Southern Soul Quest

On August 13, 2023, I left my apartment early and headed on an adventure. I hugged my former partner (I don’t like the term ex if it ends on “good” terms) and jumped in my 2013 Kia Sorento. With a new alternator and oil change, I felt ready enough to start my trip. Mentally, maybe not, but I had all I needed physically. My path would lead me to Virginia, DC, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and New York. Many of these states I hadn’t visited and all of them I’ll be happy to visit again.

I traveled in my Sorento, the back seats removed and replaced with a simple bed platform on the right side. On the left, I added a cheap plastic cabinet with drawers that I had to strap closed with a bungee cord while I drove. I carried two five-gallon jugs of water, enough propane for months on the road, and all the tools and cooking equipment I’d need. It took months of planning and decisions (most decisions being a reversal of a former decision) to get to this point. With my former partner’s insistence and my desire to travel, it was time.

The toughest part was leaving the driveway. Well, it may have actually been pulling back into the driveway, but we’ll get to that. My first stop was to pick up some smoked meat from a friend (Thanks, Dalton). But after that, I drove toward Virginia and my first campground in Fredericksburg. If you’re like me, just mentioning the word brings about thoughts of December 1862 and the fighting that occurred there.

I wanted to visit all the Civil War sites I could! I had planned my entire route around this part. Being a reenactor and Civil War nerd, I thought this trip would be exhilarating. I’ll dive into that later on, but after just a few battlefield visits, I was done. The rest of my trip was focused on another goal: finding myself. You never find all of yourself (at least, I don’t think). But it was a good trip and I learned a lot.

My trip was truly centered around travel – plain and simple. But more than that, I wanted to pull back into myself after a breakup. I needed a partial escape and some freedom to rediscover myself. We lose ourselves a bit when we are in an almost four-year relationship. I needed space to myself to think about life and what I wanted. For three weeks, I spent much of my time alone in the car, sitting in my chair at a campsite, or wandering a new area. I pulled into my shell so I could break through it again. I’m not sure I’m fully a new person from this experience, but I think I’ve changed a bit.

This will be the start of a short series of blog posts to share my thoughts on the trip. The series will focus on certain destinations, battlefields, a birthday spent in Charleston, journaling, and some potential tips for those who want to do a road trip like this.

As usual, I hope someone finds this helpful, but I really use the blog to keep me writing. It serves as accountability, much like my creative writing classes at UMF. I’ll share some personal bits, but most of that is in my handwritten journal and meant for me and me alone. Still, I’ll share some tidbits and maybe go for a deep dive or two. If you are reading this, please share your own thoughts. Perhaps you have a question or a comment.

Here’s what you can expect:

Exploring Historical Battlefields (Fredericksburg, Appomattox, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, Petersburg)
Personal reflections on the experience and the impact of visiting these historic sites.

Camping Adventures
Favorite campsites and challenges or surprises along the way.

Lounging in Charleston (Birthday)
One of my favorite stops.

Disappointment in Derry
In a town that shares a history with my family, I was surprised I couldn’t get into a private lodge.

Brief Stay at Gettysburg
Usually, I’ll stay in Gettysburg for a long time. I was there for just one full day.

First Visit to New York
My first time in NYC!

Moments of Homesickness: Desire to Go Home
There were times I wanted to skip time and just be home. Here’s what I did in those moments.

Reflection on the Trip
Concluding with reflections on the journey.

Cheers!