I wanted to call this SOLO Road Trip Badges of Honor, but I’m attempting to gain a broader readership. If nothing, I’m truthful.
Badges are marked by circumstances and occurrences that have you crying in the moment, but laughing later; sometimes much later. That have your friends shaking their heads or raising their eyebrows at your bravery. Or stupidity. That create some degree of pride, however misplaced. That remind you you’re alive even at those times you sort of wish you weren’t. That make you laugh out-loud at how juvenile you are and how good it feels. That result in a longing to do it all again.
Many of these of course do apply to any road trip. Like how about returning with a cracked windshield? A favorite of mine. Not so much of my husband’s since I drive his truck. But getting locked out of your motel room during a sprint in the middle of the night to the truck for an extra blanket in nothing but your cotton pj’s, is strictly a badge to be worn proudly by a solo road tripper.
So here we go. I own each of these. Some I hope to not own two of. Read them. Share your own.
- A speeding ticket, or even better, one in every state you’ve driven. I’m ashamed now to admit I used to think this was cool. Until once, I couldn’t pay my car insurance because the premium jumped 300%. Not cool.
- Mud caked on the running boards and drizzled from the top like runny icing on a cake.
- Being out of cell phone service most of the trip.
- Not being able to locate yourself on a map for the better part of a day [it’s called lost], and not caring.
- Being face-to-face with a full grown mountain lion in the backcountry of Wyoming with only a fiberglass flyrod for a weapon. Which is why I now carry a knife.
- A wound sure to be a new scar.
- Getting caught in a Mazda MX-6 in Yellowstone in a blizzard so severe it took blind dependence on a GPS to find shelter. And the rancher with the GPS.
- Hiking to the top of what once was a tourist attraction on a hill in South Dakota only to realize [upon descent] it had been abandoned due to rattlesnake infestation.
- Pushing the Mazda to the top of a hill that was buried under rain slicked, greasy, glistening mud only to lose control turning around, slide all the way off the side to the bottom, and land safely wedged between the hill and a tree. I checked to make sure the camera was okay before clamoring out.
- Making it all the way down a 4-wheel drive marked road in less than a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
- Making it all the way down a 4-wheel drive marked road in less than a 4-wheel drive vehicle and realizing you need the 4-wheel drive to turn around.
- Waded 2/3 of the way across the Yellowstone River near Le Hardy Falls, water at upper flyvest pockets, holding flyrod up to God – it was the only offering i had, water running too fast to turn around. Had it caught the broadside of me… Only one way to go. Forward. Closest I’ve ever been that I know of to death. A slip of the foot or deeper water ahead and those waders would have inflated… Yeesh. Most frightened I’ve ever been. Caught some kick ass Yellowstone cuts on the other side though. Then had to wade back.
- New dings on your camera gear.
- Being caught in a predicament that causes you to think about what your Will says and make a mental note to update it if you make it home.
- Knowing you must go forward, because turning back or around is impossible.
- Hearing the satisfying crunch of gravel mutate to the hiss of a blown tire.
- One finger waves and head jerks continue when you get home.
- Hiking out the wrong trail-head and swearing on your Grandmother’s grave you’ll kill the SOB that stole your car.
- Breaking the law. Okay, it was only a wee instance of trespassing into a cemetery. But a famous one.
- Locking your keys in the car.
- Sleeping in your car.
- A cracked windshield.
- Hearing the door to the motel room lock behind you in the middle of the night as you streak in your pj’s to the car for an extra blanket while the attendant’s rehearsed check-in spiel “there’s no one on site after midnight” plays in your head.
- Sore muscles and shriveled feet.
- Mostly unworn clothes in the suitcase – a favorite of mine.
- Pulling into a deserted town with smoking chimneys, no people, and getting a gut check about the 2nd coming.
- Thoughts of Deliverance or Race With the Devil burr into your brain while hiking alone [where you shouldn’t].
- Transferring the entirety of something really bad for you from the plate to your belly and being profoundly happy you didn’t have to offer a single bite to anyone else.
