Indelible Adventures: Did someone say Road Trip?

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Okay, I’m actually not sure if it’s a real thing or not, but this year I have the kids the week leading up to Christmas and we’re doing the Civil Rights Trail. As with the past couple of years where I’ve driven to Florida to drop them off with my ex and her parents in Longboat Key, but instead of just driving directly there we’ve made our annual trip into a seven-day road trip. We’ve come to love road trips! I know I always have…

As you’ll remember from last year we drove to New York City and spent a couple of days exploring Brooklyn and Manhattan during our trip down the eastern seaboard. Last years cities included: Washington DC, Richmond (Virginia), Raleigh (North Carolina), Charleston (South Carolina), Savannah (Georgia) before ending the trip in Longboat Key (Florida). It was an amazing trip, which they had surprisingly suggested, and more surprisingly enjoyed.

This year, we’re taking a different path on our trek to Florida, as our first port of call is Chicago (Illinois). Although I’ve been many times neither of the kids have been so it will be a fun time albeit a tad cool in mid to late December to visit the windy city. J Driving from Toronto to Chicago is about an 8-hour drive if the weather is clear, although the road between Toronto and Windsor is notoriously bad during the winter with lots of blowing and drifting snow and super icy roads… Yikes!

Crap – there I go talking about winter and its not even November yet!

Indelible Tip #1: The most important thing when contemplating a road trip is the readiness of your vehicle. Prior to heading out you should plan for the types of road conditions that you may face and take action accordingly. For me, when driving to Chicago in the winter I know that I’m going to need winter tires plus a service prior to departure. I’ll also talk to the service technician when I’m having the car serviced to make sure he understands that I’m about to drive more than 5,000 kilometers (round trip) over the course of two weeks and if there is anything I should keep an eye on. J

Chicago has some of the most unique and eclectic architecture in North America from neo classical to art deco and has long been regarded as a mecca for this art form. In addition to the wonderfully diverse and rich architectural history Chicago has to offer is also home to one of the largest Art collections in North America. Irrespective of the time of year you visit Chicago the two most important things to experience are the Art Institute of Chicago (111 South Michigan Avenue) and take an Architecture Tour prefereably by boat (April – Nov) or wander the streets with your camera as I’ll be doing this visit. Absolutely breathtaking!

After Chicago, we begin our drive south via Indianapolis (Indiana), Nashville (home of Country music) and Memphis (Tennessee), before hitting the cities of Selma, Brimingham and Montgomery (Alabama) which all played a major part in the Civil Rights struggle.

Growing up in Australia during the 1960’s there was little news of America outside the nightly coverage of the Vietnam war and the bloody consequences for everyone involved. Although as I recall the only other stories to make the local news from the United States were the Civil Rights protests and ongoing violence that was permeating the south at the time. And, though too young to really appreciate the enormity of issues and challenges facing everyone at the time it definitely left an impression on me to this day.

So when I suggested that this year we’d try a different route to Florida both Zach and Sami were excited at the prospect of exploring this fascinating part of the southern USA, and especially the history that goes with it.

Indelible Tip #2: I always try and make even the most mundane aspects of a trip (e.g. flights etc.) as something to take time to enjoy. Many of us rush to the airport, and can’t wait for the flight to be done so we can get to “the trip”, but don’t take the time or see that even this is part of the adventure. If there is one piece of advice I can give you - its to slow down and enjoy all that comes with your trip, yep even on a seven-day road trip with teenagers...fun times indeed! J

Of course the real challenge with tackling such a huge topic as the Civil Rights movement is the limited amount of time we have to spend. After all spending only three days exploring Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham will merely scratch the surface.

We travel a lot together so one of the tactics I've developed over the years is to allocate each of us a half day to a day where we are the tour guide. With the understanding that the other two have to go along with the activities no matter what. This gives each of us accountability and responsibility for researching and developing an itinerary that's engaging and fun. I've been doing this as part of every trip since the Z&S were 10 and 8 respectively. Trust me this is the number one best idea ever when traveling with your kids.

Another challenging thing when traveling as a three can be accommodation, and so over the years I've looked for ways to minimize the friction that comes with being in such close quarters for so long and make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone especially at the end of the day when we need a little space.

Indelible Tip #3: I always look for a large room when traveling with the kids, preferably with a lounge and kitchen thrown in. So over the past few years I’ve tended to gravitate toward the Residence Inn, which is part of the Marriott chain. The advantage I’ve come to appreciate is that you can find them in most cities including downtown locations - even NYC. The best part of the deal is that you get complimentary breakfast and wi-fi thrown in as well as the lounge, kitchen and bedroom (two doubles plus a pull out couch). Both necessities with two hungry and socially savvy travelers like Zach and Sami.

The hardest part after being together for week is saying goodbye and driving back, often alone…still, isn’t that just part of the adventure TW?

More adventures are a foot – "have camera will travel" is all I can say to that. And you'll all be the lucky recipients of more great photos. J

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“Hanoi Posting”

A series of micro-stories by Terence Wallis

Episode 15: No Way

Lea had been dreading lunch with John ever since he had called earlier in the week, she knew exactly what was going on and had been trying to steel herself against the inevitable conversation.

John was already at the table at the fashionable Egerton House in Knightsbridge when Lea entered. A glass of scotch firmly set in front of him, when he saw her enter he stood, his smile was warm and genuine, she had always been his favorite he thought as she walked toward him. “Gorgeous as ever” he exclaimed as they embraced.

She ordered a glass of Chardonnay to help calm her nerves, and it was John who first broached the subject. So, your mother tells me you’re heading out to Hanoi to see Bill, he said nonchalantly.

Yes, she said a little too defensively for her own liking. “Well, I’ve got holidays and I thought why not," she went on. John’s expression didn’t change but she knew it was coming, she could feel it.

Have you spoken to Bill about it? I thought you two parted on bad terms he went on. No, I thought I would surprise him she said breezily. But if you parted badly what makes you think he wants to see you John persisted.

Lea’s confident look belied her self-doubt as she sat there in silence. Her emotions began to get the better of her as her lower lip began to tremble and her eyes began to fill with tears. “I was a stubborn fool and I lost the best thing in my life,” she said through tearful sobs. It was more serious than he thought as he moved around the table to console her.

“Ssshhh, it’s going to be okay” he said as he held her, her body trembling and tears moistening his collar.

“Will you help me?” she begged. John closed his eyes and nodded, “of course I will,” he said, but even as he said the words he knew that it was a mistake…

Next week: Episode 16: The Magnetic Pull

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This week's selection of photos comes from my Canadian Thanksgiving weekend which was chock full of photo time. Enjoy!