In planning for my upcoming adventures (see, Skull Toaster), I sometimes catch myself thinking, “boy, it’d be great to have a vehicle of my own!” I’d be free from bus schedules, smelly bus stations and scary overnight bus rides.

But then I remember registrations. Inspection. Tickets. Gas prices. Cops. Purchasing a vehicle of my own sounds like a horrible idea.

With that, I discovered the Greyhound Discovery Pass. For $556 I can get unlimited travel between major cities for 60 days. Even if I only travel 30 of those days, it’s still $18/ride, which is a steal, considering most trips between major cities can run you $50 or more.

I take it for granted that I’ve got friends in nearly every state. My first few stops will probably be Boston, MA and Syracuse, NY, then back south to NYC and Philadelphia, then westward to Pittsburgh and Columbus, OH. I’ll stop for just a few days in each city before moving on, trying to interview metal heads, taking lots of photos, and smiling for miles along the way.