Join the Road Trip Revolution at the Solo Road Trip Facebook Fan Page, here.
The badges of honor were not what I was exepecting to see. Your road trip adventures were always a encouragement for me during my solo road journeys.
Comment by Indian Road Trip — January 21, 2013 @ 12:41 am
[…] a road trip, staying in some sort of motel/hotel is part of the adventure. It’s not the same as staying […]
Pingback by The Brown Hotel – Springer, New Mexico | Tiketjakarta.com — September 14, 2012 @ 2:09 pm
My badges of honour, if anyone is interested:
1) Travel to NYC and survive the traffic. Same thing with DC and Chicago.
2) Cross the Mississippi.
3) Cross from one time zone to another. I did this three times – Tennessee, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Alabama (I started from Virginia). All three of these were from Eastern Time to Central Time.
4) If you have an EZPass transponder, try driving in every state which has EZPass tolls.
5) Get on the Interstate with a full tank. Keep going and don’t stop till your tank is down to 1/4 of a tank. This takes me 500 miles in my Accord. It takes determination, but it can be done.
Comment by VirginiaJim — June 21, 2012 @ 12:12 pm
About three months before I got my driver’s license, my best friend and I thought it wise to take Dad’s truck for a spin out of town. Miles from nowhere we found ourselved up to the floor boards in the worst gumbo mud pit I have ever seen. We used every removable object in the ol’ Ford to try to get any kind of traction possible. Over three hours later we were finally back on the highway, barely able to turn the wheels because the demonic slime mud was packed so tight in the wheel wells. We got to the house and franticly spent the next hour cleaning the truck, finishing up just as Mom got home from work. She told me she wasn’t comfortable with me driving the pickup down the driveway with nobody home, even if it was for a good cause like cleaning Dad’s truck! To this day my father is mad that someone would come into our yard and steal all the chains, coveralls, blankets, etc, etc, from his pickup. That was over 25 years ago. This is also why I refuse to have children of my own!!!
Comment by Rex Redd — May 6, 2012 @ 1:34 am
[…] a road trip, staying in some sort of motel/hotel is part of the adventure. It’s not the same as staying […]
Pingback by The Brown Hotel – Springer, New Mexico — February 17, 2012 @ 11:28 pm
[…] not that I don’t want to improve. I do. But it’s hard to execute from a recliner. Or with my ass bolted to a truck on some American […]
Pingback by John Batdorff. Book Review, “Black and White: From Snapshots to Great Shots” — February 6, 2012 @ 7:05 pm
You have some great badges of honor Tammie! As I reminisce I can’t help but remember being on the road for 15 hours on my second day of driving up to Alaska and arriving at my motel in Dease Lake, BC only to find the only restaurant closed at 8pm (I got there around 9pm). So it was another pb&j from the cooler! Then to top it off, I got up, packed the car for day three and found that the only gas station didn’t open until 7am and it was 6am at the time. Checking the remaining miles I had in the tank and how far the AK Milepost told me the next gas station was; I took off…I made it but didn’t have much to spare 🙂
Oh, how about losing track of how many times you’ve pulled a U’y to go back and see wildlife or beautiful scenery…
I was on the AK State Ferry heading from Haines, AK to Bellingham, WA and when I sat down for dinner in the dining room, the woman at the next table said “oh good! I’m glad they sat you by us; you always spot the wildlife” and sure enough during dinner I spotted the sealions and porpoises.
I LOVE it when I spot wildlife first and draw a crowd.
Here is a badge of honor for you…waiting 1 1/2 hours for a moose to stand up from being bedded down.
Driving for over and hour and not seeing another car during the middle of the day!!
Getting a ‘failure to conserve a natural resource’ ticket ($5 cash payment on site) in MT back when they didn’t have a speedlimit.
If I think of anymore, I’ll post again.
