It’s that time of year again – my annual birthday road trip. I have been going to various destinations the first week of August for nine years. My thought is, if I’m not home when my birthday rolls around then it can’t find me. With this logic, I am still a few days away from my 29th birthday. I haven’t found anyone to agree with me, mostly I get laughed at. No matter, I will maintain it until my face is wrinkley and my hair is completely gray (which could be sooner than I’d like to admit).
On my first road trip I went to California so that I could see the ocean before I turned thirty. Then there were smaller trips to Yellowstone National Park, Moab, St George, and Cedar City. Despite my goal to always go somewhere I’ve never been there have been a few repeat trips to the Shakespeare Festival, Tuacahn, Yellowstone, and Thermopolis.
My birthday happens to be the same time as the biking mecca known as Sturgis. Every year I share the road with bikers making or returning from their pilgrimage to South Dakota. A lot have been friendly enough that we strike up a conversation while fueling our vehicles. Thankfully, I haven’t met any of the Del Fuego variety but more the Wild Hog crowd.
This year I decided it was time to head in a different direction. I live eight hours away from one the nation’s treasures and so I’m going to take advantage of it. In a couple of days I will be on my way to Mount Rushmore. I know what you’re thinking. “How could one girl get so lucky as to go to exotic South Dakota?” Don’t be jealous. I plan on taking lots of pictures (compared to my normal amount. Last year I forgot to take my camera when I went to Yellowstone. Who does that?) and I will share. Since I’ll be in the neighborhood, I’m hoping to get a Sturgis shirt so that I can wear it on future road trips. Imagine the conversation that will start as I’m fueling my SUV.
My itinerary will include a pass-by of one of Wyoming’s treasures: Devil’s Tower. So this year, I technically get a two-fer. Two places I’ve never seen on one long road trip. I’m hoping to find buried treasure under Rushmore and aliens on the Tower although out of the two I’m really leaning towards the treasure (C’mon Nic Cage, don’t let me down!). You may be thinking I’m planning my trip based on movies. And all I can say is, “Yeah, so?” That might explain why I need the road trip.
ck's days 