Here I am recuperating from my latest quest to hit all 50 states. But like all of my trips this wasn't just about hitting state numbers—it is about the journey itself. This one started with a scary plane ride through a lightening and thunderstorm. Lightening blasting around the plane as we bounced around white knuckling it until we landed. But getting off at our final leg I wanted to kiss the ground and vowed not to fly again.
We quickly picked up our rental car and sat trying to figure out a strange car and realized we didn't have the right cords to charge our phones. But off we went hugging the Gulf, winding our way through Biloxi Beach and Dauphin Island, where the water stretched wide, the sand met the sky, and life felt a little slower. The ocean breeze, the soft sound of waves—those were the moments that made me celebrate the diversity of our country, from the beaches to the mountains.
We then headed to Selma to Montgomery, a route not just on a map, but in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. We followed the path that people marched for freedom. It wasn't just a drive; it was a reflection; a reminder of what courage looks like.
Next, we headed to Natchez Trace, a route steeped in history, where travelers and traders once walked long before cars rolled through. There's something about driving a road like that, feeling the weight of the past while moving forward into our own adventure.
Driving over the mighty Mississippi was another milestone, a reminder of how far we've come on this journey. There's something about that stretch of water, winding its way through history, that made me pause and take it all in. I thought about the explorers, traders, and travelers who had crossed it before me. And now, here I was, crossing it too—one more adventure, one more step toward my dream.
And then there was the bayou. A goal I had set with no exact destination—just a mission to find one. But finding it was only part of the quest. Once I did, I had to get around, explore, take in the tangled beauty of the swamps, the stillness of the water, the life that thrived in places most people never see up close.
Each state had something special to offer. New Orleans, with its vibrant energy and rich culture, made me want to slow down and soak it all in. Mississippi held the weight of history in its landscapes and landmarks. Alabama greeted me with open roads and new discoveries. Every mile brought me closer to the finish line—state 50, the last piece of the puzzle.
But this trip wasn't just about checking boxes. It was about driving just to drive, wandering just to wander, and letting the road decide where to take me next. And with only one state left, I know this adventure is far from over.
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