Recently, with the help of my wife, I came across something interesting in author John Steinbeck's 1962 book "Travels with Charley : In Search of America". It's a story about how Steinbeck and his beloved poodle Charley embark on a cathartic trip across the country to bear witness to post-war America. According to the author's oldest son, Thom, his father had a heart condition and knew he could die at anytime, the road trip was his last chance to see the country.