Secluded Vacation

I recently had the honor of embarking on that very American of rituals: the road trip — specifically, a cross-country trip. While a journey from my native London to Glasgow takes approximately a day, to travel from one end of the United States (my adopted home) to the other requires at least a week to accomplish in style. While my first inclination, when approached about enduring a road trip, was to reserve a train ticket. After all, what better way to drink in the rough-hewn beauty of these great states than from the window of a train?

My companion, Jack, who happens to be Robert Taylor’s reincarnated doppelganger, quickly rubbished any plans of a train voyage and reserved a rental car. He reserved a four-door sedan — a 2008 Ford Taurus to be exact. We could each bring one carry on bag, a miniature cooler filled with perishable goods, and our cellphones (for navigating and emergency purposes).

A successful road trip is predicated on the mastery of sustaining a conversation while embracing silence. Talking too much makes one a boor, while not talking enough makes one a shrinking violet. Likewise, you must be able to gauge the relative fatigue of the person at the wheel. He may say he is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but that may only be a consequence of having enjoyed a hardy round of conversation.  Read more...