Road trips

Planning road trips can be tricky: you have to consider driving time, spots you want to see along the way, food, expense, etc. On top of that, planning where to spend each night on a road trip revival means more than just plotting out driving distance and figuring out accommodations near each destination. Especially if you have children and animals along for the ride, there are a lot of considerations to think about when planning road trip overnights.

My mind wanders. Somewhere between a time before Spanish Conquistadors penetrated this territory and the last time dinosaurs rattled the ground with their presence. It must have been truly wild. Something like what the corners of Alaska and Africa reserve for the select few who perhaps never find their way back. My fascination with erosion lead me to ponder what it must have looked like all those millennia ago.

The adventure family trip was officially underway. With an accidentally glorious start, we were on our way towards the Hoover Dam.

Let’s get this show on the road. For the first day of our adventure family trip, we set our sights on Lake Mead in Nevada.

We’re a family of many miles. About 20,000 or so per year on each car. We love to travel and travel far over many types of roads. Chelsea and I fell in love with the journey while we were dating and took our first trip together to the Grand Canyon. The ability to take off and go explore is part of what makes us feel so free.

To be a father is a gift. To be a father of two precocious boys and a baby boy…well, that’s a blessing only another father would understand. Oh, to where will our imaginations take us? What adventures might we have? "That one, drive up that one!" my oldest shouts as he points on to another peak. "Okay," I reply, as our Ford diesel 4×4 makes its steady crawl up the slope.

With kids as young as mine, it can be difficult to get work done anywhere. I’ve heard a lot of colleagues complaining at conferences about what a challenge it is getting work done on the road. Honestly, though, I think it’s harder to stay on top of it all at home.

For the wise, to fail is to learn (another tidbit of wisdom from yours truly…you’re welcome). In our many recent adventures, OH I HAVE LEARNED. I’ve learned a lot. Through failure. But you know, they never would have invented the fire extinguisher if it weren’t for one fateful small fire that got out of hand. Necessity is the mother of invention. Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Insert other such quotes of inspiration here.

I think I’m starting to get the hang of this thing. The "travel bug," as it were. I’ve learned I love traveling in the western portion of the United States and seeing all it has to offer. It turns out, there seems to be more than I could see in a lifetime. Along with all its scenic beauty and anthropological offerings, there are a number of other lessons I’ve learned along the way.

We’ve put some miles on the Bear now. We’ve crossed a few train tracks and kicked up our fair share of dust. As I pointed out from the beginning, everything about the Bear is meant to take our family to further places. And, as a truck ever-evolving, it needs updating and improving. This is based on our increase in skill, knowledge and also experience.

The two most noticeable variables in travel – regardless of where you are going – are comfort and ease. In the case of road-trippers and overlanders like ourselves, this is as simple as getting in and out of our vehicle and having a place to relax when we need to take break. That’s one of the main reasons I love driving on my vacations in America. I am in control over pit stops and destinations based on my own energy levels. I’m not imprisoned to a seat guarded by the notorious "seat belt" light and the stewardess finger-wagging brigade.

A new year and new adventures are upon us. 2014 was fantastic. We grew together as a family, traveled through a third of Western America, learned valuable lessons and added another member to my little army. There was a lot to be thankful for and a lot we will remember for many years to come.