Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road
Jack Kerouac, On the Road
We have the US to thank for the myth of the magic of the open road. Stretching in front of us, inviting exploration, always (in our imaginations at least) empty. Travelling this road doesn’t just open up new vistas, new places to discover; it also lures us with the promise of new beginnings, even new versions of ourselves.
Here in Europe a road trip is more likely to conjure up visions of traffic jams than any stretch of emptiness, but many of us buy into this American myth and head to the US to experience its magic. Chris and I have certainly fallen under its spell and have spent many happy trips exploring various states, from east to west (but, it has to be said, not many in the middle!)
For this week’s theme-free Monochrome Madness I’ve brought together a few images from some of the various US road trips we’ve undertaken.
Like the first couple of photos below, my feature photo was taken on Hwy 20 through the North Cascades in Washington State
On Hwy 20 through the North Cascades, Washington State
Also on Hwy 20 in Washington State
On Hwy 518 south of Taos, New Mexico
Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, leaving San Francisco
In Lee Vining, northern California
On Hwy 12, Washington State
On Hwy 821, north of Yakima, Washington State
Also on Hwy 821, north of Yakima, Washington State
Near the Devil’s Tower, Wyoming
Somewhere in southern Wyoming
On the Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Park, California
Hwy 178 through the Searles Valley, California
On Hwy 395, north eastern California
These photos were taken in Wyoming in 2006, New Mexico in 2011, Washington State in 2017 and California in 2024
6 Comments
VJ
What a great photo tribute to the American myth.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you VJ 🙂
Anne Sandler
Sarah, great through the car window photos. You’ve certainly captured the beauty of Northern California. People think of California in terms of Hollywood and San Francisco. We are basically and agriculture state–the San Joaquin Valley. I’m glad we did the road trips when we did, and I miss them.
Sarah Wilkie
Many thanks Anne 🙂 Some of these photos were taken through the window but most of them on brief stops by the roadside so Chris could enjoy the scenery too.
margaret21
You’ve certainly shown what must be the magic of a road trip in these images. Actually, it’s my idea of hell, stuck in a car (though I’ve done my share, since M likes a road trip too!). But you’ve certainly seen some scenery!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 😊 We try not to be stuck in the car for long – we limit our driving distances each day and plan lots of stops. And the landscapes in these parts are amazing!