As a child Simon Parker had always thought of America as the golden land. A place of adventure, culture, innovation, progress and independence. Despite one botched attempt (he blames the weather) he had never explored it as fully as he wanted. Frustrated by the shallow headlines focusing only on Trump, guns and divisions, Simon Parker decided it was now or never. He wanted to see if the America of his teenage dreams existed. If he wanted to explore the roads of the remaining wildernesses, meet ordinary people behind the click-bait news posts, then this year – before the 2024 election – was the year to do it. Travelling at a cyclist’s pace, tag teamed by inquisitive birds of prey, staying with old acquaintances, visiting rodeos, churches, cook-outs and diners he found a land and a people of huge generosity, but also of both immense consumption, poverty and disenfranchisement.