My son Justin is 18 this year. He graduates from high school with good grades, a clean record, great taste in music and a single tattoo. His graduation desire is to drive across the country from Seattle to Boston/NY(and back) sometime in July/August, before coming back to Seattle to attend Bellevue Community College. He wants to be a photographer, and sees this trip as an opportunity to see the country with his camera in a way he may never get another chance to.
I turn to my fellow Kossacks for nerve calming, inspiration, travel suggestions, shared experience and wisdom... as parents, teens, artists and travelers, what are your thoughts?
He will be traveling alone, at least that is the current thinking... the girlfriend is ambivalent, and the only friends close enough for the journey are not really ones that he wants to spend THAT much enclosed time with.
I have personally only done portions of the journey... A U-Haul truck from Fairfield, CT to Millwaukee, WI to deliver some goods to my ex-wife, a vacation drive to Arches National Park from Seattle with my current wife, various trips up and down California...
But I have never done the whole cross-country thing. As a traveler, it sounds wonderful... with lots of scenery, adventure and experience. As a parent, it scares the bejeezus out of me, with all the potential pitfalls, crises and challenges.
I am sure there are those here who have... and I would love to glean the collective geographic, parental and creative wisdom of this amazing group to get some perspective!
Frank