Comment by Shari Sommerfeld — December 22, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
Since I have 5 Boys, every trip greater than 10 miles brings with it some badge of honor just for survival, or remaining sane. I think those are the same! Your picture of your knees reminds me that sometimes when others take a trip they bring us along and give us an experience, a badge of maybe not honor but something else. Watching you recover knee surgery, you gave me something: a picture of grit, fortitude, and determination. Thanks sis. I treasure those badges still today.
Comment by James — December 14, 2010 @ 9:15 am
killer jelly fish! Ahh! I’d rather die from rattlesnake bite. actually I’d prefer not to die a painful death at all, but if I do so while pursuing life, then so be it. until then, Tanaka, you keep body surfing (but man, maybe you should do some cardio occasionally) and I’ll keep hiking.
Comment by Tammie Dooley — December 10, 2010 @ 12:22 am
You’re a rockstar!
I spent a couple of hours playing with waves in the ocean once. After crawling back to my towel I noticed three signs that read: “Portuguese Man-of-War Warning.” Didn’t see the signs before I ran full speed into the water. Your rattlesnake bit (pun) reminded me of this…must be related or something. You’ve got to get this article published somewhere.
Comment by Tanaka — December 9, 2010 @ 9:24 pm
So many articles/news stories out there leave the reader with a sour taste of the world. You have the unqiue gift of presenting every side of living-both the smiles and the scars, and manage to leave the reader inspired and HUNGRY to live. Bravo! Wild Bill certainly would be proud!
Comment by Joie — December 8, 2010 @ 1:18 pm
Yeesh!
Comment by Steven — December 8, 2010 @ 12:13 am
Sounds like a rough trip but those memories will definitely last.
Comment by Steven — December 7, 2010 @ 11:55 pm
Wow, that’s quite a list, love it!
Comment by Andi — December 5, 2010 @ 9:12 am
Nice list. Constant evolution. I need more. Life’s too short. Gotta’ run.
Comment by J.R. — December 4, 2010 @ 11:54 pm
Everyone’s favorite hiking boots have scuffed toes. You want to impress me show me the soles, or the souls as the case may be.
Comment by TL — December 4, 2010 @ 10:35 pm
Lisa, I’ve matured past the speeding tickets. Thankfully. But I must admit most of the other badges have been earned over the last 5 years. Is that good? And it is my honor and privilege to share with you my tales.
Claymama, you know the delight outweighs the fright!! You’re smiling right now!
Pops, others may drop their heads and cringe, but I write about it all instead. That means my head has to stay upright. It’s best that way.
Comment by Tammie Dooley — December 4, 2010 @ 8:15 pm
I’ll bet you cause some serious consternation among your family and friends. The kind that makes you drop your head and cringe. I say, TRIP ON. Life is an adventure.
Comment by Pops — December 4, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
Okay….those are great, but some of them are a way of Life for some of us…..The Pleasures you have known over so many of us…..You make the knees and heels seem almost likeable if it meant the peace and solitude……Although, I don’t think I could afford your speeding tickets, the insurance jump, and I hope you have the windshield replacement coverage……….No, wait….I hope your Husband does! Thanks for the Badges you have shared with so many of us!!!!
Comment by Lisa — December 4, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
Scars on top of scars! Yikes, your knees alone should be bronzed for the mantel!! I would like to say that I’m glad, sort of, that I’m just now hearing of many of these escapades! Sometimes you frighten me, other times you delight me! Not sure which outweighs the other…….
Comment by claymama — December 4, 2010 @ 6:49 pm
So you tip over easily, do ya? I can relate. That heel injury was,,, a 1/2 acre blister. I’ve never had so much pain at every step for so many steps (12 + miles). What sucks is I have no scar to show for it.
Comment by Tammie Dooley — December 4, 2010 @ 5:37 pm
Haha, those look very similar to my knees on a regular basis! Sadly, I sustain such injuries just from walking through the house! (That’s why my nickname is Grace!) That heel injury looks brutal though!
Comment by Camels & Chocolate — December 4, 2010 @ 3:35 pm