Get Out the Map

Listen while you read: Get Out the Map

The saddest sight my eyes can see
Is that big ball of orange sinking slyly down under the trees
Sitting in a broken circle while you rest upon my knee
This perfect moment will soon be leaving me

Suzanne calls from Boston, the coffee's hot, the corn is high
And that same sun that warms your heart will suck the good earth dry
With everything it's opposite enough to keep you crying
Or keep this old world spinning with a twinkle in its eye

Get out the map, get out the map, and lay your finger anywhere down
We'll leave the figuring to those we pass on our way out of town
Don't drink the water. There seems to be something ailing everyone
I'm gonna clear my head, I'm gonna drink that sun
I'm gonna love you good and strong while our love is good and young

~  Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls)

I love maps. I always have. Even when my world never extended beyond the tri-state area (NJ, NY, PA), I loved studying maps. Perhaps it was just that the names of places were so intriguing. Or maybe it was the reality that there were towns and streets and houses and people in so many places! There was a promise that one day, my world might become larger.

And it has. It just took a long time. As the old saying goes, when you have the time, you don't have the money. And when you have the money, you don't have the time. I'm comfortable enough with both right now, and I'm still pretty healthy, so . . . get out the map!

There are maps covering both my kitchen and dining room tables right now, and my guy and I are map-deep in finalizing our itinerary for a summer road trip in the Northwest. Our route is set: two countries, two provinces, four states, and ten national parks and monuments, with ocean, rivers, mountains, forests, bridges, ferries, cities and towns along the journey. And lots and lots of driving.

I remember that when I was a kid you could pick up road maps for free at gas stations. And I did. In the age of the Global Positioning System and Google Maps, the need for actual road maps has decreased significantly. I am grateful that my AAA membership allows me to secure all the maps I need, along with tour books. And, in case you were wondering, I am quite adept at folding the paper maps. Old habits die hard.

Before this exciting Northwest adventure happens, I will be undertaking a couple of smaller road trips on my own, beginning with the drive back north this weekend. Not as much fun, but somebody has to do it. Before I leave, however, I hope to have all our lodging booked for the Northwest; four more to go. And then the fun part of the planning begins, pouring over the maps and tour books to design each day's adventure. How many waterfalls can we hike to? Where can we get the best views of the mountains and volcanoes? Should we zipline over the gorge? Are there any concerts we want to see? Where are the 4th of July fireworks? Will it snow in the mountains in July?

I'm gonna clear my head / I'm gonna drink that sun / I'm gonna love you good and strong while our love is good and young.

Get out the map.