From Florida to California and Back: 6,169 Miles of Adventure in Our Jeep Gladiator There is something special about packing up the Jeep, pointing it west, and watching America unfold mile by mile through the windshield. What started as a road trip from Florida to…
Meet Our Silent Travel Companion Every great road trip needs a dependable travel companion. Ours just happens to never ask for a restroom break, never complains about the music, and has absolutely no opinion on where we stop for dinner. Meet our mannequin. My Security…
From Campbell to Blythe: Garlic Fields, California Farmlands, and a Desert Sunset Leaving Campbell after a wonderful weekend with family, we began the next leg of our cross-country journey back toward Florida. Our route first took us south through Gilroy, a community…
Sunday Morning Mass at St. Lucy Parish Before the Journey Home Before beginning the long drive back toward Florida, we wanted to start the day with Sunday Mass at St. Lucy Parish in Campbell, California. It was a meaningful way to conclude our time in the San Jose…
From Santa Cruz to a Family Celebration at Testarossa Winery After spending the morning exploring California’s beautiful coastline, we returned to the Residence Inn San Jose Campbell to get ready for one of the main reasons for our cross-country journey—our…
Leaving El Paso behind, we began another long day on Interstate 10 heading east across the vast landscapes of West Texas. The scenery slowly transitioned from desert mountains and rocky terrain to wide open spaces and endless stretches of highway that seemed to disappear into the horizon. Texas certainly lives up to its reputation for size, and even after hours of driving, it often felt like we had barely made a dent in crossing the Lone Star State.
One memorable stop along the way was at Pecos Eastbound Rest Area just west of Fort Stockton. I had planned to grab a Monster Energy drink to help power through the miles ahead, but the vending machine was being restocked by vendors at the time. An older gentleman who was taking care of the property noticed the situation and kindly purchased the drink for me himself. It was an unexpected act of generosity that perfectly reflected the friendliness and hospitality we encountered throughout our travels. Sometimes it is these simple moments with complete strangers that become some of the most memorable parts of a road trip.
Later in the day, we stopped at a truck stop hoping to grab lunch from a Subway restaurant, but unfortunately they had run out of both mayonnaise and Swiss cheese, two ingredients that were important parts of our sandwich order. Rather than settle for something we didn’t really want, we decided to continue down the road and find another place to eat. Road trips rarely go exactly according to plan, and sometimes those small inconveniences simply become part of the adventure and another story to tell later.
Continuing east, we eventually reached San Antonio, where the busy highways and growing skyline provided a sharp contrast to the quiet highways of West Texas. After navigating through the city traffic, we continued toward our overnight destination of Columbus and checked into the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Columbus TX.
Once we had settled into the room and stretched our legs after another long day in the Jeep, we walked over to Nancy’s Steak House for dinner. The meal was a wonderful way to end the day and prepare for the final legs of our journey back toward Florida.
