Week 0
As I write this first post for our freshly-anointed blog, “Ride With Finn,” I’m sitting on the front porch of our home on Virginia St., with Ankur beside me and Finn lounging content on the cool tiles at our feet. Today is Monday of the week we set out. In between taking inventory of all our gear, equipping our trusty Honda Pilot with extra storage space and shelving to support four months of van life, and prepping the house for a potential subletter (🤞), Ank has been working on coding a “Live Trip Map” for the blog with some help from our favorite AI assistant, Claude.
From August through mid-November, our plan is to loosely circumnavigate the country, passing through 34 states and covering over 11,000 miles. For the next 16 weeks or so, we’ll call the Pilot—and our large Kelty tent—home.
Ank and I first started dreaming up this adventure together early in the new year, but both of us have ached to embark on a journey like this for much longer. We’ve heard from countless friends, family members, and co-workers (who’ve listened to our excited blathering about the trip) that they only wish they could do something similar. Knowing this—that so many people wish for such an adventure, yet never get the opportunity—played a huge role in motivating us to make it happen. If we don’t go now, we reasoned, there’s a chance we might never.
We’re at a unique inflection point in our lives: recently married, no dependents (aside from Finn and our cat, Sappho*), no college debt or car payment or mortgage. Several years of work and savings as a foundation under us. A mutual, unquenched yearning to explore.
We did the mental math, and the answer was GO.
Of course, it’s imperative to acknowledge the immense privilege we have in being able to leave our jobs and live income-less for a third of a year. It’s a reality that’s out of reach for most, and that would’ve been inconceivable to our own parents in their young adult lives. The matter of privilege is a loaded one which Ank and I will continue to grapple with in our many hours on the road in the coming weeks and months. We commit to sharing our reflections here, along with stories and photos from the trip.
Perhaps needless to say, the reigning feeling right now—beyond jittery anticipation—is simply gratitude. Gratitude that any of this is possible. Gratitude that we get to go on this journey together. Gratitude that Finn is a good boy who loves to go for long car rides.
Subscribe to “Ride With Finn” to be sure you don’t miss our updates from the road. First stop—Harpers Ferry, WV! 🚗
*Although Sappho is a good girl, she does not love the car. But she does love Arpan (Ankur’s younger brother) and Ankur’s parents, who will be taking the very best care of her while we’re gone. She’s already moved in and happily settled in her second home.