Favorite place?

Watching the sun start to illuminate Nisqually Glacier on Mt. Rainier with no one else on the trail is just as okay as the last drips of golden light hitting the Colorado as viewed silently from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Every place experienced gave meaningful, positive energy. 

What did it actually feel like?

On a day-to-day basis, I didn’t envy the families of four who were clearly trying to cram 96 activities into their week at a given location. When I felt healthy and the weather was pleasant, the overall experience didn’t feel as euphoric as I thought it would, but not having to be in a specific place at a specific time hits different on this trip even compared to taking two weeks off work. Being temporarily detached from social media and the news also gave so much space for clarity, purpose, efficiency, and relaxation.

Why?

My partner did a similar trip in 2022 and I spent a week with her on this trip, which gave the childhood summer vacation freedom feel. Rather than waiting until my body disintegrates from an illness, accident, or retirement age, I felt I couldn’t not do this kind of trip.

But really, a tiny car?

Riding a motorcycle or bicycle across the US fits into the “normalized, but not for everyone” category. Using a tiny car with a roof, AC, and heated seats is, in fact, easier. Already small U-turns when you’re lost or indecisive get smaller and tighter if you steer with the gas pedal. The short overhangs and short wheelbase of the Miata got it places a Prius or low-clearance Subaru might not get to, but even when looking for dispersed camping the day of, there were plenty of good sites along roads that didn’t need tons of ground clearance. 

The bike is on the trunk…how do you get into the trunk for just a small item? Why not a trailer hitch-mounted rack? This is year 7 of having a Miata as my only car. Even in Vermont, I ride year-round so I’m used to taking the bike off for something small. The hitch racks initially require hours of installation, cost thousands of dollars, and every one I’ve seen squirms around on curvy roads while there’s squirm with this $50 trunk-mounted rack.

Where do you dry out a wet tent?

Hah! In the footwell and heated passenger seat. I only encountered a wet tent on 4 days and I brought two tents and sleeping bags. I planned my travels around seasonal/regional weather patterns and typically stayed in each place for just a few nights so I could be responsive to the odd storm that cropped up.

Security?

I have a love/hate relationship with the bike on the back, so I didn’t care if someone stole it. For the same money, I could have gotten the rear-engine experience with old (997) Porsche 911, but figured one those would attract too much attention and people would think there’s something to steal in the car. A gray Miata is still a riot on a backroad and is pretty invisible. Again, this is my seventh year of having a car with a cloth roof, so I just never put anything in the car that I couldn’t replace.

Would you do it again?

Yes, but much less of it solo. I’d need to more carefully consider where I would go during the hotter summer months. For flexibility (e.g., sleeping in a Walmart parking lot), I’d do it in an old, rear-wheel-drive, European sedan or wagon with fold-flat rear seats to sleep on.