Somewhere between the airplane we never boarded and the highway we never planned, the adventure found us.
Out West, the speed limit hovers between 75 and 80 mph. Normally, I’m right there with the pack — cruising fast, shaving minutes, focused on efficiency. But after two days driving an RV through the mountains, we’ve averaged 60 mph, and discovered something unexpected: slowing down is a good thing.
At the higher speeds, everyone jockeys for position — trucks, cars, all of them weaving in and out like they’re in a race no one remembers entering. But at 60, they simply pass us and move on. No drama. No competition. Just space.
I used to assume slow drivers were older or confused. Now I realize they learned long ago what I’m only discovering now. Life on the road mirrors life in general — there’s a lot to be gained by slowing down, noticing the scenery, and letting the world come to you. At high speeds, mistakes multiply, nuances disappear, and relationships get left in the rear-view mirror.
That’s how I miscalculated our driving times — seven hours becomes ten. But the tradeoff is worth it. Those extra hours give you time to gaze out the windshield at rolling landscapes and endless skies. And there’s a certain peace in not scanning the mirror for police cars or speed traps.
Yesterday we crossed the width of Colorado, leaving the peach farm behind and watching the mountains flatten into the prairies of Nebraska. Out here it’s farms, livestock, and fertile fields — simple, honest, beautiful. Best savored at reduced speeds.
Our host last night was the Crazy Y Farm — not crazy at all, just the name of their upside‑down Y brand. A working farm where they proudly show off their equipment and introduce you to their pets. Only two RV spaces. We pulled in and they gave us some freshly popped corn, explaining how they sell it to all the major retailers and resellers. After dinner we watched a sunset that stops you mid‑sentence.
Most of what we think we know about this country comes from the news. But the view from this driver’s seat is more impressive, more humbling, and far more hopeful. Gone is the noise. In its place: America the beautiful.
We’re now in the 3rd time zone since leaving home. And today’s lesson is simple: slow down. The adventure is easier to see when you’re not racing past it. Put on the brakes and see what you might discover today.
Helen Keller (1880 – 1968) was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist, and lecturer.
Learn more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Keller
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