Picking Cities: the Planning Stage

I am taking a road trip with a different kind of co-pilot. 

Kelsey Blue, my adventurer best friend, found a map and pinned the places she wanted us to see together. That is the route that shall be taken.

After knowing each other through our awkward teen stages and living together for our fruitful beginnings of womanhood, you might say that this lady has been the holy water to help plant my roots. We've been planning this adventure for quite some time. 

To put Kelsey into context, she is the miracle of a woman that bakes cupcakes for their mechanic and buys roses for strangers. She's essentially compassion incarnate. Blue took care of me when I was bed ridden and adventured with me when I felt the need to escape. 

We stuck it out through thick and thin and weird and great. 

Unfortunately, tragedy struck before Thanksgiving and left our trip with one less passenger. 

In Blue's last note she gave me her car, and that's the closest thing I've got to her company now. She's a part of the trip, but I guess you could say we are splitting a few less hours driving.

I owe it to her to christen the car with  a memorial trip.

By mid-February, I will embark on a solo-drive across the country. In each city Blue chose, I'll perform an act of compassion in her name. I will find community cleanups, soup kitchens, youth organizations and other service projects that need a hand.

I will write the progress of the trip throughout the journey that will include photos, videos, music, interviews, city characteristics and personal thoughts.

When the trip is through, I will compile personal notes and blog posts to write a travelogue for those who help me make this trip happen.

First order of business ought to be sharing Blue's map. This is the route she aimed to take:

The trip will begin with David, the love of Kelsey Blue's life.

We will drive to Blowing Rock, NC the second weekend of February to send off paper lanterns and see Kelsey's favorite Blue Ridge town. 

David said it was the place he wanted to ask Blue's hand in marriage, and albeit, that certain question can't be answered with "yes", the sentiment remains.

 This wasn't a pin on her map, but it was a town always escaping her tongue, and hence, we will travel to see what she so poetically depicted in stories.

The weekend will end with taking David back to Holiday, FL and from there, I'll roam:

Florida: Tallahassee

Mississipi: Flora Petrified Forest

Texas: Tyler 14-acre rose garden & Mineral Wells Fossil Park

New Mexico: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Aztec Ruins & Four Corners Monument

Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park

Nevada: Las Vegas

California: San Diego Zoo, Alcatraz, Redwoods & Lake Tahoe

Utah: Salt Lake City

Wyoming: Yellowstone National Park

South Dakota: Mt. Rushmore National Park & Wind Cave National Park

Missouri: Diamond City Crater

Tennessee: Nasheville

Kentucky: Mammoth Cave

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh to see Blue's brother & Gettysburg

Washington D.C. : (Spend 3-4 Days)

North Carolina: Asheville & Charlotte

With Kelsey's list on hand, I've added some pins of my own. I know myself better than to believe I can drive past certain places without wondering their whereabouts: 

In Texas, I'll sing in Austin's streets. 

I'll play in New Mexico's desert White Sands before squeezing embraces into Corinne's tiny Taos ribs. 

I will seek Arizona's Saguaros in Tucson

Then,

On the way to San Diego, Slab City and the ancient Joshua Trees will no doubt catch my gazes.

I'll look for my lively aunt Hillary in Santa Barbara

and my jovial friend James in Santa Cruz.

Yosemite's peaks will then beckon me to scuff weather into my camping gear, 

which I shall. 

Eventually,

I'll again count bridges in Portland, perhaps craving rainy coffee in Seattle.

Retracing steps in the Tetons, I'll unbury secrets lost in their snowy caps. 

I'll see time's endless layers in the Zion narrows then look at the Arches as they frame every sunset.

But what of the Northeast? 

Why would I neglect the roaring flow of Niagara Falls?

How could I call this quest quits without seeing Chelsea Black in Buffalo? 

Acadia will tangle my affections in its branches and

Shenandoah will serenade my steps. 

I've got plans.

And even if the trip takes a few years to complete, 

I will find means to trek every inch of it.

Thank you again to all the folks helping me make this happen on
https://www.gofundme.com/2hdsfskk

You're a part of this too, making it come to life.