Where It All Began

During the months after September 11, 2001 there seemed to be a stronger feeling of unity & patriotism among Americans.  Countless television shows, documentaries and publications told stories of the people, places and things that make America such a great place to live.  

When the front of this Life magazine caught Steve's eye, he felt compelled to learn more about the photo chosen to represent our great country.  In his mind, it was a powerful symbol of Americana and the freedom that allows us to set out to explore places like this.   

 Chimney Rock (Bayard, Nebraska)

Plans were already in the works for a June, 2002 road trip to visit Steve's family in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  So we decided to add Chimney Rock to our list of stops during our 2-week journey.  

One of the 1st lessons learned on our first cross-country tour had to do with photography.  A good photographer is patient, knows where to get the perfect angle, and probably spends hours waiting for the perfect lighting.  How did we learn this?  

By actually visiting Chimney Rock...

The difference between the actual Chimney Rock versus the front cover photo that inspired the journey was incredible - almost more than poor Steve could take.  To this day, he recalls the painful sting of embarrassment after going to all the effort to add it to the trip.  One photograph truly can make a difference!  

Ok, so maybe it wasn't quite as majestic as the cover photo made it seem...

Fortunately, there were many other experiences during our first trip that made every single mile worth the time and effort.  

From that point on, the foundation was set for U.S. exploration over the next decade and beyond...for this was the birth of The Travelin' Martins.