Month: August 2015

Day 15 – Whittier, North Carolina to Beckley, West Virginia
Hitting the open road in beautiful North Carolina!

Hitting the open road in beautiful North Carolina!

Well, today was a great day!  After a wonderful night sleep, I enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with Mike and Jan and a drive around town.  The Francis Family treated us like we were family and we had just met last night.  We felt so honored to be able to be part of the family for the time we where there.  Seeing Jan again was absolutely awesome and she is an inspiration to me. I am going to start working out so the next time we see Jan, we can go for a hike.  She will still be able to out-hike me, but I want to keep up a little bit. 🙂

We visited a little longer, then headed north (finally!) toward home.  We knew that we would not make it all the way to Ohio, but we knew we would get close.

Heading North!!

Heading North!!

As I was driving today, I realized that I finally fell into pattern where I am starting to feel better about driving and the whole traveling thing.  So even though we are going home, we are going there to figure out where and when to start Phase #2.  Before I left I kept hearing how once you start traveling, you will want to keep doing it.  I see that now.  Very interesting.  But Devi needs a break and some maintenance, so a break it will be.

Drove uneventfully through a small part of Virginia, then into West Virginia.  As we were driving, the clouds started to look ominous and sure enough while I was driving in the mountains it started to downpour…really downpour.  Trying to go up fairly steep grades (not Yellowstone steep, luckily) was tricky in the rain.  I was definitely white-knuckling it for quite a few minutes.  Then it would stop, I would relax and then it would start again.  But the triumph was I did it without crying or even sobbing.  That is a huge step for me.  Maybe I am growing.

Driving through a mountain tunnel...I guess it is better than a windy mountain road!

Driving through a mountain tunnel…I guess it is better than a windy mountain road!

Since it was such a great day of laughter and triumphs we treated ourselves to a very nice dinner at the Texas Steakhouse in Beckley.  Our server, Jamie, was awesome and he made dinner even more enjoyable.  Again, it comes down to the people we meet.  I have loved hearing everyone’s stories, it such a great way to connect.

I have learned a lot about America’s mountains. The Rocky Mountains are definitely amazing due to their sheer scope and vastness.  The Appalachian Mountain Range are more to my liking, not only when it comes to driving, but I love the green lush trees and the green vegetation.  Having lived in the East all my life, I am used to green trees. I am so blessed to be able to have seen both in my life.  Each range has great properties and its own beauty.  This country is stunning from mountains, to oceans, to lakes, to deserts and everything in between.

Rain clouds cometh!

Rain clouds cometh!

Welcome to West Virginia!

Welcome to West Virginia!

This trip has opened my eyes to so many things and I am now looking forward to what is left to learn.  I did not get to volunteer this trip, so that definitely has to be a part of Phase #2 as well as a few other things.  Still lots to discover and I hope I am going to be better prepared the next time!

Thank you for listening!!

Day 14 – North Little Rock, Arkansas to Whittier, North Carolina

Today was yet another mixed bag of emotions.  I started the day fairly optimistic, ran it down hill with a mixture of homesickness and general sadness, then finished strong with lots of laughter and great conversation.

My gosh, today I even got sick of my whining.  I felt like Goldilocks: it’s too hot, I’m hungry, why can’t I sleep….oh my gosh, what is wrong with me?  I have always been a little whiny at times but this trip has really brought out my inner whiner.  What is the deal with being homesick? I started this trip with the intent of not really going back “there.”  Now all I want is to go back “there.”  I am one messed up chick.

I guess on the road you miss the normalcy of life, even if those normal activities were what was driving you crazy.  On the road everything is new and not necessarily improved.  You miss the little comforts of home, like knowing where things are, not like having to constantly ask yourself what Walmart bag did you put something in and is it in the backseat, glove box or in the back of the car.  Home drives me crazy, but for now I need that place so I can regroup and rethink the next portion of the trip.

It is hard to rationalize all that has gone one in the last two weeks.  I have to remember that I came out of my shell to learn about myself.  Now originally I thought I was going to find out some really cool stuff, but as it turns out, the stuff is not all that cool.  It is authentic and it is real so that has to count for something.

So today we drove and we drove and we drove.  It was a long day of driving and I had no idea what the end point of the day was as it was a surprise.  We did finally start driving north which thrilled me, then we started driving south which did not thrill me.  Home is north, why were we not driving north?

