Couple take advice on cross-country trip

DALLAS, April 16 (UPI) -- A couple who set off on a cross-country trek in Florida said their website allows family, friends and fans to help them pick upcoming destinations.

John Ellis, 27, and Laura Preston, 25, who set off Feb. 1 from West Palm Beach for their yearlong adventure and have since visited about 20 cities in seven states, have been documenting their adventures on their blog and they are also allowing their readers to help them decide upcoming destinations and activities, The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday.

"There really hasn't been anything terrible yet," Ellis said during a stop in Texas. "There have been things to fix on the truck, but no catastrophe."

The couple said they have enjoyed all of their travels so far, but they particularly enjoyed New Orleans.

"We really liked New Orleans," Ellis said. "We'd never been there and it had an awesome amount of Southern charm, funk and grit."

The pair said they may consider extending the trip beyond the planned year.

"If we like it," Preston said, "we may keep going."

"I believe it was Mark Twain who said you always regret the things you didn't do more than the things you did," Ellis said. "We're doing what we want to do while we're young and have no kids."