As we approach yet another great adventure next week, I am brought back to some of my old entries about life on the road. I went back and found the entry I wrote the night before we left for the California trip this summer and I must say I think it is the best piece of writing I've ever done. It describes me and life on the road so well. So I'm going to repost that entry right now because again it is so true (except for the details of the trip).

June 8th, 2005:
Yes, IT is Upon us...the urges, the desires, the passion of experience. An experience that will mold us, wrinkle us, and yes; make us different people. As I sit here on the eve on The Second Great Trip, I'm wondering how is this trip going to effect me? How it will mold my friendships and take over my relationships. Will it bring us closer together or pull us apart? I am at my most happiest right now, and if you're not around to see it I feel sorry for you because you do not know what it means for Joey to be happy. So much anxiety, yet a sign of maturity with my new found patience. The stress starts to set in on the inevitable questions that we are forced to ask ourselves: are we gonna actually make it? Did we budget right? Have we planned the route so we can see as much as possible? Am I up to the challenge...

And a challenge it will be...2500 miles, 4 National Parks, and 8 States over the course of 3 days; TWICE! My body is already tired from the previous four weeks at work and I can feel an illness getting ready to set in. And set in it will, 3 continuous days on the road will definitely knock on your immune system as well as your will to be energetic and optimistic. It sounds like a lot of negativity coming out of my mouth right now I'm sure...but for you that have actually went through something like this you know my concerns have some merritt. I'm absolutely going to love being on this trip. I was thinking about it today that it could have the possibilities of becoming the best two weeks of my life. And considering last summer's trip I'd have to say that means I could be pretty darn happy. My girl, my buddy, my country, my world; it doesn't get much better than that and if it does...I'm really not ready to experience that kind of joy. There is nothing like staring over the edge of that dash with scenery you've never seen before passing you on both sides, nothing infront of you but about 800 Miles to drive that day. Man, I love it. Rolling down the windows and letting the wind and the sunlight just wrap you up. Listening to music so loud you can't hear the semis going by. Experiencing things with people you love that you will remember for the rest of your life. Example: Laying in the middle of Yellowstone last summer at 3:30 a.m. Having a pack of Coyotes wake you and your buddy up with a sound so loud that it rivaled the memories of Monster Trucks when you were a child. Standing of the edge of Wyoming staring 7000 feet down. Or just having drunken nights in Tijuana with the two people that mean the most to you. That's why we travel...

The next two weeks are only going to be as good as we make them. I'm just so excited right now, so excited. I can't believe it's finally here. It's been planned since February and mapped out to the every detail since last month. It's what your whole summer was planned around, it was the reason you decided to come home and work this summer instead of working in San Francisco. It's going to change your life again. It's going to humble you and give you more respect for God and how awesome His creations are, including the two awesome people that are coming with you. It's going to beat on you, wear on you, and make you question your passion to travel. And you're going to love every moment of it...