My family has always been a big fan of road trips. I’m not really sure why or how we decided that vehicular travel was our preferred mode of vacation, but I think it has something to do with how frequently we went and visited our family in Virginia and Boston, and that constant airfare expenses were not ideal on the salaries of two students, one getting their masters and the other their Ph.D. However, the thing about road trips is that they are awful at the moment, but they make for really good memories. It seems to be that the worse the road trip, the more I remember it.
I’ve been to countless places via road trip. When I say that my family drives everywhere, I mean it. Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Massachusetts, Washington, Washington D.C., Colorado, Montana- the list continues to grow. However, the craziest and most memorable trip was the second 30-hour drive to Buena Park, California, to visit my grandmother. For some reason, my parents had decided to do it non-stop. I made this journey twice, once with just my parents in May 2020 and again a couple months later with my parents and siblings. To be honest, I don’t really remember much from the first trip. It’s mostly a blur of books, TV shows, food, rest stops, and my back hurting. The second time around is when things took an interesting turn.
The ride there was uneventful, just way more cramped in our old minivan due to the added presence of my siblings, Jonathan and Sarah. The infamous ride back started on December 30th, 2020, 
two days
before New Year’s Day. It started normally, but sometime around 2 A.M, about two hours outside of Las Vegas, our car started to shudder and make a really weird sound. Our red Honda Odyssey slowly came to a stop in the highway median, where we were stranded, when a state trooper kindly came and helped us call a tow truck. Waiting in the car for the next couple of hours, stranded in what was basically the desert of Nevada, felt unreal. What happened, you ask? My brother put diesel in the car.
Thanks to the kindness of the tow truck driver, who let us all in the truck cabin despite COVID policy, we made our way to a small town (I have no idea what its name was) and parked outside of the auto repair shop. At this point, it was probably 4:30, and the only place to go to the bathroom was the sketchiest 24 hour casino I could have ever imagined. I try to block it out of my memory, but the smell and the squish of the carpet are permanent remainders in my brain. To fast-forward, we somehow got our car fixed (thank goodness the auto shop was open on New Year’s Eve), slept in a hotel for a couple of hours, and then were on our merry way. And so the story continues, with about 22 hours left until we were home, when things seemed to go wrong yet again. The whole point of leaving December 30th was to miss this large snowstorm, and because of the diesel mishap, we were right in it, plowing through the Rocky Mountains with only one headlight (one went out somewhere in Utah), driving at probably only 25 miles an hour. But somehow, we made it home safe and sound, and that was the last big road trip
the five of us took.
The moral of the story is: do not put diesel in the car, because if you do, you’ll be stranded in the desert of Nevada, forced to celebrate New Year’s in the backseat of a minivan. However, I also think that through this experience, I left with an understanding and greater appreciation of the value of life’s moments, all the highs and the lows. Road trips were always something that I complained about when I was younger, but now I realize that hours spent in an airport pale in my memory compared to the time a bull charged at our car, all the hours I spent playing car games squished between my cousins’ car seats, or the sight of tunnels opening to mountain ranges, or looking up at the brightest stars I’ve ever seen. Don’t get me wrong, I would still much prefer flying to California, but I would also never want to take back the time I’ve spent driving to those places with my family, because it gave me so many memories, all the good and all the bad.
When I say I laughed out loud at your blog, I mean it! This honestly sounds like my worst nightmare! I could never imagine being stuck in the middle of nowhere in Nevada in the middle of the night without freaking out! This reminds me of so many memories of my family and me. We too have taken so many road trips together. Although my sister and I probably do more fighting than getting along on these road trips, we have created so many memories. There was one time we actually started driving down to Florida but stopped on the border of Georgia to turn back around. This was due to new COVID regulations that my family and I decided it would be best or us to just go back home. But still, this makes for one of the strangest road trips we have taken. We literally drove to Georgia had pizza, and the next morning drove back home. Although most of the time when we drove, flying was an option, like you said, I wouldn’t trade any of these road trips for a flight because they bring back too many memories (good and weird). Since you have shared one of the most eventful road trips you have taken, what has been your favorite road trip you have taken?
Hi, Joanna! I’ve only traveled by road trip (because I don’t have a passport and airfares are also expensive, like you said) and I feel like it’s always been worth it. The scenery, the funny moments that just randomly occur are memories that could never be recreated by a 3 hour flight. But you seem way more experienced than I am. 30 hours?! That’s insane. The longest that my family has ever been on a road trip was from IL to Florida. It only took half that time. It seems like you’ve been all over the US! I’ve only been on the East coast. Going on the road trip in the dead of winter is insane. My parents are very precautions and would never. There’s so many hidden dangers like snowstorms, black ice, engine not starting because it’s too cold, etc.. I find it hilarious that your brother created this commotion just by putting in another fuel type. I think the lesson that you learned at the end is something really important to take away. Life will always have its ups and downs, but what’s most important is the attitude we have during those times. Your disappointment with your brother and discomfort was very apparent. Thank you for sharing such a funny story!
Hello Joanna! I have heard this story before and it makes me laugh every time. I feel like most people do not like road trips since they are time-consuming and boring. But truthfully I see where you are coming from, I have always loved a good road trip. Maybe not one all the way to California, but definitely to Wisconsin or a border state. I have always loved cuddling up in the car and laughing with my family. Road Trips are a time for me to debrief with my family and take a moment in time for myself. It really is a reliving time. But trust me, too long can become too long. Moving on to the elephant in your story. Diesel in the car. I know I said I was laughing but that really is a scary moment. Being stuck in Nevada with no one you know to help, and having a motionless car. I would be freaking out. I was waiting for the part of your story where you started hitchhiking. I know at the time it was a scary moment but at least now you can look back at it and laugh. Maybe. Overall these are the family moments we will never forget as we move on to college and start our futures. Another great blog post!