Across The Dash

06/04/2026

Today was one of those days where two very different parts of my life collided.

Most of you know me as the woman wandering America in a white Ford Flex, chasing waterfalls, small-town diners, hidden gems, and stories from the road.

But before Across The Dash, I was a mom. And before I was a mom, I was a child.

Today brought some deeply personal things back into focus for me and my family.

I’m not going to get into the details here because this page isn’t really about that.

This page is about people, places, and the space between pickups across America.

But the truth is, every mile I drive is shaped by the experiences that came before it.

The things that break us.

The things that heal us.

The people who stand beside us.

And the courage it takes to keep moving forward when it would be easier to stop.

So if I seem a little quieter, that’s why.

Today I just need some self care and, for me, the majestic shores of Lake Superior is the perfect place for that. I need to soak her energy in and spend time just being still.

And express my overwhelming gratitude. I’m grateful for truth, for healing, for the people willing to listen, and for every person who chooses courage over comfort.

Today I’m quiet. Tomorrow the road continues.
And so do I. ❤️

06/02/2026

I’ve been a little MIA lately, so here’s a quick update.

Last Thursday, after getting Andrea settled in the ER and realizing she was going to spend the night in a hallway bed while they monitored her and figured out treatment, I walked out to my car to find somewhere to rest.

That’s when it hit.

Not sadness. Not exhaustion.

A toothache from HELL!

I’m talking sudden, excruciating, stop-you-in-your-tracks pain.

As I dug through my stuff looking for anything that might help, I remember thinking:

“God, please… not now. At least get me through the wedding.”

And then it eased up enough that I could function.

Fast forward through the wedding weekend, family time, travel, and all the chaos.

And then…

I kid you not.

The pain came roaring back during the very last song of the wedding.

The. Very. Last. Song.

I don’t know what to make of that. Maybe God answered my prayer exactly as requested. Maybe He has a sense of humor. Maybe both.

Since then I’ve been juggling family time, dentist appointments, and figuring out what comes next.

The verdict?

A fractured tooth. A filling that fell out. A small infection. And now a referral to an oral surgeon because the tooth likely needs to come out.

The good news is I found a dentist to check it out quickly, the infection is draining, I’m starting antibiotics, and the pain is much more manageable than it was.

The bad news is apparently my body looked at everything else going on and thought, “You know what would make this road trip more exciting!?”

So if you’ve been wondering where I’ve been, that’s the story.

Family first.
Health second. Adventures temporarily delayed by a rebellious molar.

I’ll be back to exploring soon.

⸻

And for anyone keeping score, the wedding was absolutely beautiful, Andrea got the treatment she needed, friends and family are now on their way back home, it’s amazing weather in the upper peninsula, I get to spend some quality time exploring here with my daughter Sara’s growing family, get to know my newest daughter-in-law once they get back from their honeymoon and I’m still smiling… just a little more carefully than usual. 😅🦷❤️

# Tonya Peldo

05/29/2026

Today the road split in two directions. And my heart along with it.

My son's groom dinner was north.
My daughter's medical emergency was south.

I was sitting almost exactly in the middle when the call came.

One road led to a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
The other led to a scared daughter whose kidney failure symptoms were getting worse while she was far from home.

So I turned the car around.

But tears were literally running down my cheeks as I did.

Not because I didn't know what choice to make.

Because sometimes life doesn't hand you clean choices.

Sometimes it hands you two people you love at the exact same time and says:

"Choose where you're needed most."

Some decisions just hurt no matter which direction you choose.

And people looking from the outside may never fully understand the weight behind certain choices because some things go deeper than you can explain in a Facebook post.

And honestly?

The last few weeks have felt a lot like that.

But maybe that's what the road is teaching me.

I started this journey thinking it was a gap year.
An adventure.
A chance to wander.

What I'm learning is that there is no such thing as a gap year for parents.

Not when your kids need you.
Not when life happens.
Not even when they're grown.

And the truth is...

I wouldn't want it any other way.

Of all the things I've done in my life, being a mom is one of my greatest honors.

Right behind being Nana.

Apparently that job doesn't come with vacation days either.

05/28/2026

I knew I had to do 4 states today but silly me … I didn’t account for the time change and now I am late to my son’s grooms dinner 😳🤦‍♀️

My Ford flex understood the assignment!

But I’ll be honest I am actually not going that fast. The app glitched for a minute. 😂

05/27/2026

Across The Dash TRAVEL HACK #35

One of the first things I do when I cross into a new state is stop at the welcome center.

Not just any rest area. Not the gas station.
Not even the iconic state food for the competition.
My 1st stop is the welcome center.

Honestly, they’ve become one of my “must see” parts of this road trip.

There’s just something about walking into a new state, talking to locals and immediately getting a feel for its personality.
Some have beautiful artwork and displays, some have incredibly kind staff who tell you about hidden gems nearby, and almost all of them have clean restrooms, picnic areas, maps, travel info, and enough snacks or caffeine to revive a tired traveler. 😅

It’s become my reset button between states.

