “C&O” connection — the trail that traveled down from the Ohio River to the Washington, DC area. We rolled in about 5:00 PM and set up camp. We then ventured on a hike to a waterfall on the Youghiogheny River. The river is renowned for its superior white-water rafting. The short evening hike turned into an adventure when we decided to connect with the Allegheny Passage to find our way back to the campsite. Six miles later, with little sun and very little battery left on our mobile devices to guide us, we arrived back at our campsite where we enjoyed a delicious campfire-side steak dinner in the dark.
RV campsites have “quiet hours” and this first night they were enforced starting at 9:00 PM. Given the hike and the excitement of the first day, we were ready to call it an early evening.
Exploring nature, taking in the fresh air and enjoying the open road can be exhilarating, but it can also create an honest sense of tiredness at the end of the day. The quiet of the campground, interrupted only by the sounds of nature, lulled us to sleep and reminded us of why we sought out this journey that would take us into unknown places and spaces.
Along the way, friends have been filled with questions, and quite frankly, some seemed shocked that we would choose to travel in this way. The questions that spill out sometimes in disbelief are mostly the same so I thought I’d take a moment to answer some of these common questions people have asked as they learn about our travels:
Are you guys really doing this on your own?
Yes, we are entirely on our own and self-sufficient and loving each moment of it. No one is along to help us or to set up things as we arrive at locations.
Who drives?
We share the driving, although Steve does most of it. It probably comes down to a 2/3 to 1/3 split, with Steve taking the majority.
Do you really cook?
Yes, we love our campfire dinners. I mostly take the lead on the cooking and pride myself on the campfire cuisine I serve, but Steve is an important partner in the setup, tear down and cleaning of the meals.
Where do you stay?
We prefer State and National Parks, although this trip will include some overnight stays in hotels in cities. We love the country but we love the cities that are less celebrated, and our hope is that we will be in explorer and discovery mode in cities that we haven’t spent much time in.
Are you off the grid?
We are routinely off the grid on this trip, but we are also parents and take seriously the responsibilities we have in our day jobs and in board roles. So, we spend some time along the way connecting, doing calls and catching up. We also want to share this trip with others, so we’re making sure to post on Medium and Instagram where we can. Follow along on Instagram at @JeanCaseCF and @SteveCase.
The bottom line is that it is hard to convey how many people have told us that they want to do a trip like the one we are doing. If that is you, do it if you can, if only for a few days at a time. There is nothing like the value and simplicity of a small piece of nature to enjoy for a night in state or national parks. There is nothing like the open road calling and to be without commitments along the way.
As a new day begins, the road is calling. Time to go.
