The Leap

Back in 2000, I sold my trusty Pajero 4WD and bought a plane ticket. That swap, wheels for wings, marked the beginning of a 3-month solo adventure across Canada, the United States, and Central America. I’d never been overseas before. I didn’t have much money. I was nervous. But I went.

I remember standing at the airport with my ticket to Hawaii in hand, wondering what on earth I was doing. I wasn’t a seasoned traveller. I didn’t have a detailed itinerary. What I had was a backpack, a few contacts, and a stubborn belief that I needed to see the world—on my own terms.

The Route

Here’s how it unfolded:

• Plane to the Hawaii:  My first step on US soil.  I was expecting palm trees and instead was greeted by eucalypts.
• Plane to Los Angeles: My first taste of mainland US, sunny, sprawling & surreal.
• Plane to Chicago: A city of steel and soul, where I felt both lost & alive. 
• Drive to Sault Ste. Marie (Michigan): Crossing from Canada, I saw the quiet beauty of the Great Lakes and the kindness of strangers.
• Plane to Atlanta: Getting lost on the wrong side of town.
• Bus to Athens, Georgia: A few nights at the Marriott, my only hotel splurge.
• Bus to Tennessee: Rolling hills, roadside diners, and stories shared with fellow travellers.
• Bus to Dallas: Long, dusty roads and a couch-surfing host who introduced me to Texan hospitality.
• Plane to Miami: My final stop, a city of colour, chaos, and reflection.

Most nights, I couch surfed. I met artists, students, retirees, and wanderers. I learned to trust my instincts, ask for help, and find joy in the unexpected.