Howard from Backroad Planet interviews Nathan Kolk, a young man planning an epic 10,000 mile summer road trip around the USA.
Amazing road trip stories always get my attention, and recently I connected on Instagram with a young man in the planning stages of a truly epic road trip around the USA. Graciously, he agreed to an interview so we could learn more about the man behind the grand plans!
Table of Contents
A 10,000 Mile Road Trip Around the USA
Howard: Hi Nathan! Tell us a bit about yourself.
Nathan: My name is Nathan Kolk, and I am a 24-year old recent graduate from Liberty University Online. I have lived in Wilmington, North Carolina, for nineteen years and have an incredible desire for adventure and travel. I am the fifth of seven children, six boys and one girl. Growing up in a large family of boys led me to be very competitive and interested in playing sports, which then led me to Appalachian State University. “App” is a university in Boone, North Carolina, situated nicely in the Appalachian Mountains, giving me ample opportunity to be exposed to the great outdoors, and I quickly began to fall in love with it. Since then I have sought out every opportunity for camping, hiking, waterfall-jumping, or any other adventurous outdoor activity.
Howard: So what are your plans for this summer?
Nathan: I am taking the months of June and July to drive over 10,000 miles around the perimeter of the country in my Subaru Crosstrek.
Howard: Wow! That’s quite an undertaking. So, what inspired this trip?
Nathan: This trip has been in the works for quite some time now. The idea first came to mind a couple of years ago as I was having coffee with my good friend Taylor, and we were discussing times in our lives when we felt the most inspired and excited. Moments of being outdoors, being challenged, and interacting with other people quickly came to mind, so we began to discuss how I could maximize these times of inspiration and excitement.
Out of this conversation we had the thought, what if I took some time after I graduated to drive around the perimeter of the country with the goal of meeting new people, engaging in beneficial conversation, and challenging myself to adventure in new ways? Another big element of this trip is self-discovery and spiritual awareness. Just like so many other twenty-somethings and recent college graduates, I am unsure of what my next step needs to be or what God has planned for me. I believe that traveling itself does not reveal truth, but a persistent pursuit of truth reveals truth!
There have definitely been times in the past two years where I doubted whether or not I should really be doing this. I’ve told myself I needed to get married, get a steady job, and grow up. But the people around me and my unyielding drive for adventure were the voices of reason that convinced me, “There will be very few other times in your life to do this, so do it while you can.” For the past year I have set my eyes on this trip very specifically and have been planning and researching what I need to do to make it happen.
Howard: I totally get that. Tell me, what are you most excited about?
Nathan: The idea of connecting with people around me and God above in such beautiful places as the national parks gets me incredibly excited. Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, and a few more are all on my list of parks to visit. I am also extremely excited to meet fellow adventurers and hear their stories and share experiences. From all of the travel blogs I have read and stories I have heard, it is the people you meet that make the trips the most memorable.
Howard: I can definitely agree with you on that point. What do you think will be the most challenging aspect of your journey?
Nathan: There is a part of me deep within that fears being alone for extended periods of time. My mind is constantly racing with ideas and thoughts, and if I go too long without letting them out and having meaningful conversations with other people, I can get a little crazy. So fighting loneliness is definitely going to be a challenge.
Howard: I am one of those rare people who actually enjoys solitude in nature, but I also understand the fear of being alone. If I were in your shoes, I think I would be worrying about where I would lay my head each night. What plans have you made for sleeping arrangements?
Nathan: As of now I have family, friends, and friends of friends at some of the stops that have been gracious enough to welcome me into their homes. For many of the stops, especially most of the national parks, I am extremely excited to go camping and sleep under the stars. But there are still other stops where I am unsure what will happen or where I will stay, but I guess that’s where the adventure comes in. Hopefully, I will meet some nice people along the way who will let me crash on their couches!
Howard: I noticed that Subaru is a prominent brand name on your web site. Have you considered seeking a corporate sponsorship?
Nathan: Ha-ha, yeah I love my Subaru. The idea of making it a big part of the branding was done in hopes of connecting with Subaru and maybe working out some kind of sponsorship. I have started communication with a local dealership, Parkway Subaru in Wilmington, North Carolina, and they are going to help me get connected to corporate and hopefully make something happen. Regardless of the sponsorship, I’m still a very proud Subaru owner!
