Somewhere in 1959 Americans discovered that kids had been standing on long blocks of wood in the water and using waves to propel them back to the shore. The movie Gidget sold the idea and suddenly there were bands and fans and a culture of wave riding that lives on today. Rolled up with beautiful weather and cinematic technicolor in the sushi roll we call the “California”, this mix has been the dream for Americans ever since.

Beer is not quite yet cheaper than gas, but that may only be true in Texas. America was once a land roamed freely by bands of teenagers in old vans but soon their explorations may well be confined to the internets.

This is it. A brief moment in time. A last chance. From central Texas comes a wild dive to surf the last wave of petrol before it stops flowing forever:

The Last American Road Trip

Margaret Heyn and I will load up my 1995 Honda van and easily roll it to 250,000 miles on a breakneck launch into the American Dream. We will drive to the coast, take surfing lessons and then surf like crazed water borne monkeys until our triumphant return in one week as bronzed surf gods. We will arrive just in time for a large festival of celebration for my friend Anderson’s obtaining of a doctorate and Margaret’s first days in medical school.

We’ve rented all the classic surf films and are watching them until we pass out.

The mission begins today, Wednesday July 2, at 8:00 AM central standard time.