The Story I Have to Tell

Two of my obsessions are old Mercedes cars and the U.S. highway system—

It was only a matter of time before these precondilections met, bonded over drinks, and decided to set out on an adventure:

Portland (Oregon) to Portland (Maine) avoiding not just the interstates but freeways in general. 

Driving secondary roads in a 1977-85 Mercedes Benz diesel.*

After getting the car serviced in New England, returning through Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma where my family lived.

I am imagining six to seven weeks total, roughly 7500 miles.

The story would be partially seeing all these roads and small towns that were “forgotten” after the interstates were laid---

While admitting the journey is only made possible by advances in the modern world: 

A small town mechanic using their phone to photograph a broken part, using AI to diagnose what it is, and having it Fed-Ex’d. 

Googling mechanics that specialize in elderly German cars.

This tale of cranky old cars and even crankier secondary roads would begin with a search:

It would, most likely, take months to find my car. 

The next stage would be small shakedown trips, dozens then hundreds of miles, working the bugs out.

Next April, my lease is up. I’d sell my newer Corolla to fund the trip, quit my job and apartment, put everything in storage and set out.

Even if I can’t find a publisher who is on board, I believe this is not just a story I want to tell, but a story I have to tell, like the two memoirs I’ve published on Amazon this year.

What do you think? Would you like to read about such an adventure?

*Car nerd alert: To be overly specific, a Mercedes Benz 240D or 300D based on the W123 chassis which was made from 1977-85. I do not own this car yet, finding her is part of the process. I did own a 1982 240D and selling her was heartbreaking.