I love driving. I mean, I really do love driving. I once drove from my home, an hour north from Toronto all the way to New Brunswick in a day. I had stops along the way, but I had done it in one full day. That’s about 1,500 Km/900 miles, give or take. I can also negotiate my way through traffic in Montreal. If you’re familiar with Montreal, then you would know what a feat that is. The other side of it is that I also love country drives as much as anyone else who loves driving.
For Freedom Friday I would like to talk about my driving experiences, what I’ve enjoyed and perhaps, if I have time, talk a bit about what I would have wanted to do over.
The thing I most enjoy about driving is the freedom. Sitting behind a steering wheel and going somewhere really excites me. When no one else is in the car, I crank the tunes, open the windows and allow the wind to carry me where I want to go.
Night driving has to be my favorite part. I have one of those cars that sport a blue dashboard. In the evening, it makes me feel as if I’m part of a Star Wars movie. The middle scene in Attack of the Clones when Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi follow an assassin through the planetary cityscape comes to mind. The other reason I enjoy night driving is because driving through a town, a city or in the country, in my opinion, is much more beautiful at night than during the day. The lights make the journey something to behold. Whenever there’s an opportunity to pick up my kids from their activities, I’ll jump into the car without a problem. I love riding through town at night—especially during Christmas. The lights warm my spirit and renders my soul satisfied. That’s code for saying I always have a smile on my face whenever taking the car through town.
Anyway, enough about night driving. I told you it was my favorite.
The other part I enjoy about hopping behind the wheel of my car is the long trips to various places. Depending on the traffic, the trip to Niagara Falls from my home is a highlight. With attractions on either side of Clifton Hill, the main street where all the museums and activities take place, I can’t say enough how awesome a time it is going through there and experiencing the joy of adventure. Yes, it does feel like an adventure, but how many places can actually do that, besides Las Vegas, which is a place I’d like to visit one day?
Lastly, I would have to say that I also enjoy a country drive as well. I live out in the country, so, in that respect, I have to like it—otherwise, what would I be doing living here? Right? The relaxed pace, the farms and small towns is a regular occurrence as is the sight of cows, horses and other farm animals grazing in the fields. The other aspect about a country drive is the leisurely pace everyone drives getting somewhere. I can say the experience is relaxing and eases the mind into hibernation. Not good though if it’s at night, since you don’t want to fall asleep while taking a jaunt without the light standards paving the way to your ultimate destination.
And so that’s why I love driving. Some folks don’t enjoy it, but I’m one who looks forward to it.
Now, I’m just wondering if there is anyone else like me who loves driving.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, on sale now.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE ALIEN INVASION, on sale now.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE SEARCH FOR PARADISE, on sale October 20.
Do you like driving? What road trips have you taken that made the drive special?
Looking to God 
If my husband and I take a mini road trip back to NC to visit family, I love it even though that stretch of I-85 is probably the most boring part of the interstate aside from the giant “peach butt” you pass by in SC. And I’m totally with you on the night driving when cruising through the city, it definitely has a different life to it then. That all being said, the infrastructure around Atlanta is embarrassingly horrible and all the major roads can easily become a parking lot that make you spend more time waiting than driving. I guess you could say I like driving but hate traffic. 😛
I’m not sure if anyone likes driving through traffic. I do find it challenging though, when I have to be somewhere at a certain time!
I like driving, but I don’t like other drivers. Not after the accident I was in this past spring.
I once did a round trip of over 500 miles, Lancashire to Brighton, for a fifteen minute interview at Brighton Polytechnic. I wouldn’t do that again. I’ve also driven down the Mulsanne Straight (the public stretch of road from the Le Mans 24 hour race) in an Alfa Romeo, but was stuck behind a Renault keeping to the speed limit.
In Britain, the maddest drivers are out in the country, so it’s not always possible to enjoy a scenic drive without some lunatic tailgating you. But if I were to include one memorable drive it would be Loch Lomond to Glasgow to pick someone up, and then off north through Glencoe and on up to Loch Ness and back to Glasgow. Epic scenery.
I don’t have a car, but I use to drive other people’s cars a few years ago. Reading your article made me realize how much I miss driving, I keep tellin’ myself I’ll take a few driving hours again 🙂
I prefer the country drives myself. I find city driving to be distracting because I like to look at all the things. I prefer to take back roads and state highways that go through smaller towns. On our last road trip, the Hubster and I were able to play “Cows and Cemeteries” constantly. My dream is to drive the Route 66 and visit yarn shops all along the way. And I’m so totally gullible for those roadside attractions. We have one in SE Arizona called “The Thing.”. I’ve seen it, and “The Thing” is … well, I’m not gonna tell you!
I was planning to drive Route 66 this year, but other things got in the way. I’ll get there eventually!
I’m actually not a big fan of driving. Do it if I have to, but I always try to walk if I can. Not sure why this is too. All I can think is that my family did so many long drives for events that I didn’t want to go to that the novelty and fun isn’t there. Kind of like a negative emotional association.
Mommy doesn’t like driving as much these days since she does it all. But she would love to co-pilot with you on your adventures. Sounds like a blast! XOXO – Bacon
I no longer drive but I enjoyed it when I did. I just didn’t like sharing the road!
I enjoy driving also. I lived in Montreal in the late 90’s and learned my way around during the yearly Jazz Festival. Figuring out where to find parking when there isn’t much is a good way to really get to know the streets. I’m from 150 km from the city, on the NY side of the river, two miles from the bridge to the USA (or Canada). an hour south of Ottawa. I did not grow up driving on highways in those very rural parts.
I did grown up taking long trips. Each year we drove 2000 km to visit my grandparents. My mother lives there in the winter months now; she takes the car train from northern Virginia to reduce her driving needs. My last really long drive was a trip back to Georgia from Salt Lake City. 3000 km or so. I left at 7:45 AM and got home in time for dinner the next night.
I just got back from driving my wife to a conference in a center for such things near the new baseball stadium building site. We live 15 minutes from there. Later today, we’ll make our way to Florida so I can help paint our new house. I won’t be living there much, we’re renting it, but I hope to enjoy it now and then.
I have many tasks stacked so deep, and klicks to go before I sleep.
Goodness, what a busy itinerary! I still have to make a trek by car to Florida. That’s still on my agenda.