Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

The Good Thing about Road Trips

road trip

Pavement. That is what you see on a road trip and alot of it. Pavement, on and on and on. A road trip- it helps to have a comfortable car… I have the back seat of a pick up truck. Comfortable it is not. The motorcycle was better…. though I've wondered HOW did I sit on that bike for twelve hours day after day?

I'll tell you what… love and passion played a big part of it.

clouds

A road trip gives you plenty of time to think about things, or daydream or wonder what the hell one is doing.

Road trips make me wonder…about nothing and everything all at once. Thoughts float in and out, with the beat of the song on the radio, or with the constant changing sky…

swamps

The scenery, that is what a road trip has to offer… and also the crazy pleasure of trying to take photos out of a backseat window with a mile high packed pick up bed behind me.

The swamp before New Orleans really got my attention. It woke me up, drove me crazy, I wanted to bust the window, or at least slam on the brakes. But I wasn't driving. Hence memories of the motorcycle trip came flooding back…. some of my most favorite photos where the ones I could not take.

double bridge New Orleans

A road trip renders plenty of time to sort things out, to give different avenues, adventure in ideas and in most cases time to let thoughts just pour out, going whatever way they want… The funny thing is all I keep thinking about are the two people sitting in the front seat… the match maker in me is very curious… and I spend most my time telling her to be quiet.

cranes

A road trip unwinds the routine.

Lends direction.

Recreates past experiences.

Forges dreams.

Gives space..

Shows another path…

or it allows you time to seat on an idea.

The back seat let's me let it be… and find new positions in sitting still.

bridge

The road into New Orleans… a double bridge right on the water.

driving

Lynn, has a fear thing about crossing over bridges. I don't, but my sleep thing freaks her out, she wouldn't dream of letting me drive across a bridge or otherwise. Usually the "Cowboy" drives…but even cowboys need a break.

Look at her holding that wheel. If only you could see the big trailer behind us!

I am certain that after this photo she is going to send me down the road talking to myself.

Iberville Hotel New Orleans

We arrived… New Orleans… in the middle of the night… to the Iberville Hotel… a bed never felt so good.

Comments

33 responses to “The Good Thing about Road Trips”

  1. jann

    I was wondering how comfortable you
    would be in the back seat of the truck.
    Do you stop and get out and stretch
    often? That helps. Hope you don’t
    need to see a chiropractor after your
    long road trip. California will be a
    delight after enduring the heat and
    humidity of the deep south. I have
    been here in the south for 35 years
    and I still don’t like the summer
    weather we live with.
    Jann

    Reply
  2. jend’isère

    Laisez les bontemps roulez with a mufeletta, gumbo and praline with a Barq’s.

    Reply
  3. Karon

    You’ve made it, well done. now have a great time.
    Karon

    Reply
  4. Gracie

    Someone once said that the best in travelling is the journey, not the destination. He was right.

    Reply
  5. Jeanne

    Big hugs my darling
    It has been a season of travel for you all summer and now into the fall.
    Love you
    Jeanne♥

    Reply
  6. Sue

    How do you make riding in a truck sound so wonderful?! My husband races motorcycle’s all over Florida so we take road trips and now I see them different. I will try to be like you.

    Reply
  7. Sheala

    I’m loving these stories!
    Why the divorce? Is the “cowboy” a good guy? My match maker is going crazy here! Hmmmm, see what you can find out.

    Reply
  8. Leslie Garcia

    Dear Corey,
    Stay safe! Enjoy the ride and know that you make a lot of people happy every day with your thoughts and pictures! You do me!
    That hotel looks really nice…and so do the clouds.
    Happy travels,
    Leslie

    Reply
  9. Penny

    I love your photos as well as your word images, Corey. I love where you put yourself, and the backseat, in this adventure and your turn of phrase “The back seat let’s me let it be… and find new positions in sitting still.” and I know this I will take with me through my day today.
    From the Alps to the Bayou – what adventures you are having in a short amount of time.

    Reply
  10. Michelle M in KY

    Loving it! I’m sure it felt good to “unfold” yourself and get out of the backseat. I’ve had many a trip like that. I would “never” pull a trailer…I’ve tried and I can NEVER back up without it going in the wrong direction. So, my husband is always the transportation and that’s ok with me. I’m glad you are having fun and I can’t wait to see how this adventure turns out. I am sure you’re going to have so much fun. Have a safe trip!

    Reply
  11. Michelle M in KY

    Oops…I forgot to say…Tell Lynn I feel for her. I, too have the same problem crossing over bridges. I usually have both hands on the wheel just like that and all of the sudden it feels like there’s no air to breath and I break out into a sweat on my forehead. I’m sending positive energy her way though.

