Trevor’s Longest Rode Trip

The longest road trip I have ever been on was from Marin County to Salt Lake City. The journey was 741 miles and took a little over 12 hours. We were on our way to the 2002 winter Olympics and at the age of 5 I couldn’t stop anticipating our arrival. I don’t have many memories at that age, but my experience in Salt Lake is still perfectly clear to me.

I am diagnosed with ADHD, so as you might suspect long car rides aren’t particularly my thing. Let me state that there was no hardest moment in this trip because the whole ride was terrible. Only the knowledge about what lay ahead sustained me and kept me going. The ever-changing scenery was a helpful distraction. The transformation from small rolling hills to jagged, aggressive, snow toped mountains amazed me and made we feel smaller in the world. Also, at that young age snow was still majestic and fascinating. For the first 50 miles where snow was evident on the ground, cooper and I would search the ground with hungry eyes and scream and point if we found a patch of snow somewhere. Now I realize that that must have been quite aggravating for my parents, but luckily my dad didn’t come completely unarmed. He brought one of those really old portable DVD players with countless disks of dragon tails. Yes, dragon tails, the two words that fully embody my childhood. Once we arrived in Salt Lake City, I awoke from a deep slumber and was acutely aware from the sudden surge of adrenaline. This was the place were the best of the best were. People from all around the world came to compete in extravagant events that currently made no sense to me. Fortunately the cheers surrounding me gave me a substantial clue when something good happened. This rush lasted until I was confronted with a bed. Without bothering to take off my cloths I leaned forward and was sound asleep before I hit the mattress. The moment I leaned forward with a smug smile on my face was easily the best moment of my trip.

Although the trip itself was excruciating, every second was worth the experience. Memories from the side lines cheering and ringing my cow bell from every event from hockey to cross country skiing has rooted itself in my mind and brings smiles to my face when I recall them. That trip has also inspired me and changed my life in many ways. After that trip whenever I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said to be in the Olympics. The idea of being one of the best in the world at something has appealed and still does to me in a way like no other. I hope Kate’s and I have an equal rewarding experience when we reach California. I know the journey itself will be miserable, but the end destination could prove to be worth it all.