For all who wander.

Atlanta, Georgia to Los Angeles, California.
2274 miles


West, I hear, is the direction of transformation. You can probably date that definition back to covered wagons and the pony express, it still does not change the truth. For all who are in search of something bigger than themselves, possibly bigger than they can handle there is only one way to go...




Enter the Ashley and Marea Show:
We are the masters of organized chaos, thriving on the impermanence of the road, of the passing trees, our compass pointed West. The trip was meant to unfold as it did, you could call it a race across the country, actually most would call the first leg of the trip just that, driving straight through from Georgia to Arizona in 2 and a half days is quite the feat, for any weary traveler.

When I travel, I travel well and never dull. I might be the easiest person to travel with, yet somewhere along the drive there is always some kind of adventure I am either actively pursuing or finds me by chance. I am almost certain I invited myself along on this trip. Marea, friend extraordinaire and holder of some of the most wild life tales I have ever heard, was extremely patient as I would pull the car over at 4 in the morning to photograph the harvest moon setting in West Texas. Evidently you learn a lot about a person when you spend 32 hours in a car with them, there was never an hour that was wasted or conversation without an enthralling story waiting to unfold. Most of the trip could have been the pilot for a new sitcom, a dramatic play perhaps, and then there are the parts that are only for the road and us to know...as it should be.

You use every resource when you travel light. Pandora and GPS are godsends in the middle of the night. Cousins in Hurst, Texas who buy you lunch and let you invade their apartment are wonderful. Non-clashing personalities in a car for hours on end are the roots of real friendship. Marea hates to drive, she will tell you that any day of the week. I have inherited my father's love for driving...problem solved. It looked as though we were winning the race to Arizona. And at 117 degrees midday on our arrival, a king size bed and a pool open 24/7 was nothing short of fabulous. We had wandered our way across three time zones, equipped with the latest technology and our nomadic hearts. We would have never made it had there been a shred of uncertainty or doubt between us. And the trip itself had only just begun.

Lets touch on a few fun facts shall we?:

1. Marea has a 4ft Ball Python as a pet, it quickly became the talk of several stops along the way. Strangers and hotel employees had no idea what to make of us, or Marea's quick wit. " Oh no sweetie, its just an accessory, its not real..." Shear genius.

2. If you carry a camera larger than your pocket you might just make it in to the fashion show at the "W" Hotel without much trouble.

3. Fireman hats work wonders for us.

4. The percentage of me moving to San Clemente or San Diego is higher than I expected.

5. "The Rainbow" on Sunset Boulevard is definitely the place to be on Friday night.

6. Friends who reconnect over coffee in the Farmer's Market make the trip worth the 45minutes we had to talk.

You cannot expect to return from a trip of such magnitude the same as you were when you left. We are both on an eternal search for clarity, insight and mischief. We are yearning to stitch up the hole in our heart that beckons us to find more than what we left with. Everyone should drive, should wander the country like they are searching for a piece of themselves; because whether you realize it or not, you are.

"For all who wander are not lost."

The trek across America was only a small part of the internal journey. We both felt the initial shock of being in Los Angeles once we were there, and the drive down the Pacific Coast highway left me wide-eyed and speechless. It is hard to believe, especially when you recognize its not a vacation, that there are places outside the world you have created for yourself back home, and that they are merely pushpins on the map of a very big world. There was purpose to the trip, aimlessness was not what we were seeking, we both found what we were looking for. I will never forget the shear joy and awe on Marea's face when she understood this was no longer a trip, she had an address and a life in California. It is the most intoxicating feeling to realize you have arrived at a place you WANT to be...and you are no longer lost the way you once thought you were.

There are so many friends who made this trip possible, worthwhile and as meaningful as it was. I cannot possibly, adequately thank them all the way I want to, you may just have to wait for the book version. But in all seriousness and honesty, you know who you are thank you a thousand times over for your love and hospitality.

I owe this entire trip and blog entry to Marea; one of my favorite and most wonderful friends. The world will never be the same. Miss you, but I'll see you sooner than you think...