At this point, I’ve driven across the country 4 times and flown across it dozens of times. It never ceases to amaze me though, and it always leaves me wanting more. From Portland to Texas, the ride is absolutely incredible. Utah, Nevada and Colorado are just truly unbelievable. From Texas to Virginia, it gets a lot less exciting but I still have a nostalgia for the East Coast and the simplicity of the trees and mountains. The sky seems bigger to me and I guess I just feel at home in the South. Virginia never really felt “Southern” to me as I was growing up, but after living in Oregon for 7 years, I’ve realized it definitely has it’s own culture. There are certain things about the South that feel a little too slow for me, but it’s still a huge part of who I am.
These photos were all taken with a Mamiya 645 and a Holga GCFN. We started our journey in Portland, Oregon, stopping in Bend on the way down to Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. We watched the sun rise at the Grand Canyon and then continued through Albuquerque, New Mexico to Amarillo, Texas. The last leg of our journey included Oklahoma City, Memphis, Nashville and then finally Lynchburg. On the way back to Portland, we took a slightly different route but the most exciting place we went was Arches National Park. I was SO sick with the flu on the way back and all I really remember was how miserable I was.
I love going through these photos because I’m reminded of how vast and lonely the Southwestern states felt. Its kind of terrifying seeing signs that say “No service for 106 miles” but when you’re standing in a huge valley on a single lane two way road with no other humans or cars in sight, you realize how beautiful and special the United States is. I had my cat, Lula, and my husband, Chris, with me on the journey. Below are all of my favorite photos from our trip.
<3 MylesKatherine
