We used to drive across the prairies.
Chasing radio stations from point to point.
Towns along the railway alphabetical names.
The click of the cassettes or 8-tracks songs play.
The road was more than from point A to point B.
Maps marked, folded and creased, wrinkled deep.
Or crisp and new – unmarked and untravelled – yet!
Snacks in an old shoe box. Thermos of coffee or juice.
You waved at everyone you saw. You smiled too. Journey.
Stopping to help someone in need. Sharing stories, tires change.
Flashing to let someone know they are safe to merge in after a pass.
Trailers and trucks, cars and not so many vans. Thrill of a sports car.
Indian reservations. Resorts temptingly pass by. Fairgrounds to walk horses.
Tall gas station signs along the flat highways. Mountain passes – runaway lanes!
Rain, sun, snow, ice – the highway went on and on. The tires beat the rhythm of the road.
Being a good traveller – pee in the ditch. Drink sun warmed water. Sleep against the window.
Sunshine fading behind hills and headlights coming on. The way sparkled like diamonds alight.
Highways and backroads. Beloved, and horrifying, ‘short cuts’. The way less travelled sometimes.
Familiar landmarks to lead us home. Dancing in the unknown as we go out again. Generations on the road.
A million miles in a truck (or more) and I still love the open road. We all three do. The best thing – to go! Go!
We did a semi-epic but not surprising ‘surprise’ trip to see family for Easter. 16 hour drive that put us in three provinces in a day. Tired but happy to see their ‘surprised’ faces. Packing things better for the trip home. Dogs and boy, husband and wife. Snacks and treats. Old stories and new jokes. Dreams and memories of past drives. How things have changed (seatbelts, smoking and the safety of hitchikers!) Truckers will still sometimes flash a ‘thank you’ when you blink to let them know they are far enough past to merge, sometimes other drivers wave or smile. Sometimes we visit with strangers at truckstops. Smiling because at 1 am there are no strangers at the gas pumps! Just tired drivers finding their way.
If you are here via dVerse, thanks for coming by. I’m tending bar tonight for Poetics. If you came from another place, please stop by dVerse and meet my brother and sister poets, read their words and enjoy their journey. Share your own. And leave love. Always leave love.
Sunflower Poetry 
brian miller said,
April 23, 2014 at 12:54 am
pee in the ditch…ha…you know when my boys were little i had to teach them to pee outside…we were in the middle of nowhere one night…and they had to go…my oldest refused to pee outside…i peed outside…but he would not…oy….ha….i love a good road trip though…so much to see….
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 5:09 pm
I have to tell my son to NOT pee in ditches when bathrooms are available! 🙂 Good road trips are not to be missed. Glad you got some of the boys to try the outside pee! ha ha
brian miller said,
May 4, 2014 at 12:43 am
hey you. hope you are having a good weekend!
new job treating you ok?
shanyns said,
May 4, 2014 at 12:44 am
It is awesome. For all of us just such a HUGE learning curve and it is a busy time of year…reading poetry today hoping for some inspiration so I can come and play next week! 🙂 We are having a great weekend as well – you after the big tanker fire?
charleenm said,
April 23, 2014 at 1:06 am
The pee in the ditch part was hilarious. So true.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 8:56 pm
It is a necessary skill when living in the country or going on a road trip.
Grace said,
April 23, 2014 at 1:29 am
That’s a long drive, but good for you and your family to enjoy the journey ~ After a while, its good to be home ~ Enjoyed your prompt shanyn ~ Have a good week ~
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 8:56 pm
You too Grace! And I’m glad you enjoyed the prompt. 🙂
Laurie Kolp said,
April 23, 2014 at 2:00 am
A wonderful way of life… just chill-axin’
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 8:57 pm
It is pretty darn fine! 🙂
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com said,
April 23, 2014 at 6:43 am
I love the feel of a notebook’s jottings about this trip – it works really well.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 8:57 pm
Thanks! 🙂
Joseph Hesch said,
April 23, 2014 at 3:00 pm
I’m so enjoying the rides I’m taking today, Shanyn. I’ve always wanted to experience The Prairie. I write about it without having experienced it. Seems like cheating. Thank you for helping my mind’s eye see it.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 8:58 pm
😀 you should come for a visit, we’d love to have you come on a road trip with us!
Glenn Buttkus said,
April 23, 2014 at 3:11 pm
We drove from British Columbia to Thunder Bay, Ontario a couple of summers ago; past there, around the lakes, the road gets tedious. Your incredible poem resonates so strongly, conjuring up dozens of road trips, and the past, where gas was cheap, radials were a new concept, seat belts were an option; nice job on this one.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 8:59 pm
Oh if we had known one another then we could have had a dVerse coffee visit! 🙂 You would have driven just a few miles from us…it is a huge drive. 🙂 Glad you liked this.
