Driving

I love country drives by myself, it’s one of my favorite things to do. It’s also one of the things I miss most about living in Washington, driving to Mt. Rainier. It took about an hour from point A (home) to point B (park entrance) on the map above, but that hour was probably the most peaceful and relaxing of all my hours in the week.

Sometimes the sunroof would be open and the windows would be down. Other times they would be closed and up with the heater on high. Sometimes while I passed the many rivers, lakes, and trees (like below), I’d have my music blasting loud. Other times I would be in silence, listening to God.

Some of my best conversations, thanks, pleas, and arguments with God were on my drives to Mt. Rainier and back. Sometimes sitting on a dock, on a lake, with fresh air, no cell phone service, and no one around for miles is what I needed. It gave me clarity and peace.

The longer drive between Washington and California on I5 is also one of my favorites. Some may think 12 hours in the car by yourself is boring and maybe even crazy, but not me. Passing each rest stop, truck stop, drive-thru, or hotel reminds me of a memory I had there. Dirty toilets, hot chocolate, bad food, and hard pillows have all been apart of my story but I wouldn’t take any of them back.

Sometimes in Santa Rosa I drive out to my grandpas old ranch. Houses are now built up around it and development is happening all around, but it still reminds me of driving out that two-lane country road to ride on my grandpas tractor when I was a kid, and I like that.

What’s your favorite drive?

3 Must Have Driving Albums
Third Eye Blind – “Third Eye Blind”
Jeremy Enigk – “World Waits”
Acceptance – “Phantons“