FINDING FREEDOM ON THE ROAD

I don’t consider myself an avid reader, even though when I was little I used to devour books, especially around the Holidays. Then I received a DS as a Christmas gift, I discovered The Sims and my passion slowly died away. It was only at the end of high school that I found it again, funnily enough through “school books”. One day my English teacher presented us with a new topic: American Literature. Among the various authors we had to read, Jack Kerouac shined above everyone else in my eyes. Reading small sections of “On The Road” made me feel alive again… Especially in April 2020, when the opportunity to go on adventures was slowly fading away. I promised myself that I would find the book eventually and read the whole thing; it took me 2 years and a road trip to remind myself of how that book had changed my life. 

Kerouac was part of the Beat Generation, a group of authors that took over in the 50s, rejecting traditional literature and American staples such as capitalism and materialism. Him, Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder and many more, defined themselves as “beat”, “rugged” – meaning “beaten up” but also “up to beat” in a musical sense. In their post-WWII reality, there was the need to find emotional honesty, “free-flowing” thoughts and to find a way back-to-nature. But the purpose of this article isn’t to give you a literature lesson; it is, once again, to talk about travel.

“On the road” tells the tale of a group of friends, travelling through all 50 states, with only a few bucks in their pockets: their favorite mode of transport is hitchhiking, as it also gives them the chance to meet strangers (most of the time girls) and experience life at its fullest. They are unable to stay still and they hate ordinary life, as it takes away their freedom. But these guys weren’t the only ones travelling across the country at the time: after major American highways were built in the 30s (Route 66 for example), the postwar period saw a boomlet in car-ownership among American families. That’s when roadtripping was born. Unique natural landscapes, mixed with a lack of public transport and many miles to cover, made the car America’s preferred mode of transport. “Motor hotels” were built to respond to people’s needs, as well as drive-thrus and more scenographic roads. Even though some things have changed, I believe that today’s “vanlife” trend is still connected to this.

After travelling up and down the coasts in a motorhome as a child, I got on the road again earlier this month. I had seen many American states, but there was an area in particular that everyone talked to me about: the Northwest. So there I went! I rented a car and drove for four days from San Francisco all the way to Seattle, using mainly Highway 1 and stopping for hiking and sightseeing. I was in a time crunch, otherwise I would have definitely stayed for longer: the beauty of Redwoods National Park, Oregon Dunes and southern Washington was unmatched. The only downside? Prices. The car rental for 5 days was around 700$ (+gas) and accommodation was roughly 140$ per night. I am not even going to mention food… After a super cheap trip to China, this definitely hurt my pockets.

Despite everything, it was worth it. I think that visiting the US on a road trip is the best way to do it, especially if you will be going through National Parks! There is something very special about driving on an empty road, diving into the sunset or with outstanding coast lines right beside you. It makes the reason why Jack Kerouac and his friends did it, very clear to me. Even if you don’t like driving I would suggest trying it at least once in your life, just to feel the freedom running through your veins and feel small in the midst of Nature’s wonders.