Home » Arts & Life » This is the story of Alex and Luke

This is the story of Alex and Luke

There is something magical—mystical even—about the road trip.

It’s the stuff of Kerouac, not to mention countless movies. Less a vacation and more a travelogue of growing up and finding yourself, the road trip is where the old adage rings true –– that it’s about the journey, not the destination.

But ol’ Jack Kerouac could never have envisioned a journey like this.

Last weekend, two Canadian friends set out on a modern road trip with no planned route, no list of what to see or do, and only one goal in mind: to travel through North America.

Their compass? Me and you.

Alex and Luke’s journey –– however long it takes –– is being documented online through the pair’s website and social media accounts.

“We’re traveling through every state, province and territory, completely based on followers’ suggestions and votes,” explains one half of the duo, Luke Vigeant.

That’s where their audience comes in. In the first round of voting, followers chose the next direction for the pair after they left Toronto last Saturday.

After an overwhelming vote for the two to head North, and Alex and Luke –– her full name is Alex Sabine –– were swiftly off to Collingwood in Luke’s VW Rabbit, with Macbooks and matching red jumpsuits in tow.

Tweets soon came in directing the two to various restaurants and motels. The pair landed a spot co-hosting a show on a local community radio station and before they left, were also featured on CBC and City TV.

But the question on everyone’s mind is why they’re doing it. Some have dubbed the duo’s trip an experiment in social media, or the manifestation of a quarter-life crisis. Really, it’s a bit of both.

“We got this idea back in September. I had planned on going on a trip –– maybe going to Europe,” Alex says. But Europe didn’t really fit the bill in the end. What Alex really craved was a road trip through her home continent, having already studied abroad after completing her undergrad here at Western.

Yet with no car and no travel buddy, Alex’s idea threatened to fizzle. What she did have, however, was a hefty insurance cheque from the unfortunate-turned-awesome situation of having her house burn down. She then put the bug in Luke’s ear about her road trip idea, and he jumped at the chance to join her –– despite having a high-paying job and the potential to climb the corporate ladder.

“[Luke] was looking for something different,” Alex says. “Basically he came to me with this idea that we could turn this into a social media experiment.”

Though their journey is just beginning, Alex and Luke are eager to see where it takes them.

“I’m looking forward to the unexpected the most,” Alex says.

“I’m more looking forward to the roadside diner by the side of the road in Utah versus the empire state building,” Luke adds. “Seeing people the same all [over].”

In the end, Alex says that’s really what their whole trip is about –– building relationships online and building relationships offline.

Because, really, isn’t it all the same at the end of the day?

Want in on the adventure? Follow Alex and Luke online at alexandluke.com, or their Twitter account, @alexandluke.

Follow the Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.