How it all started

It was Fall 2016 when I first decided I wanted to travel . I was 8 months into a new job - a real job - the beginning of a promising engineering career. Everything was going great; the problem was that I couldn't sit still. I just didn't have the passion for the job, and I wanted to do something more meaningful for myself and for the community. I realized there was something missing in my life: adventure. I'd always done what I was "supposed" to do: go to class, get good grades, get a job. I had never given myself a chance to do what I wanted to do: to travel, to go to new places and create new experiences and to meet new people. So there I was; ready to do something mildly crazy. My first thought was a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. This is something I've always wanted to do and will hopefully still do someday. But as I thought about it, I realized a cross country road trip would allow me to see much more of the country and the National Parks that I've always wanted to explore. So I created my road trip route: starting with the Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas and then working my way to the Pacific coast and then to the forests of the Pacific Northwest, then back through the Midwest to the east coast. Originally, this trip was more of a glorified vacation: a fun adventure before really joining the workforce. But then, as the new administration introduced bill after bill and regulation after regulation against land and environmental protection, I realized that there is an active threat to our country's natural lands and vital resources. I saw the opportunity for my trip to have more meaning and purpose than just being a fun trip for me. I realized that I could turn this trip into a way to promote activism and as a platform for being involved in politics and fighting for issues that matter. So along my trip, I will share pictures, videos, and writings to emphasize how amazing and beautiful the United States is and how important it is to protect our lands, our resources, and our environment. I believe this trip will help me find the adventure I'm looking for in my life while doing what I can to make this country a better place. I hope you'll join me as I discover all the wonders that our country has to offer.