In a stroke of uber-Throwback Thursday-ness (and some might say self-indulgence), I am celebrating this #tbt with a retrospective of my epic road trip west.  I departed Belleville, IL for San Diego, CA one year ago today.  My itinerary would be as whimsical as I pleased.  My course would be Route 66 as much as was possible.  My philosophy would be to embrace adventure everywhere.  I wanted to taste road food.  I wanted to see kitsch.  I wanted to take in both the natural and man-made wonders of our country.  I wanted to see the guts of America.

And I wanted to start a new chapter of my life.

Packing for college the second time was just like the first: put your life in a car. (8/6/14)

It fits! Camillo is ready for an epic road trip. (8/6/14)

Just like many great explorers heading west, I departed from St. Louis–well, Ted Drewes specifically. (8/6/14)

It was an emotional goodbye–in the Ted Drewes parking lot. Oh, how I love mein schwestern. (8/6/14)

This Steak ‘n’ Shake in Springfield, MO is the only one left with curbside service. (8/7/14)

Truss between Springfield and Carthage, MO (8/7/14)

The Mother Road near Riverton, KS crossed Rainbow Bridge. (8/7/14)

The first full day of driving ended in Vinita, OK. It was okay. (8/7/14)

Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park was the first of a lot of painted concrete I would see today. (8/8/14)

Passing through Claremore, OK–hometown of Will Rogers–proved to be a surprise highlight of the day. (8/8/14)

You want a garish blue whale in a swimming hole? Visit Catoosa, OK. (8/8/14)

This guy–the Golden Driller–stands 75 feet and watches over the Tulsa Convention Center. (8/8/14)

Round Barn in Arcadia, OK is a graceful structure with a warm hue. Round barns were thought to be tornado proof. (8/8/14)

You better believe I had my share of road food. Roberts Grill serves up the famous onion fried burger. (8/8/14)

The most intriguing part of the trek through the Texas panhandle was Glenrio, a true ghost town. (8/9/14)

“Tucumcari Tonight” is the slogan for the little town across the NM border. Neon motel signs stretch the length of 66 along through town. (8/9/14)

I enjoyed sliding up to the counter at cafes along the Route. This is the Kix on 66 Diner in Tucumcari, NM. (8/10/14)

Another great remnant of a bygone era in Santa Rosa, NM. (8/10/14)

I almost didn’t stop at Pecos National Historic Park, but I am so glad I did. (8/10/14)

At Pecos NHP, I visited a kiva and while on the mesa, watched a storm approach. (8/10/14)

I detoured to visit Acoma Pueblo or “Sky City.” The Acoma people still live on top of the mesa today. (8/11/14)

Acoma Pueblo (8/11/14)

After a lot of sun and walking in Acoma and a caffeine fix in Gallup, I soldiered on to Arizona. (8/11/14)

I veered south to drive through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. I was tired by the end, but I didn’t regret it. (8/11/14)

Painted Desert NP (8/11/14)

I wasn’t sure where I would stay in Holbrook, AZ. Then I saw the sign. (8/11/14)

Back on the Mother Road, I stopped to “Take It Easy” in Winslow, AZ. (8/12/14)

In the largest detour of the trip, I headed due south to visit my cousins in Tempe. We ate a lot that day. (8/13/14)

From Tempe, I crossed Route 66 to continue north to the Grand Canyon. I biked along the South Rim. (8/14/14)

Driving at twilight was one of my favorite times on the road. It was a relaxing, cooling time of day. (8/14/14)

Driving in the morning held a sense of adventure, especially with these turns between Kingman and Oatman, AZ! (8/15/14)

I pulled into Escondido on Friday night to greet my roomie, Jared! (8/15/14)

Ten days later, I arrived to a sweet welcome crew of Beth, Rebekah, and (actually also pictured) Alice. (8/15/14)

Travel–when done properly–changes you.  I don’t think anything could have prepared me more fully for the transforming experiences of this past year than last August’s cross-country road trip.  If you find yourself at a crossroads in life, take a journey.  You might discover loved ones waiting for you at the end.

If you’d like an extra large helping of #66Kicks, check out the full gallery.  But don’t say I didn’t warn you.