From D.C. to Michigan

With my car packed to the max and my bike on a janky rack (haha that rhymed), my Dad and I set out on our trip from the nations capital to the former auto powerhouse known as Michigan.   The trip took us through 4 states, 2 tanks of gas (I know, I know, but what of the environment), 668 miles, 12 hours (including stops), and 2 eating stops (Chilli's and childhood favorite, Big Boy).

Leaving D.C. was both exciting and scary for me.  I had lived in DC for 4 years and was comfortable in my job and living in the city.  Embarking on this dream has changed the way I see the world and the expectations I put on myself.  Oddly enough, when we were leaving DC we ran into a part of my life that has helped shape my feelings now and my drive for the future.  Enough with the mini sob story, lets talk about the states we drove through.

Northern Virginia - OK, I lived and worked here for awhile.  I could write for maybe 4 hours on living in Northern Virginia alone so I will relate it to the drive only.  I can summarize Northern Virginia in 3 words, construction, concrete, and traffic that's it.

Western Maryland/Southwestern Pennsylvania - These 2 states were the highlight of our trip.  The rolling hills and dark green vegetation made it exciting to drive through and a little dangerous with the tight turns and my janky bike rack, I was afraid that my bike was going to fly off around the corners.  We passed through many beautiful and scenic parts of theses 2 states.  My Dad as photographer, check 'em out.

 

 

 We also ended up passing through the Allegheny Mountains, which consisted of, yes, you guessed it, a tunnel.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny_Mountains

As we left the Mountain range and made our way into the "Corn Belt" the rest of the trip was well, not as exciting.  The 80/90 through Ohio, for those that have driven it, know that it is a straight line, flat, and full of corn (The Corn Belt produces over 60% of the corn in the U.S. and is loosely made up of Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas and Kentucky) and it will rock you to sleep if you let it.  Its always good to have a co-pilot when on this road!

Case in point, the road was like this for about 200 miles.  You can see why Lebron took his talents to South Beach.  I know, I know, this has been beaten to death in the media but just compare the pictures and ask "where would I rather be?" 

South Beach looks a little more enticing!

Switching topics away from Lebron and back to the trip.  We finally made it to Michigan after 12 hours of driving and countless coffee fill-ups.

You are probably asking yourself, this sounds like a wine related blog, where is the wine?  Well.... tomorrow we are hitting up 4-5 vineyards in Southwest Michigan.  Tons and tons and tons of goodies to come.