Road Trippin'

As you may have read earlier, I just participated in the American Craft Council Show in Atlanta last weekend – a very big deal for me! So many good things came out of the experience and I’m very grateful I was selected! Being there really helped affirm the direction I want to go and the crowd I want to associate with. 

Doing bigger shows such as this are going to require more travel. Thankfully, I’m good with that! It got me thinking about road trips and all the quirky aspects of them. For instance, the older I get, the more often I stop. Stop for tea, stop to pee, stop to stretch, definitely stop for lunch, etc. You get the picture. I’m much more of an enjoy-the-ride kind of girl, rather than a how-fast-can-I-get-there type. And as long as I don’t have an antsy passenger, it works out great!

I get serious Cracker Barrel cravings the moment I set out on a long trip – it’s so weird! I never eat there otherwise. But it has become quite a Pavlovian trigger. Set the GPS for anything longer than 3 hours and I instantly crave fried food and a cornbread muffin! Go figure!

While driving, I get a bit obsessive about gas prices – it’s like a game! (The fuel light isn’t on yet, but I don’t think gas will get cheaper than that station… or will it?) Plus, I always try to have a plethora of music & audiobooks on hand to pass the time. But, I can be a tough critic! If a singer or narrator doesn’t grab me quickly, I’m on to something else. This means tall stacks of entertainment occupy my passenger seat at all times. 

When I prep for an event, I always pack snacks & water/tea. But inevitably, I find something to munch on at the show. What I’ve discovered is if there is a bag of Fritos anywhere remotely close, they end up back at the booth with me. This is particularly ironic because greasy fingers are not ideal when weaving. Doesn’t seem to matter! 

Thankfully, I really enjoy being on the road seeing new places and meeting new people! So imagining a future with more travel is very exciting! I have no doubt more idiosyncrasies will pop up the more I drive. In the meantime, I better start stocking up on Cracker Barrel gift cards now… 

What’s your take on traveling?