Traveling across America and appreciating home

My family and I took a road trip recently. Like many, I was desperate to go somewhere. I’d been to Colorado several times but not with my children. It would be a great experience for them, I thought. So we packed our minivan and headed west with 6 bikes, two kids and a dog. We took photos through the window when we didn’t have time to stop completely. Other times, we extended our three day drive so that we could be at the site, read the signs and learn of the history.

I fully acknowledge the privilege I have to do this, to take time away from work, to take an actual vacation. I hope that those who need a vacation are able to take one, whether at home or away, to refresh your mind and spirit. If you can, spend some time in Nature even if you can’t get away from work long enough to call it a true vacation. Nature is healing in many ways.

We drove through the midwest and carried on through Kansas, getting off the interstate and traveling nearly solo through the vast farms. I kept a sharp eye out for pronghorn antelope and was able to spot a few. They are the fastest land animal in North America but they aren’t jumpers like deer so they tend to go under fences. We also stopped at Prairie Dog State Park and saw a prairie dog colony. According to the info sign, there were at one time 5 billion prairie dogs in the US. They are critical to the grasslands habitat as many species rely on prairie dogs for shelter and food, including jackrabbits, toads, rattlesnakes, hawks, coyotes and ferrets, according to WWF.

We entered Colorado, Denver, and then the mountains. The air was cool and the bugs were few. A welcome change from Virginia. We rode bikes, hiked, visited some local establishments and met up with friends. The kids were impressed by the height of the mountains.

We visited bike parks with incredible vistas on the lifts. We headed to New Mexico and explored the Angel Fire area. Horseback riding was a huge hit and took us up to a meadow with the most beautiful wild flowers!

We saw deserts, mountains, wetlands. We saw blue skies, thunderstorms and gray skies. We saw cities and small towns and capitols. We saw petroleum refineries, wind turbines, nuclear power plants and solar farms. We saw dry creek beds and gushing rivers. We visited the UFO Watchtower and Great Sand Dunes National Park.

We watched Fourth of July fireworks from the road in Oklahoma. We visited Central High School in Little Rock, a National Historic Site, and learned more about the tremendous Civil Rights events that took place there and the courage of the Little Rock Nine students who risked their lives to effect change. According to the NPS website, “In 1957, Little Rock Central High School was the epicenter of confrontation and a catalyst for change as the fundamental test for the United States to enforce African American civil rights following Brown v. Board of Education.” “Arkansas Governor Orval E. Faubus directly questioned the sanctity of the federal court system and the authority of the United States Supreme Court's desegregation ruling while nine African American high school students sought an education at the all-white Little Rock Central High School.

The controversy in Little Rock was the first fundamental test of the United States resolve to enforce African-American civil rights in the face of massive southern defiance during the period following the Brown v. Board of Education decisions. When President Dwight D. Eisenhower was compelled by white mob violence to use federal troops to ensure the rights of African American children to attend the previously all-white school, he became the first president since the post-Civil War Reconstruction period to use federal troops in support of African American civil rights.”

Looking forward to home

We tried new things and we confirmed our love for home. As much as it is nice to leave, it is nice to return home. I am grateful for that and aware that there are many who cannot return home, now or ever. Perhaps you can create a new home. I wish you strength and love in that journey.