Tonelli's Travels

Seven days of driving. 273 miles, 349, 350, 299, 312, 400, 353. Wake up, eat, stretch, drive. Stop for gas and a snack, drive. Have lunch, drive. Get more gas and stretch.  Drive. Set up camp. Do it all again. It’s been a consistent routine this first week, sometimes dull, often tiring. But also a beautiful reminder of how vast our country is, how diverse the landscape is, and how lucky I am to see it all. 

I’ve driven from Vermont to Montana, through nine states in all. That feels tremendous, and is quite the accomplishment, but is only 18% of the states in our country. That’s wild! It’s so easy to forgot how massive is the United States. There is so much to see, do, appreciate. We’ve driven across the land of the Abenaki, Haudenosaunee, Mohawk, Onondaga, Erie, Fox, Peoria, Kickapoo, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Anishinabewaki, Métis, Cheyenne, Plains Cree, and so many more.

A lot of the drive I missed the Vermont landscape. The rainbow of green, the mountains and rolling hills, the emphasis on preserving the land. It’s something we value in Vermont and I’m proud of that. I had most definitely confirmed that I am not a city person. The traffic, the billboards, the noise, the construction- no thank you. My stress levels appreciate that we’ve reached the wide open flats of eastern Montana. 

Along the way though there have been many moments of ahh and wonder though. For example, the grandness of the farms across the Midwest. Corn and soy bean and canola field that stretch hundreds, thousands of acres. They dance along the land like a giant quilt someone is shaking out. With few trees, and no mountains, you can see for miles. The vibrant, nearly neon yellow of the canola flowers is always a delightful surprise, it grabs your attention right away. And then there are the deer that wander through the fields, or the antelope that thinks about crossing in front of you and then thinks better of it. (Thank you antelope!) or the giant cow statue on the top of a hill, or a chicken statue. Things that just make you pause and giggle, which is much needed. 

We also went back to Munsinger and Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud, Minnesota. My parents and I discovered this gem on our last trip and although we visited earlier in the season this time, it did not disappoint. The tremendous effort put in to plant and maintain this oasis is in and of itself a wonder. It’s a delight to the senses to meander and enjoy the colors, shapes, and scents. I’ve got some new ideas for my own gardens when I get home!

There’s also been joy in the puns encountered on signs. Like through the Adirondacks when the carpenter’s  business was aptly named “Maida Wood.” Or the LivINN or AmericINN. I am a sucker for a good play on words. And I’ve let myself laugh out loud each time. Something about laughing alone makes it even better because you are truly laughing for yourself because you loved something, no other reason.  

We’ve managed to meet friendly people along the way too. We’ve stayed at a number of Harvest Host locations – a winery in Cleveland, a farm in Wisconsin, and a goat farm in Montana. Each time we’ve been greeted by welcoming hosts, eager to share their trade, their stories, and their space.  My favorite so far has been meeting the goats. There were babies born just this morning! Adorable. 

There have been some hiccups along the way too. My parents have had some vehicle troubles – tire blow out 30 minutes from home, ding in the windshield, loose component here and there. Fortunately everyone has been fine and everything has been fixable. There are bound to be some bumps in the road – often literally!

The highlight for me so far has been Buffalo Gap Campgrod in western North Dakota. A National Forest site, the expanse of wilderness felt like a homecoming for my soul. It was what I had been waiting for. This sense of total immersion in nature. While only there for a night, I snuck in an evening walk with my parents and a morning trail run. The wildflowers, views, and enormous cow plops made my heart feel fuller. And I can’t wait for more of it at Glacier National Park! Almost there!

While I’ve been driving, I’ve listened to many Mel Robins podcast episodes and highly recommend. Each one has given me something to reflect on and a few small, actionable steps to make for easy changes with big pay offs. Halluci Nation (thanks Jack and Ashley), N*SYNC, Mon Rovia, Noah Kahan, and Fleetwood Mac have also helped the miles pass quicker. Just sharing in case you are looking for something good to listen to. Stay tuned for more updates soon!