The Road to Graduation
A Father-Daughter Return on the Mother Road
On the Road Again
When I told people Sophia and I were driving Route 66 to celebrate her college graduation, reactions were mixed. Some understood; others thought we were crazy. A few pictured Route 66 as a short strip from Happy Days, questioning why we’d spend days seeing it.
But for us, being on the road, any road, is familiar territory.
The Convertible Bond
Our bond began in 2018 on a father-daughter trip to Yellowstone in an aging convertible, something I did with each of my daughters between middle and high school.
It rained or hailed most of the trip, so the top was up 98% of the time. Still, cramped in that noisy car, we found our rhythm. We don’t just travel well together—we discover well together.
Now, as Sophia graduates with her degree in Fine Arts and Education, heading out on the open road again feels like the only fitting way to mark the occasion. With her new role as Art Teacher at Buffalo Trail Elementary ahead, I want us to share one more “classroom” of our own before she steps into hers.
As we mapped our journey, we wondered: Why choose the iconic Mother Road for a father-daughter trip?
You might wonder why a father and daughter chose the “Mother Road,” not a Father Road. Honestly, I’ve never found a Father Road in North America.
Cyrus Avery is the ‘Father of Route 66’ for promoting the highway, and Seligman, Arizona’s Angel Delgadillo worked to preserve it, earning the same nickname. We’re in good company with these men and other dads traveling the Mother Road.
Beyond the Tourist Lens
We aren’t just tourists. While many see Route 66 as a relic, we view it as a living bridge. We’ll cross and visit 1,372 miles of active sovereign Tribal Lands—over half the route. These areas hold rich culture, history, and resilience often left out of textbooks.
Road trips embody American freedom. I remember Europe as a teen—crossing borders and passports after driving short distances. On this trip, we’ll pause to appreciate the ease of moving through states and cultures.
“Travel is Fatal to Prejudice”
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” — Mark Twain
I dislike traffic, but love moving slowly. I want Sophia to truly see the country—not through social media, but through in-person experiences.
Mark Twain wrote in 1869, ‘Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.’ He believed culture destroys ignorance. I’ve seen this firsthand—breaking bread with people from “either side of the river,” a phrase I learned in Washington. I want Sophia to have that same gift.
The Final Lesson
That’s the real ‘why’ of this trip. Before Sophia teaches the next generation, I want her to experience America—its challenges, beauty, and diversity. It’s our most valuable lesson. She is better at it than I am. But I continue to travel to educate myself.
This trip will continue to provide firsthand experiences through the people, places, and perspectives we encounter, and will give Sophia invaluable knowledge to share with her students.
On this trip, we’ll immerse ourselves, have fun, and remind ourselves that the best education often happens not behind a desk, but together, behind a steering wheel.
Be sure to follow us on Road Trip Hero to see videos, all of Sophia’s original artwork, and More. Sophia is encouraging more video, despite my deep-seated dislike of being in front of any camera, because of my deep respect for cameras. But we did make this quick intro a couple of weeks back.
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Congratulations, Sophia! And woo-hoo!! Hope to see you sometime on the Mother Road.
I am so excited to watch both of your journeys unfold and come together 💜💜💜