The adventure of a lifetime becomes an exploration of this great country

“The road must eventually lead to the whole world.” 

~ Jack Kerouac

Hello, Apopka. It's been a while. How have you been?

You may be wondering why you haven't seen Denise and me around Apopka recently.

As some of you know, we are in the middle of an adventure of a lifetime - experiencing different areas of the country for 12 straight months.

Yes, we packed our Hyundai Santa Fe to the gills and hit the road from Florida to destinations across America like Tryon NC, BelAir MD; Harrison and Friendship, ME; Sagamore Beach, MA; Ellicottville, NY; Copemish, MI; Chicago, Columbus, OH; St. Louis, Osage Beach, MO, Hot Springs, AR; Austin, TX; and Dixon, NM.

And that was just the first seven months!

The Capitol, Washington DC.

During this time, we visited small towns, big cities, and emerging midsize suburbs similar to Apopka. All told, we've stayed at 14 different addresses, 12 states, and three time zones. We've racked up about 10,000 miles on the road and about 100 hours of drive time.

We've visited historic and scenic places like Asheville, NC, Baltimore, Washington DC, Boston, Cape Cod, San Antonio, Santa Fe, NM, and Albuquerque.

“Not I, not anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it for yourself.”

~ Walt Whitman

We stood atop the highest mountains of Appalachia. We walked the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at Acadia National Park in Maine and the banks of the Mississippi and Rio Grande Rivers. We visited presidential libraries, the Alamo, and the Bandelier National Park cave dwellings in Los Alamos, NM.

We've dined on Maryland crab cakes, Maine's delicious seafood, Boston Clam Chowder, Chicago Hot Dogs, Barbecue from Texas, and Tacos from New Mexico.

School Street in Boston

Yes, we miss Apopka, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and we had to say yes. It's a rarity when all the stars align and the opportunity to live the life of "digital nomads" presents itself. But if and when it does, I urge you to seize the day, week, month, or year and "go for it".

You may also be wondering why I'm writing about this journey and what it has to do with Apopka. It's a great question. I'm glad you asked.

During our time on the road, staying in different venues (mostly Airbnb homes in neighborhoods) across America, we've experienced firsthand observations and had time to analyze how other towns and cities govern, manage, grow their communities, and plan for the future. We've been to areas that overcame struggles, experienced growing pains, and emerged with flourishing communities on the other side of those challenges.

“Road trips aren’t measured by mile markers, but by moments.”

~ Unknown

We've also been to cities and towns whose challenges remain.

In the coming days, we'll be starting a new series in The Apopka Voice called "Postcards from America". It's a feature that will highlight cities and towns, big and small, that make up our great country. And while the series will compare and contrast how other cities approach the same issues facing Apopka, it's not intended to be a critique. Like Apopka, municipalities all over the country struggle and succeed in challenges.

Bar Harbour, Maine

The first is a broad-brush look at the pillars of thriving communities across the United States. After that, we'll feature a new city or town each week, describe their struggles and successes, and apply it to Apopka's achievements and challenges.

We hope you enjoy "Postcards from America", and feel free to interact with us on social media and our news site. Tell us about your experiences on the road and where we should consider visiting next.

“We only regret the rides we didn’t take.”

~ Unknown

Denise and Reggie at the Rio Grande River Gorge near Taos, New Mexico.