My friends flew out from Wisconsin to Seattle, and from there we hit the road: 12 days, 4,000 miles, and a road trip out west that reminded us why we're still friends, even when we now live almost 2,000 miles apart.
We started in Seattle, drove through Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park, made it down the Oregon coast to Cannon Beach, then crossed the country through Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Salt Lake City, St. George, and finally Las Vegas.
This video isn’t a guide or a checklist, it’s just a road trip with friends. Filmed simply to keep the memories alive years down the line.
If you’ve ever moved away from home, tried to keep friendships alive across the country, or just needed an excuse to get out on the road, this one’s for you.
If you watched to the end, you're a real one :) Sam
Hold up, let's start at the beginning.
Meet the group that decided driving 4000 miles across 7 different states in 12 days was a good idea.
Obviously, we've got me.
Then we've got Jaylee.
She was my girlfriend at the time and part of some really great memories on the trip.
Up next is Abe.
He somehow spawned in my sophomore year of high school and he hasn't left since.
Then there's CB.
I started playing hockey with him since I was 3 or 4 years old and we've been friends ever since.
After him is Ellie, CB's girlfriend and probably soon to be wifey.
Then there's Kate, Ellie's best friend since elementary school.
Finally, last but not least, we've got Helmy.
I also played hockey with him since I was 3 or 4 years old and he hasn't left since.
Now that you're all caught up, the trip went a little something like this.
That's how I died.
I feel like we're in like a Stranger Things room right now.
Who's who?
I'm the right guy.
I died.
Aw, I died.
He's our like, that's the way I see you character.
Soy un hombre muy honrado que me gusta lo mejor.
Mujeres no me faltan ni el dinero ni el amor.
Jineteando en mi caballo por la sierra yo me voy.
Las estrellas y la luna ellas me dicen donde voy.
Ay, ay, ay.
I don't know.
But he thinks it's national girlfriend day.
Dolith is speaking.
That was close.
Alright, ready?
3, 2, 1.
Oh, did you get that?
Go CB.
You sexy thing.
You're doing great sweetie.
Not it?
Not good?
Not a good view?
We've already seen it all.
Oh.
Oh, look at him, he's like contemplating life.
I'll dye a shirt.
I'll dye my hair but I won't dye myself.
Good motto.
Buddy fell asleep early and now we've got three guys having to fit on this one small little bed.
And he doesn't have socks on.
Slump.
Did you almost slip?
I did slip.
He was skating.
He was bad.
Drop this.
I can't see it.
I lost it.
It's so deep.
What are you?
Hi, you're so cute.
So cute.
Again, I drew you.
Hey you guys.
It's this white one right here.
Goonies.
That's team leader.
I think he's like standing on the inside.
Fifty bucks anywhere for the rest of the trip.
What do you think, babe?
Easy money.
That's not happening.
That's not happening?
I'm not jumping.
Oh my god, is that Noah Kahn?
Yeah, that's Facebook live right there.
Hashtag jumping in ten seconds.
Where is CB going?
Not even on the trail.
Thanks, Ellie.
Good call out.
A big rock.
Good call out.
Good timing.
Finally, 40 miles.
40 miles.
Can't even break a sweat.
Okay.
That was there when we got here.
Munch.
There's this guy asking us questions and then the cops started following him that way.
Really?
Yeah.
Let's get out of here.
Later.
How was the flight?
Oh, yeah.
Buzz.
I think I blinked.
I blinked.
I had one eye shut.
I for sure blinked.
100%.
I blinked on that one too.
I just had one eye shut the whole time.
I think I blinked.
There's a mom and a baby news.
What?
Do you want to get the mountain?
Let me see.
Yeah, we can do one back there.
Later.
Running down to the riptide.
Taking away to the dark side.
I want to be your left hand man.
I love you when you're singing that song.
After we were at CB's, you were like, do you listen to Harry Styles?
I was like, uh.
Oh, yeah.
Because I thought maybe that was actual Harry Styles.
I like several songs by Morgan.
Saturday sun.
Met someone.
Out on the west coast.
I got to get back.
I can't let this go.
Saturday sun.
Damn.
Sorry.
Hey.
Come on.
All right.
We're done.
Come on.
That's the end.
Let's go.
Hold up.
The video isn't over yet.
This is the part of the trip where your boy got insanely sick the last day in Yellowstone
and didn't film the rest of the trip.
I honestly blacked out and don't even remember that much.
Here's exactly what happened those last four days.
We finished the rest of Yellowstone, went to Jackson Hole, did some shopping,
and Helgi bought a brand new cowboy hat that he still hasn't taken off since.
Then we drove the four hours down to Salt Lake City and crashed in my apartment.
After waking up and grabbing acai bowls, we drove another four hours down to St. George
and chilled at Sand Hollow Reservoir for the day.
When we woke up the next morning, everybody knew what time it was.
Heading straight for Vegas.
We tore up the strip.
Helgi, of course, got DoorDash at 3 a.m., and everyone flew back to Wisconsin the next morning
while Jaylee and I drove back to Oregon.
This was overall a crazy trip that I still can't even believe we somehow pulled off.
It definitely opened up my eyes, and I learned a lot from this experience,
and I can't recommend it enough.
If you have the chance to go on a road trip like this with your friends,
maybe not as extreme as me. Don't get sick. Do it. You won't regret it.
I'll see you in the next one.
Take my hand, we're halfway there.
Whoa, living on a prayer.
That's the only lyrics I know.