Howard: Okay, for the sake of old guys like me, tell me about the man bun.
Nathan: The man bun has been a long grueling journey of awkward hair stages, but it is well worth it almost two years down the road. It’s not going away any time soon. I love it, and the ladies definitely love it.
Howard: Well, there you have it! How can our readers follow along and support you during your travels?
Nathan: I launched my website Me, You & Subaru not too long ago, so that will be the primary source for trip updates, blog posts, and photos. You can sign up for email updates on my homepage and follow along on my Instagram, as well. If any readers would like to contribute financially, I have a donate button on my home page, and I can be reached by email at nathan@meyouandsubaru.com for partnership inquiries or any other ideas.
Photo Credits: Nathan Kolk; Lillian Margaret Photography (above)
We hope you enjoyed learning about Nathan’s epic plans to road trip around the USA as much as we did. We will definitely be following along this summer, and we plan to speak with Nathan again upon completion of his journey.
Update
Update: Nathan has completed his 10,000 mile road trip around the USA. In his follow-up article, Reflections on an Epic US Road Trip, Nathan recounts how his car was stolen after reaching Austin, Texas, and how he was able to complete his journey through the kindness of strangers and a new perspective on life and travel.
We Would Love to Hear From You
Jerry and I enjoy dialogue with our readers, especially when they share amazing travel stories from around the world. If you have driven across the United States, what advice would you give roadtrippers still in the planning stages? And if you have an epic road trip story to tell, we would love to hear it! We invite you to leave your comments and questions below, and we always respond!
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Reflections on an Epic US Road Trip
My wife and I took a fairly similar route starting this past July 31 and finishing in December. Covered 15,000 miles in a Honda CRV. Only common denominator were the national parks (made it to 22 together with a number of national monuments/sites). It truly was a trip of a lifetime. If you are able to squeeze time over the border into British Columbia you’d also marvel at the extreme beauty of the Banff/Lake Louise region. Much good luck to you and hope you have a carefree time.
Wow, that sounds like a great time and I am sure it was great to have company for the whole trip. I am hoping to stop up in Canada for a day or two, while getting so close it would be dumb not to.
Driving over 10,000 miles across the USA in your Subaru Crosstrek, WOW! You’ve got the best flexibility on the road.
– Mark
Haha, ya that is the plan! I cannot wait, 16 days and counting
I sure do, and I am very grateful for it! It has been an absolute blast!
I’ve done several 6,000-mile trips through the western U.S./Canada doing gorging research for my Marathon Mouth road-food blog and ebook (30 days, 100 dining and drinking spots). It’s fabulous country, lots of terrific cheap eats and friendly people. Tips? Follow your nose more than a schedule and camp for free in Walmart parking lots when you’re in cities and larger towns. Enjoy!
Wow, you’re quite the veteran when it comes to road trips then, I am jealous of the experience you have had on the road. I am hoping and praying my trip is extended beyond the 2 months I have planned so far and I think car camping is a great way to cut cost and make that happen!
Sounds awesome! It’s great to read about kindred spirits. My boyfriend Ryan and I (he also has a man bun) will be traveling on a similar epic road trip this Spring! Best of luck Nathan, I’m sure we will be on similar paths.
That is so great to hear! One of the best parts of the planning so far has been hearing from so many other people out there who have the same vision and passion for travel and adventure. I am always looking for more tips and tricks to made a road trip the best it can be, so feel free to shoot me an email with any ideas you guys have had!
Go Nathan!
Julie and I spent 16 months (with 2 breaks for Europe trips) driving around the US and some of Canada. I wish I tracked how many miles we drove. Surely over 10k. America the Beautiful. So much to explore.
Nathan, so glad to read about your upcoming journey. One of my top tips is to get off the highways. Take the smaller roads. See an unpaved road? Take it. See where it goes. Maps? We don’t need no stinkin’ maps.
Enjoy the journey, Nathan!
Ahhh what a vibe, sounds like an incredible trip. And thanks so much for the support and ideas. As of now I am trying to find the balance of planning out important details but also not getting to up tight about it so that I have freedom to just go and have a trip of the lifetime. If I could just drive forever I would, but at this point I am limited financially and only have the means to go about 2 months, maybe al little more if I can be frugal enough.