A small pause to recap the last state before the next chapter of the drive.

What’s your go-to stop when you’re traveling?

05/25/2026

Yesterday I made a stop for the “iconic state food contest” for the famous Oklahoma onion burger… at Tucker’s on Route 66.

I’ll admit… when people first started telling me:
“You HAVE to try an onion burger in Oklahoma…”

…I wasn’t exactly convinced.

A burger with a mountain of onions smashed into it didn’t sound like something my tastebuds were going to write poetry about.

But then I took the first bite. And honestly?
Surprisingly good.

The onions cook down into this sweet, savory flavor that somehow tastes way better than it sounds. It feels like one of those old-school comfort foods that accidentally became legendary.

Now… slight plot twist:
The burger wasn’t fully cooked on the onion side. 😅

I’m not going to complain because I actually like my burgers medium, but I just sat there thinking:
“Well… this is either authentic Route 66 charm or Oklahoma is trying to kill me gently.”

Overall rating?
I’d give it a 5 out of 10

Not because it was bad… the first bite actually surprised me in a good way. But by the 5th bite… maybe not so much.

So if I’m doing an official cross-country food competition here, I gotta be fair and some states are bringing serious competition.

Fun fact:
Oklahoma actually has an official Onion Burger Trail.

Yes. A trail.
For burgers.

America is wild sometimes and honestly that’s why I’m loving this trip.

Now I need opinions:
What state do YOU think is going to win this food competition by the end of my road trip?

05/25/2026

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05/24/2026

So many drivers told me:
“It’s impossible”

I said…
“Watch me”

One thing this road trip is teaching me?

Fortitude

A lot of people say:
“You can’t do that.”

And I’ll admit…
it’s definitely not easy.
But I figure out how to do it anyway.

Today will be my 7th state driving for rideshare platforms as I cross the country.

But this map shows how complicated the backend system really is.

Today I switched my Uber driving region to Missouri while sitting in Kansas. The switch itself only took a few minutes.

Then I opened the map…

…and this map perfectly illustrates my entire experience with these platforms.

Suddenly I’m approved in this random patchwork across the Midwest:
Missouri, Iowa, parts of Ohio, random pieces of Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana… somehow even the sides of South Dakota.

But then there are tiny missing sections everywhere like somebody spilled whiteout on the map and just left it that way. 😂

What most people don’t realize is rideshare driving across the country isn’t as simple as: “Turn the app on and drive.”

But it’s also not impossible like many drivers tried to imply when I talked about my plan.

Every state has different rules.
Different inspections.
Different insurance requirements.
Different background check systems.
Different markets.
Different pay structures.

Some states make it easy but others act like you’re applying for federal clearance just to pick up a passenger. 😂

And honestly?
Figuring it out has become part of the adventure.

Every time I hit a roadblock, somebody inevitably says:
“See? You can’t do it.”

Meanwhile I’m over here like:
“I’m doing it” 😎

Because this trip was never about doing things the traditional way.

It was about learning how to find a way forward in real time.
One goal,
one step,
one mile,
one city,
and one state at a time.

Not just through the platforms systems…
but through my own doubts and fears too.

Pushing forward.
Adapting.
Problem solving.
Finding a way to make it happen.

And somehow…
little by little…
I keep finding a way forward.

And those whiteout spots on the map?

I’ll figure those out too.

But for today…

Missouri, get ready because I’m on my way! 😄

05/23/2026

People love posting the glamorous side of travel.
The sunsets. The cute coffee shops. The “look how free I am” moments.

Then there’s me… posting the unflattering reality.

Yesterday I was in a Texas truck stop parking lot with my hood up asking strangers if they had jumper cables. 😂

My battery completely died… And no one had a jump!?

But here’s the part that made me feel like a winner…

I originally got my Planet Fitness Black Card membership mostly because it made sense for road life. Showers. Message chairs. Rapid workouts. Red light enhancement. Stretching. WiFi and a place to reset for a minute. That’s all a must for my travel life.

But it also came with AAA coverage and streaming perks… and other perks, which ended up saving me money twice. First when I canceled subscriptions before this trip… and then yesterday when my dead battery turned into a free roadside assistance call instead of a giant unexpected expense.

And THAT is the kind of travel budgeting travel hack nobody really talks about.

Not just finding cheap things… but building little systems that save you when life inevitably goes sideways.

Because eventually it will. 😂

And honestly?
That membership probably paid for itself yesterday in one single moment.

**Disclaimer before anyone asks…
no, I’m not getting paid for this ad. 😂
I’m just a woman driving across America accidentally discovering that my gym membership apparently comes with roadside rescue and emotional support.

Honestly though… what’s the most random membership perk you’ve ever actually used in real life?