May 15, 2026
Sometimes the best way to think, plan, or heal is to disappear. For me, there’s nothing quite like a quiet backroad to make me feel a new sense of freedom. There’s space to breathe and notice the small, sometimes forgotten things that highways just don’t have.
I grew up in rural Arkansas, riding my bike down potholed gravel trails. Every day I fantasized about the decaying barns and roofless old shacks I passed. Who lived there? What did they do? Where did they go? Did their children climb through the cliffs and creek beds I did? Did they fish in the same river? It’s the inspired curiosity that makes me enjoy being a writer, and helped inspire The Liberty Junction Adventures.
Being raised in the woods instilled a bit of wildness I hope I never lose. And like the wild child I am, I still make time to take a drive into those spaces from my past. Every trip is an opportunity to find some small hamlet, railroad track, or mountain road for some thought and inspiration.
Old backroads satisfy an important aspect of my personality: my love of the unexpected. I live for old diners and winding trails. With few other drivers to worry about, I can control my pace and stop where I want. Even a one-mile stretch can change my mood and clear my head. I don’t make much of a plan. I just pack some water and snacks (and my everyday survival bag) and head out.
One of my favorite routes takes me to tiny places around the Mount Gaylor area in Northwest Arkansas. The twists and turns force me to pay close attention, which helps reset my thought process. I like to stop for lunch at The Ol’ Cabin, where I can sit outside and look out over the hills. Then I’ll head off the beaten trail a bit to the small town of Winslow.
Winslow has a population of 365 according to the 2020 census. When I arrive, the first thing I see is a small railroad stop, one of my favorite places to sit and think. I’ll walk down the tracks for a while and look for old spikes while listening to the leaves rustle around me.
Behind the train stop is the Winslow City Hall and the Winslow Museum, a great little place to visit and learn more about the history of the town. I’ll probably write more about it in the future.
Follow the road long enough and you’ll find dozens of little-known places that are perfect jumping-off points for an adventure. But there are also plenty of spots to reawaken in a different way.
Sitting on the side of a quiet road is a treat I treasure. Watching the grass wave slows down my often rampaging mind. The drifting clouds remind me of what matters, and that there is growth in impermanence. They don’t judge my plans or the occasional tear. The sunlight clears my internal view, while the incredible star views at night inspire me.
On the side of the road, I can say what I want to. I can dance if I want to. I use the natural beauty to remind myself to embrace freedom and carry it into my everyday life.
That sense of freedom is why I’ll never give up my wild nature and my drive to always find the road less traveled. It only costs a little time and a little gas, but the backroads give me so much more than that. I hope you come to enjoy them, too. It really is a road trip for the soul.
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Want to read more from me? The first novel in my Liberty Junction Adventures, Hard Liberty, will be available later in 2026. Stay tuned to this website or my social media for updates.
