Everyone these days seems to be going on road trips, book tours, or just visiting other parts of the country. It looks like I’ve got the memo too, but my reasons are a bit more conventional – I’m going on vacation 🙂
I’ve mentioned before that I actually have a normal 9-5 job. As part of that, I’ve got a few days of vacation left that I need to use before they expire in February, so I’m going on vacation to someplace warm. Specifically, I’ll be escaping the Indiana cold and going on a road trip down through Texas to visit some friends and spending a few days at South Padre Island.
When I travel, I usually like to keep my trips as open ended as possible. I plan a leave and return date but keep everything else as flexible as possible. This lets me take advantage of opportunities that might come up that I didn’t plan on before hand.
With that in mind, I do have a rough outline of the trip. Here’s what it looks like:
Indianapolis –> Chicago –> Dallas –> Austin –> San Antonio –> South Padre Island –> San Antonio –> Austin –> Chicago –> Indianapolis
As I said, it’s a rough outline. At some point I’ll be in each of those cities, but depending on who we see and what there is to do in each town, we may spend more or less time in each location [I’ve been told Dinosaur World in Texas is a must see].
I’ll be arriving back in Indy on Monday, the 17th, and as soon as I get back, I’ll be heading to Canada immediately to see a client so I’ll be driving up to the Great White North too. This means that I’ll be driving down to the south tip of Texas and then back up to Toronto, Canada in less than 14 days. One of the things on the impossible list is to do a cross-country road trip. Most people typically think of a cross-country trip as a, well, trip across the country, from one coast to the other, horizontally. The horizontal trip is definitely still on my list, but this border to border trip is turning into a vertical version the trip, with a few extra detours thrown in for fun.
Video Postcard Project
Not everyone gets the chance to travel as much as I do, so when I get the chance, I like to include other people in my trips as much as possible. Back in September when I went to London, I did a video postcard project where I shot a personal video postcard for readers who commented or left me a message. You can see some of the video postcards over here –> Video Postcards From London.
People enjoyed the postcards so much that I’m going to try it again. The site has grown a lot since September, but I had a lot of fun last time, so I’m going to give it another shot. Here’s the deal: leave me a comment or shoot me a message letting me know you want one and if you have a preference of where you want me to shoot it in between Chicago & Texas. I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to shoot videos and comply with all location requests, but I’ll do my best to try.
No, Texas isn’t as worldly-renown as London and it’s not as exotic as someplace like Thailand, but I’m looking forward to getting to some warmer weather and seeing some old friends and maybe even meet up with some readers and fellow bloggers. I’ve done a lot longer trips and a lot of trips to more exotic locales, but I always enjoy taking mini road trips and when I get the chance, I take them. I’m also looking forward to shooting some postcards for those of you that are interested, comment away.
If you’re in the Texas area or somewhere in between Chicago & Texas, let me know. I’m always looking to meetup with different people, especially BIT readers. Also, if you have any unexpected or awesome opportunities I should know about along the route in the next 2 weeks, get in touch with me on twitter – @joelrunyon.
[Photo Credit]
hmm, toss up between Maple Leaf Garden or Wrigley. Hook a brother up.
You and I need to catch up on skype. Ill shoot you an email.
I’ll see what I can do 🙂
Hey Joel.
I noticed you commenting on both Colin Wright’s and Tyler Tervooren’s blog for awhile, so I wanted to see what you’re about. You don’t seem like the postcard minimalist or the location independent guy. So this is different. I like how you have a normal job, haven’t inquired on what that was yet, but I’ll definitely have a look.
I’ve planned to meet with Brandon James from newlitetravel.com to do an ocean to ocean road trip on our bikes, which should be awesome. Have fun on your roadtrip. I’ll definitely be keeping in touch with your blog.
Thanks for stopping by Jonathan! I try my best to avoid labels :). I hope you like it here, and stick around a bit! Shoot me an email if you have any questions.
p.s. Brandon James is legit. Met him in Chicago back in August. Tell him I say hi.
Hey Joel,
saw your face around a lot in comment sections, 😉 but this is the first time I really explored your site. Great job.
Ow, and for a guy like you, shooting a postcard from Mellow Johnny’s in Austin would only be logical, right?
Would be for a friend of mine, Erik, who just got pregnant (well his girlfriend) after trying for a long time. He is crazy about Lance Armstrong so that would be a great fit.
