Toebox & Banana Bread: Driving and Backpacking Across America Podcast

Please don’t forget to “Like” and “Comment” this really helps other people find us! Route 66 - July 15, 2025 - We could really feel that this trip was ending. Not because we were close to home, but because we had seen what we had come to see and we had done what we had come to do. After leaving the Grand Canyon, boating on the Pacific Ocean, and backpacking in Yosemite, and despite the vast wonder...

Somewhere in the California Desert, July 14, 2025 - “You can’t do everything—you can’t do everything.” A mantra I repeated to myself as we passed Death Valley National Park and again as we passed the Mojave Desert. It was over 107°F (41.7°C), we were exhausted, and the road ahead was long. We had spent the night in another hotel. My plan had included camping in the Mojave National Preserve, but I...

Monterey Bay, CA- July 12, 2025 - I have to admit something to you. There were many days - especially in the beginning - when I questioned this whole endeavor. Whether it was when the check engine light came on, or missing important job openings that I really should be applying for—or hearing Banana Bread wax fondly about home. Some mornings were miserable - hungry, tired, and spending more money...

I told Banana Bread on this trip that my best memories all began with an early wake-up: fishing trips, or missions in West Africa to remote villages. When you intentionally get up before the sun, you are going to remember that day. Somewhere on the Yosemite Creek, Yosemite National Park, CA - July 12, 2025 - . 5:29 am and we were up. Like checking a mousetrap placed the night before, I was curious...

Yosemite Creek, Yosemite National Park, CA - July 10, 2025 - With our wilderness permit secured and some time to enjoy the front country, we continued down Tioga Road to Tenaya Lake. If there’s water, Banana Bread is going in. Despite my concerns about crowds, the lake was surprisingly quiet—just a few people meandering on the beaches: some German tourists and one guy who ruined the serenity by in...

Tuolumne Meadows - Yosemite National Park - July 10, 2025 - There aren’t any words to describe how we felt when we entered Yosemite. As I mention in the video, I’ve been wanting to come here my whole life. All the hype, all the build up, and it did not disappoint. Yosemite was the first land in the U.S. set aside for public preservation — in 1864 — though it didn’t become a national park until 189...

Hey everyone! It’s been a lot of me lately—and that’s usually how I like it. But with one week left before we hit the road, I think it’s time I introduce you to someone who’s going to be very important on this trip: Banana Bread 🍌🍞—my reluctant copilot, camping companion, and fellow adventurer. In this video, we take our dog for a walk around the neighborhood and chat about what’s coming up on o...

Hi friends, Sorry for the gap in posts—we’re still figuring out the tools we’ll use to bring this trip to you. From video and audio gear to editing software, it’s a big jumble of cables over here. We’re hoping to start pushing out updates more frequently, even while juggling trip planning and regular life. A few days ago, we shot a video explaining how we’ll be documenting the journey. As we go, t...