CC Champagne said,
April 23, 2014 at 5:04 pm
I love the Swedish landscape, and we do have open spaces here as well, but there is just… Something I can’t put my finger on in description of travels like this, usually in the US (or Canada)… It just makes me long so much to experience it! Love how you worded this, and thank you for your inspiration!
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:00 pm
Thanks for coming by, I’d love to see the Swedish landscape in person. There is something about the prairies and how they go on and on…:-)
kelly said,
April 23, 2014 at 6:18 pm
Oh, this brought back some memories… the “shortcuts” made me laugh out loud, my dad was legendary for his… a really lovely, felt piece.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:00 pm
🙂 So glad you enjoyed this! Thanks for being here.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said,
April 23, 2014 at 8:12 pm
Ah.. that’s a great way to travel… the open landscape and the sights.. and yes sometimes a ditch is sorely needed…
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:01 pm
The ditch is our friend – ha ha! And it is a great way to travel. Especially if you can take some backroads to get off the main highway. Great ‘local’ color that way.
Adriana Citlali Ramírez said,
April 23, 2014 at 11:12 pm
Oh! This is really nice! It transports me back in time to some long trips I took with my parents as a child. Nice prompt!
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:02 pm
So pleased that you enjoyed this! 🙂
Abhra Pal said,
April 23, 2014 at 11:45 pm
Fun, mischief, laughter, caring all blended together in a nice pot, smiles. Road trips are always good. I am just back from one and I could just relive it from your words.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:02 pm
They are fun to be on, and it is always good to come home too. Glad you had safe travels my friend.
ManicDdaily said,
April 24, 2014 at 3:01 am
A super sweet poem. thanks. k.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:03 pm
Awww thanks! And you are most welcome!
mishunderstood said,
April 24, 2014 at 4:05 am
So many moments to relate to here…and it has a sentimental feeling running through it. Nice! 🙂
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:04 pm
Thanks! 🙂 great to have you stop by.
summerstommy2 said,
April 24, 2014 at 11:57 am
Lovely account of journey Shanyns, I felt I was there in some of your images, well done.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:04 pm
Thank you! 🙂
Susan said,
April 24, 2014 at 12:36 pm
Loved taking this journey with you, taking time to see and wave and holding crinkled maps. Those cars were huge back in the road trip days. And then you give us another poem in your commentary. Visiting today has been a double pleasure.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:05 pm
So very very pleased you enjoyed the visit so much Susan! Makes my day to hear it… We rode, as kids, in a 1 ton Chevy crewcab – HUGE! LOL
Bryan Ens said,
April 24, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Ah…the days gone by when drivers were polite to each other! And it sure is nice to encounter those who still are!! Love road trips! (although my 3 boys are less enthused about spending countless hours stuck in a car)
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:07 pm
Our son enjoys the trip, he has lots to keep him entertained and we make sure to keep him aware of the things that pass by. It is a less friendly time though, I agree, but we still wave and smile. Those ‘crazy’ people! ha ha
Barry Dawson said,
April 24, 2014 at 4:57 pm
I feel the rhythm of this… the long, unhurried journey, the smiles shared on the road. Peaceful scene.
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Thanks Barry! 🙂 Great that you came by.
wolfsrosebud said,
April 24, 2014 at 5:03 pm
fun write… cool idea to chase those stations
shanyns said,
April 24, 2014 at 9:08 pm
My husband’s favorite line when he gets nostalgic about days gone by road trips 🙂 I poached it. Glad you liked it! Thanks for coming over.
Ronald E. Shields said,
April 26, 2014 at 3:30 pm
This brings back so many good memories of traveling back in the day…it is different now but as you point out some things just don’t change. Even with cd’s and books on tape we still like to chase the stations.
Ronald E. Shields said,
April 26, 2014 at 3:31 pm
oh and one more thing, great idea for a prompt…thanks.
shanyns said,
April 26, 2014 at 4:06 pm
You are welcome! Thanks for joining in.
claudia said,
May 4, 2014 at 8:18 am
ah nice… love me a good road trip.. it’s both – the magic and all the things you see but also the exhaustion… very cool…
shanyns said,
May 6, 2014 at 10:37 pm
Thanks Claudia – it is all the good stuff and the wired and tired as well! But that is what makes it fun and challenging! ha ha Glad you enjoyed this.