Wow, Nathan’s story is such an inspiration for young people! Society sometimes dictates when you should start thinking of settling down but I prefer your wholesome approach! You wish to find out more about yourself, you know you will meet such interesting people along the way and seeing more of what the world has to offer is your priority. If only more people in the world were as grounded, sensible and level-headed as you at 24 🙂 Good luck on your amazing journey and @feetdotravel will be following your adventures all the way!!
Angie it really means so much that you see eye to eye on my heart behind this trip. While I am thankful most of my close family and friends also support me it is clear this is not the path most people take and the path that our culture promotes. As I mentioned in the post, one of the things I am most excited about is meeting new people that also have a heart for adventure and great conversation! Thanks again!
Oh wow, this is like, the ultimate roadtrip for sure! We love the USA for roadtripping, it’s friendly, easy driving and so diverse. Enjoy the trip, but I’m sure you will!
Haha, ya that is the goal, my only regret so far is not being able to go for longer, but I guess there is still hope that something can work out to extend the trip. Thanks for the support
Sounds like superb adventure. Love your interview! It was enjoyable to read all throughout.
Thanks Karla, I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to be featured on this blog, they do an incredible job. Howard has been incredibly helpful and fun to work with.
Aww, shucks, Nathan! The pleasure was all ours, and we can’t wait to follow up . . . .
That sounds like a really great trip and definitely something worthwhile to do after graduating, before moving on to other life pursuits. There’s time for settling down later. I think it’s always a good idea to take some time to discover yourself and know what you truly want to do. Good luck, Nathan!
It has seriously been incredible to see all the support for taking an alternative approach to growing up. So many people get stuck in a cycle of work, eat, sleep, and that just seems absolutely horrible no matter how much money is being made. If I could just road trip and camp forever, I would probably do it!
Great interview and the road trip itinerary looks pretty epic! Making a road trip around the USA has been a dream of mine for years so I’ll definitely be following along as Nathan makes is way around the States.
Thanks Lette, I have put in a lot of time researching each of the places I am going and the more I look around the more places I want to go. This started out around 8,000 miles and now its approaching 11,000, so you can imagine how hard it is not to hit so many other great places.
Wow what an amazing adventure! I’ve thought about doing a USA road trip in the future but 10,000 miles is something special! Can’t wait to hear more about the journey 🙂
Thanks Claire, I truly appreciate your support! I know 10,000 miles is quite a distances but I seriously could not be more excited!
What a journey! This will be incredible. Definitely something worth doing and talking about.
I love road tripping in the USA and have done it a couple of times already. Both times on the West Coast and the best part was going to Yosemite and Death Valley. Amazing.
Thanks for this interview. Very interesting!
Thanks Hugo, I am really looking forward to it. Since you have a decent amount of experience I would love to hear any advice or tips you may have. Feel free to shoot me an email!
This is really inspiring! I have never been on a road trip, and never had the guts to do it. I guess I should start stepping out and try my first road trip. It is definitively a hell of an experience!
It’s so exciting for me to see that I have already been able to positively impact a few peoples lives by inspiring them to step out of their comfort zone a bit. It is rare that you challenge yourself to new adventures that you regret! Just make it a priority in your life and it’ll happen!
Cheers for Nathan, he is a true adventurer! 10 000 kilometers is quite a big trip, I would be nervous about all the planning. Hopefully he will get some good weather, when he is travelling in summer.
Thanks Veronica, and while 10,000 kilometers is a long way I am proud to say it is actually 10,000 MILES which is about 16,100 kilometers. And I sure am praying for good weather as well. Hopefully you can follow along.
This looks like a great adventure! It’s true, the time after graduation is one of the times in your life when you can just spend a few months off, traveling and exploring, without worrying about anything. I took the chance and didn’t regret it! I’m sure you’ll going to experience and learn so many things during your road trip and looking back, it will be one of the best times in your life. I wish you all the best and look forward to hear more about your adventure 🙂
Thanks for your kind words Kathrin, I really plan on it being quite an adventure. I am so thankful for this time in my life when I can take some time off without having to leave too much behind. Not everyone has this opportunity so I am hoping to make the most of it. I doubt I will ever forget this experience.
What an epic roadtrip! This would be such an amazing adventure and I look forward to following his journey on Instagram 🙂
Epic is the exact word I am hoping describes this summer! Thanks for following along!