‘Ride with Norman Reedus’ Recap – ‘America: Cross Country Adventure’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 504 of ‘Ride with Norman Reedus’.
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It is definitely safe to say that the world’s love affair with the road trip, originated in the United States of America. For the arrival of our incredible network of highways back in the 1950s, alongside our newfound love affair of cars during that era… provided Americans everywhere with unprecedented ease of access to every single corner of our great nation. Which in turn motivated so many to hit the road by car or by bike, to see it all, and the chronicled voyages that writers and filmmakers put together whilst taking those trips… allowed for everyone to understand that the road trip can be quite the powerful experience. Since it can allow for one to truly see their country in a brand-new light.

If anything, this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because the true wonder of America when seen through the lens of the road trip… served as the focal point of last night’s episode of Ride with Norman Reedus. Because it turns out that over the past four seasons, Norman has actually managed to ride from coast to coast of the U.S.A. in segments, and now seemed like the perfect time for Norman and his production crew to sew that journey together into one grand adventure. All so that we can properly understand what makes this country so wonderful, especially right now at a time where we are divided, and that made ‘America: Cross Country Adventure’ quite the powerful and uplifting tale for certain. 

For this second journey down memory lane, truly put the diversity of America on full display. Since it informed us that one can go from impressive views of the ocean, to enjoying the majesty and power of the desert… in just a couple of days. Something that Norman and his riding buddies did when he started out his journey on the West Coast and slowly worked his way east. Plus, if you’re looking for more than mere sights and want to know more about local culture, well a road trip across America can provide you with that as well. As evidenced by the fact that Norman and his friends were able to visit all kinds of historical places that matter a great deal to people. Such as the plantation that helped to create all kinds of history when its ownership was transferred to the emancipated African Americans that once worked there or the musical studios in Nashville that mean the world to the local citizens, since they were host to legends.  

But while that alone made for fascinating moments for certain, let’s be honest… it is the people that we learn from and meet when we're on the road, that make the United States so worth exploring. Because everyone that lives here, has a story to tell or a tradition to keep alive and seeing that come into play here, is what brought about the powerful moments in question. For it was fascinating to see a riding group in Arizona, treat the road as a gateway to their cultural history or come to learn why some people see motorcycles as more than mere objects for transportation. If anything, all of this just served to remind us that the road trip offers us incredible and unique adventures and we can make some connections too, if we take the time to open ourselves up to others and listen carefully to what they have to say, and that really is quite the poignant message for a series about road trips to send our way.

For we are indeed divided right now, and perhaps listening to one another’s stories and journeys would serve each and every one of us well, and kudos to Mister Reedus for recognizing that and pointing that out in these trying times. Since it helps to refocus the fact that we all in live in one nation, one that is indeed diverse and beautiful and filled to the brim with incredible people that are waiting to share their stories with anyone and everyone they encounter and clearly, once it is safe once again, it might behoove all of us to take a little trip through our great land. So that we can once again marvel in the beauty and majesty of America, and once again immerse ourselves in the incredible culture that makes the United States such an outright great place to live. Until next time.  

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