    Reply
  12. Diogenes

    Corey,
    I have a fear thing about bridges too. San Francisco’s bridges are not for me. And I despise the one crossing from San Diego to Coronado. But #1 on my “to avoid” list is the Delaware Water Gap bridge, between DC and Phila: a 3-foot guard rail with a 1,000 foot drop. So, I totally empathize with Lynn.
    Hope you two have a wonderful time in New Orleans.

    Reply
  13. charlane

    I have a thing about high bridges but the drive over Ponchatrain isn’t that bad to me for some reason. I think because it’s so low that I think I could get out of the car if I needed to.

    Reply
  14. georgie

    I don’t drive because it makes me panic. However one of my favorite things is going on road trips with friends. Even a day trip, seeing local areas. Catching up with what is new, stopping for handmade ice cream or at places of interest.
    Keep us updated on your road trip with Lynn and Cowboy. Sure looks like fun!

    Reply
  15. Star

    I’m having a ball reading your account of this trek to Texas. Love your photos out the window of the back seat.
    Let the thoughts just keep on rolling…

    Reply
  16. amylia

    Oh Corey you are too much! Ms. Match-maker! You crack me up! Say, do you have any bits of culture-shock? I felt that way in Texas and I was only coming from the upper-Midwest! 😉

    Reply
  17. Katiebell

    …feeling for you…out of our comfort zone. Traveling can be challenging in such deeply emotional, spiritual and simply physical ways. Hope you’re landing OK. (time to ring home I think)

    Reply
  18. Marie-Noëlle

    I suppose you will easily forget the fitness center that is advertized on the hotel website … but you will get pleasure to feed on the “spa menu” , and especially in the “green menu” offering “luxurious and pampering treatments”…
    and what about those massages? and then a cup of tea / or a cold beer by the “draped chandeliers, bubbling fountains with a hint of magnolia” ???
    I CAN very well spot you there !!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  19. Iconique

    Thank you for bringing us on your trip! What fun to wake up and see where you all have been. Can’t wait to see what lovely things happen next!

    Reply
  20. Janet

    Corey, I just adore the line “my most favorite photos where the ones I could not take.” I think that should be the title of your book of photos that I hope you will publish one day.

    Reply
  21. kelleyn

    I have driven over those bridges and they freak me out! I am so afraid of something happening and ending up in the water below. My heart races as I drive over a bridge.

    Reply
  22. Ellen Cassilly

    I loved driving into New Orlean as a child. It was hot outside. We would cross lake Pochatrain with all the windows would be open and the temperature would drop. The same when we drove out to the country and crossed the bayou over the causeway. Great bird watching. Hugs

    Reply
  23. Mindi

    I hope you girls get some time to enjoy New Orleans. I can’t wait to here about it!

    Reply
  24. Kimberly

    Corey, please tell Lynn she is not alone in her fear of driving over bridges. I too loathe driving over them and it doesn’t matter if I am driving or my husband. I just flat out don’t like them. P.S. When I do drive over them I look just like Lynn, firm grip on the wheel. Blessings, Kimberly

    Reply
  25. momof5

    I never minded bridges until we drove over two in Costa Rica last summer that my son dubbed “OMG” one and “Oh my G” two due to my reactions. I mean those bridges shouldn’t have been standing…wooden slats with ruts and raging water beneath. I just held my breath.
    Have a wonderful trip. I love road trips.

    Reply
  26. Sally

    Bridges scare the bejeezus out of me too! quiver quiver tremble! Hate ’em! That bridge on the water scares me through the computer screen!
    I really really feel for Lynn. Couldn’t the cowboy just lasso that wheel for the drives over the bridges and then return to resting his cowpoke self?
    I don’t think he’s matchmaking material if he’s letting her white knuckle that bridge like that. No sirree. Ride along little cowboy.
    bwahahahhahahahaha
    Sorry, got caught up in the cowboy theme.

    Reply
  27. Roger Brucker

    hey you are a poet!

    Reply
  28. Sara

    Nice post, Corey. I love how you write about these kinds of things. Can’t wait to hear about the Big Easy.

    Reply
  29. jend’isère

    By now the radio music has transformed from jazz to country as you approach this road trip destination?

    Reply
  30. suesue

    Y’all must have been crossing the causeway-what a ride!! Hope you love New Orleans, it’s so different and the people so friendly and fun!! Have a great time!

    Reply
  31. Tongue in Cheek

    Thank you!
    Corey

    Reply
  32. Marcie

    I am really enjoying this trip Corey. I have traveled these same roads….and they do seem to all look alike, and go on forever. The clouds are just as interesting as some of those roads. (I am in N. Alabama)
    I am glad you are all safe.
    Marcie

    Reply
  33. andrea

    You seem to have been on a lot of road trips this year! I could do the pick~up maybe but not the motorcycle 😉

    Reply

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