Jumping out of bed in the early hours to hit the road and avoid traffic is never enjoyable, but that’s exactly how our morning began. Thankfully, I had prepared breakfast the night before, so all I had to do was pop it into the microwave. A few minutes later, we had a warm meal ready to go.

Our goal was to leave D.C. early, avoid the congestion, and hopefully rest somewhere along the way. I packed sandwiches for lunch, made sure the house was tidy, and smiled through the morning rush. I was far more excited than my husband-though I can’t blame him. With a 10-hour drive to Michigan ahead of us and only the two of us traveling, he was the only one driving.

About an hour into the trip, the cool air flowing through the car and the long, open road started to lull me to sleep again. Sitting for so long was already making my body stiff, and the idea of taking a break was tempting. But we kept going; even a five-minute stop can feel like it adds twenty more minutes to the arrival time. With little else to do, the scenery became my entertainment.

As the car sped along the highway, the sky darkened and we soon found ourselves surrounded by fog. It felt almost like stepping into a movie-quiet, still, and a little eerie. Tree silhouettes lined both sides of the road, and small birds perched on electric lines barely visible through the mist.

Not long after, a flock of birds flew overhead, cutting through the fog and hinting at clearer skies ahead.

Once we left the foggy mountains, the view brightened. The morning sun hit the cool mist rising from the road, creating a smoky glow around us. Our first stop was at Dunkin’ for coffee and a bathroom break. Our legs were already stiff, but we pushed on because we didn’t want to reach Michigan after dark. The road became more interesting as we passed through historic Allegany, whose rustic charm reminded me of Georgetown. I told my husband we should visit someday, and he agreed with a smile.

Other stretches of the drive were completely uninhabited except for the occasional shanty or abandoned house along the roadside. I couldn’t help wondering who lived there, how they ended up so far from the city, and why they left. Long drives always bring out my reflective side.

As we continued, rain began racing across the windshield, blurring the view. My husband gave me a tired look and suggested we stop to stretch, and I agreed immediately-after all, he had been behind the wheel the entire time. Once we got back on the road, we ate our sandwiches and chips to keep our energy up, and I tried taking pictures whenever the scenery caught my attention, knowing most would end up blurry. From time to time, I spotted cows grazing on hills that seemed entirely theirs.

When we reached Ohio, the winding mountain roads flattened into wide, open farmland. The historic towns faded away, replaced by barns, hay bales, and endless fields. Leafless trees became more noticeable, their empty nests exposed. I found myself wondering about the birds-whether the hatchlings survived the cold or if, like the fallen leaves, they too succumbed to harsh weather.

We stopped again for coffee, this time trying the Ube flavor from the reviews. My husband grabbed a cheese Danish and some hot water to keep us going for the last stretch of the trip.

By dusk, the lights along the road shimmered like tiny stars. The bare deciduous trees slowly gave way to evergreens, tall and steady against the coming winter. As we approached Michigan, snow finally greeted us. It was my first time seeing it here in the U.S., and I even stuck my tongue out to taste it like a kid-I know, it’s silly.

By then, my back was sore, but I didn’t complain. My husband was far more tired than I was. What was supposed to be a 10-hour drive had stretched into almost 12 by the time we finally arrived, long after night had settled in. Still, this was my first long road trip in the U.S., and though exhausting, it was an experience I’ll remember.