Would be awesome if you could find the time to fix that.
Have a great trip!
Niels
Thanks for stopping by Niels! Haven’t been to Mellow Johnny’s before but I’ll see if I can’t find it! =) Congrats to your buddy Erik!
i’d love to see one of your postcards, from anywhere!
i’m really interested in seeing where you go, and what you find.
i’ve shared your Renaissance Man Guide with a couple people, and they’ve given great feedback. trying to get them turned on to your blog!
you need to hit it over to the deep south someday!
joseph
Where exactly is the deep south? I thought South Padre was pretty far south 🙂
South Padre is “way” south. I think you have to go east to get to the “deep” south.
Make sure you eat at Ted’s for breakfast in SPI. Nothing fancy there, just good home cooking. Some good geocaching there too if you are in to that.
I’ll check it out 🙂 Thanks Bill!
I would love one from Dinosaur World if you go. That place looks awesome!
I’m with Katie. Dinosaur World for the win!
DInoworld FTW!
I may be spending several days there =)
Go ahead and shoot me a video postcard from Austin. I’ve never been there, but I have heard its a cool town. Show me why!
Austin is legit. I’ll do my best!
Cahokia Mounds, East St. Louis, IL would be cool if you like strange parks. I’d kinda like to see that place on video…
It’s not a creepy park, is it? I’ll see if we can’t find it on the way back north 🙂
Hey man! Great to hear from a fellow road tripper. 🙂 I just got back from an amazing road trip from Atlanta to northern Vermont last week right after that blizzard blanketed New England. As you said, not quite as exotic as Thailand, but damn, it was fun!
If you think of it, I’d love to see a clip from South Padre Island. Sounds cool.
Enjoy the road! Speaking of which, have you ever read On The Road by Jack Kerouac? The original scroll is amazing.
SPI – got it :). I haven’t read On The Road. I’ll have to make a note of it. I’ve heard really good things.
Sounds like a great trip! And record a video postcard for me, anywhere is good. Just as long as you aren’t driving because that could get a little dangerous.
I think I’ll try to record yours while walking somewhere — that would be fairly appropriate, wouldn’t’ it? 🙂
Joel-Safe travels! I would love a postcard (with a sign perhaps) with the word “west” better yet “wild west” but I honestly suppose anything would do from the Longhorn State. :O) Many good wishes from the wild west of Indianapolis!
I’ll do my best!
I live just west of Ft. Worth so if you get some folks together around Dallas/Ft. Worth I’ll try my hardest to be there!
Shot you an email the other day :(. I’ll let you know if we come back up through DFW and maybe we can workout something!
Look me up in San Antonio on your way south (or north).
Done!
It is so ironic that you are taking a road trip down through Texas. My husband and I served 3 1/2 years in the Army at Ft. Hood. Austin is a fun city. Check out “6th” Ave (I least I think that is what it is called). All along the street, people play music in the streets, in the coffee shops, and in the dance clubs. You can stay up all night and hop from place to place. San Padre island is also very beautiful but the nearby town of Corpus Cristy is ugly. The island is nothing but beautiful beach and the Gulf of Mexico is warm like bath water. San Antonio as the Alamo and a river running through the middle of the mall. Finally, Six Flags is a fun little amusement park. I would love a video post card from Ft. Hood, the largest Army base in the world, and on the way toward Austin and San Antonio.
Not sure if we’ll be able to stop in Ft. Hood, but I’ll see what I can do 🙂
I haven’t been to Dinosaur land since I was a kiddo.
It was great to meet you… I had a blast. Thanks for making my brother laugh so hard he cried.
Hope to see you again if you pass through on the way up.
The meetup was great Jenny! So awesome to meet you. Hope we’ll meet up again soon and I’ll for sure see you at WDS :).
Wonderful post. Have a great time on your vacation. Keep us posted.
Will do. Thanks Jonathan!
Me! Me! From anywhere is fine.
Done
Good luck with your road trip Joel, sounds awesome!
(ps- keep working on the pushups. Very few people can get to 100. You’ve set yourself a tough challenge there. One good way to build pushup strength is to train at different angles. Do some with your feet raised at various levels, and also practise with your hands at a higher level than your feet. This will build more rounded strength and endurance.)
Will do! I’ll see what I can do!