For this edition of ROVA we thought we would focus on positivity—perservering in the face of difficulty; taking chances that might lead to great adventures; acknowledging the good stuff; and having an open mind, whether that means embracing a change of plans or taking the time to understand your fellow humans.

In this edition, contributor Ben Burns buys an ex-ambulance that has no business being on the road, but he drives it across the country anyway; Jasmine Whelan realizes that avoiding talking to strangers means you miss a big part of your own adventure; Heather Jacks is stunned by the generosity of the locals when she becomes stranded in Eastern Nevada during shelter-in-place orders; and Anne Buzzell shares the inspiration that she gets from her road-tripping grandma.

Sarah Scheller’s Swiss Alps adventure is derailed by COVID-19, but that leads her to discover the magic of Spokane; Madalyne Staab heads to the Loneliest Highway in America—what better place for social distancing?—and TJ Muscaro looks to the future of space travel at New Mexico’s astronomical Spaceport America.

Our photo essay in this edition comes from Brit Michael Barker, whose yearly tradition of visiting the Adirondacks with his father-in-law inspired this beautiful set of images. Elsewhere, Pan Karalis takes a trip from New York to Boston, focusing on the stop-worthy places along the way; Tiffany Brannan explores the rural highways of Louisiana for a real taste of the Pelican State; Mary Cate Long heads to east coast Australia on an iconic coastal road trip; and Theresa Boehl ditches urban adventure for a week in rural Iowa.