Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
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This chapter describes Mr Toad's conversion from boating to travelling by road. Admittedly his initial adventures were in a horse drawn gipsy caravan before he switched to a motor car.
Nevertheless his philosophy still represents our view of life "On The Open Road".
No, I've discovered the real thing, the only genuine occupation for a life time. I propose to devote the remainder of mine to it, and can only regret the wasted years that lie behind me, squandered in trivialities. Come with me, dear Ratty, and your amiable friend also, if he will be so very good, just as far as the stable-yard, and you shall see what you shall see!'
He led the way to the stable-yard accordingly, the Rat following with a most mistrustful expression; and there, drawn out of the coach house into the open, they saw a gipsy caravan, shining with newness, painted a canary-yellow picked out with green, and red wheels.
'There you are!' cried the Toad, straddling and expanding himself. 'There's real life for you, embodied in that little cart.
The open road, the dusty highway, the heath, the common, the hedgerows, the rolling downs! Camps, villages, towns, cities! Here to-day, up and off to somewhere else to-morrow! Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that's always changing!
