My First Journey Across America
The journey that started it all.
In June 2021, after living in Maryland for 25 years, I finally decided it was time for a change. I left Maryland and headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a special family event. I didn’t know it at the time, but that trip would become the beginning of my first great motorcycle adventure across America.
The Journey Begins
After spending time in Tulsa, I headed south into Texas, stopping in Paris before continuing toward New Orleans, Tampa, Miami, and eventually Key West.
I spent several weeks in Florida. There was no schedule pushing me to the next destination. I had time to enjoy the beaches, the weather, the people, and the lifestyle of South Florida. And that’s when I started realizing something — I didn’t want to simply travel from one destination to another. I wanted to experience the places I was passing through.
After Florida, I headed north toward Savannah and Charleston, South Carolina, where I spent another couple of weeks for a family event. Then it was time to get back on the motorcycle. This time, I was going all the way across the country.
Crossing America — Slowly
I wasn’t trying to set a record. I wasn’t trying to cross America in three or four days. I didn’t even have a strict schedule.
Instead, I wanted to experience America. I would ride for a while, find a place that interested me, and stay. Sometimes that meant a few days. Sometimes a week or even longer. I would use each place as a base and explore the surrounding area, discovering the local roads, towns, landscapes, history, and people.
I also made a conscious decision to stay off the highways whenever possible. The interstate will get you somewhere quickly. But that’s not what I was looking for. I wanted the back roads. The small towns. The farms and fields. The mountains and forests. The forgotten roads. The places you would never see if you were simply trying to get from one major city to another. I wanted to see the America that exists beyond the interstate.
The Route
From Charleston, South Carolina, I began making my way west. The journey took me through: Georgia → Alabama → Mississippi → Tennessee → Arkansas → Oklahoma → Kansas → Colorado → Wyoming → Utah → Nevada → California → Arizona → New Mexico → Texas
Along the way, I made plenty of stops and discoveries. One of those stops was Graceland in Memphis, where I had the opportunity to visit Elvis Presley’s home. But the famous destinations weren’t necessarily what made the journey special. Some of my favorite moments came from simply riding through unfamiliar territory, stopping somewhere that caught my attention, talking to people, and seeing what was around the next corner. That’s the kind of travel I enjoy.
More Than a Motorcycle Trip
Looking back, this journey was about much more than riding a motorcycle across the United States. It was about freedom. It was about taking my time. It was about getting outside and seeing places I had never seen before. It was about meeting people and experiencing different parts of the country. And perhaps most importantly, it was about proving to myself that sometimes you simply have to get out there and do it. I had no idea exactly what each day would bring. And that’s part of what made it an adventure.
Would I Do It Again?
Without hesitation. This first journey across America was an incredible experience, and I would do it all over again. But I also came home knowing that there was still so much more to see. There are states I barely explored. There are thousands of roads I haven’t ridden. There are small towns I’ve never heard of. There are mountains, forests, deserts, historic places, and hidden corners of America still waiting for me.
So, naturally… I’m planning the next journey.
The Next Adventure
The next journey will be different. This time, I want to explore many of the places I missed during my first trip. But I also want to do something I’ve never done before: document the journey properly. I want to film the roads, the places, the people, the history, and the stories I encounter along the way.
Rather than simply taking pictures and writing about where I’ve been, I want to create a series of documentaries that allow you to experience the journey with me. You’ll see where I go. You’ll discover the places I find. You’ll meet some of the people I encounter along the way. And you’ll get to see America from the back roads and from the seat of a motorcycle.
Because this first journey may have ended… but the adventure is just beginning. Come along for the ride.