We drove through Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  Have you ever been?  Wow, I was blown away by all the activity there including Dollywood (which I did not even realize was still open).  Tourists were everywhere and we rolled through town near dusk and the activity was still going strong.  Who knew?  Then we started to drive through the Great Smoky Mountains.  NO I CRIED…you promised no more mountains!!  More 6% grades, more hair pin curves, more scary sheer drops and somebody blowing their horn at me in a tunnel,no less.  I could not stop crying, first we were not heading north and there were more mountains to contend with.

Mike had a really great surprise for me.  He had contacted a friend from Kinetico, Jan Kuszynski, and they had arranged to meet since we were fairly close on our way home.  I was thrilled to see Jan and I know Mike needed some real adults to talk with.

Jan has been posting the most gorgeous photographs of the Great Smoky Mountains and her words are always inspirational and encouraging. The thought of seeing her again filled my heart.  She lives with a lovely family, Ernie and Amy Francis and their three wonderful sons, who never met us but welcomed us into their home like we were family.  I was overwhelmed.

We got here late, but we were able to talk for a while.  We talked and laughed and talked some more and laughed even more.  When someone tells you that laughter is the best medicine, you can believe it.  All my sadness washed away and tears of joy replaced the tears of frustration and fear.

I have said this many times in my blog posts, the only really important things in life is not stuff but people and the connections you make with them.  I have had so many people extend their hands to me, to help me back on my feet, to give me strength in my weakness and to show me love when I am terribly unlovable. Every person I have met and will continue to meet with leave their handprint on my soul and I will become that better person I dream of, not because of anything I have done but because of them.

So for tonight I will quit my whining and look at the blessings in my life, for which there are many.  Tomorrow is another day and if we do not head north at some time the whining my commence again, but I hope not!!

I have pictures and information about another great burger I found for the next time.  Thank you for listening!

Day 13 – Clinton, Oklahoma to North Little Rock, Arkansas

We started the day off by stopping at the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma.  I figured it would be a tourist trap that was designed to only suck your money away.  I was wrong.  It was an adorable, yet small, museum dedicated to preserving the history of Route 66.  The displays included quite a few authentic photographs, props and even cars of the time.  I am really glad we stopped as it was informative and fun.

I love the history of Route 66!! It is true Americana!

I love the history of Route 66!! It is true Americana!

While driving in the west, one cannot help but notice all the casinos along the way.  I totally understand that those casinos bring tourist dollars into the community, provide decent wages to local people and they allow people to better themselves.  I get it, I really do.  But when you look around and you see big, bright and shiny casinos surrounded by broken down cars, trailers in desperate need of repair and other obvious signs of economic blight, it becomes hard not to look at the casino as, at least, a partial reason for the problems.

We stopped in one, since I have only been in a casino once in Niagara Falls. I decided to try my luck at the penny slots.  I took a seat by a slot machine that showed brightly colored cupcakes (how bad could it be…they were cupcakes and party hats) and tried my luck. I was up to $40 from my original $20 and feeling pretty good, when Lady Luck decided to leave the room.  In no time, all the money was gone and I was left with nothing.  As I looked around the room, I saw the same look I had on many of the faces there and I hoped they had not come here looking to make enough money to pay the rent or buy groceries.  It may happen for a few, but for the majority winning is not a option.

I have been so down that I have resorted to playing the Lottery in hopes of getting some relieve.  I understand the concept, but never once have I won.  You only end up losing what little you had to begin with.  Everyone knows that the casinos are in business to make money, but human nature, no matter how down and out, still has that one glimmer of hope that says today will be the day.  It just hardly ever is that day.  I am not sure what point I wanted to make other than I saw the sadness and hope that I can help somehow, someday.  I am not anti-casino, in fact for the most part I never give them a thought, but the “lure of easy money has a very strong appeal.” (words by Glenn Frey)

I do not know how I keep getting off on these negative notes.  I do not mean to, but you cannot close your eyes to the lives around you.  This trip is about self-awareness and awareness in general, so I guess it is only right that these things stand out to me.  It is making me realize that the world is truly much bigger than what I see in my everyday life and that many people are hurting (some of it is self-induced, I get that too).

(Removing myself from the soapbox again.) On a lighter note, I have learned a few lessons so far from this trip and I thought I would share them:

  1. I have gone two weeks without any television and I have not died!  I cannot believe how freeing it is not to be hooked to the television.  I may be a little out of touch with news and such, but it feels good to have cut that cord a bit.
  2. I can shower in a public shower as long as there is a door.  Never in a million years would I have guessed that I could ever do that.  You get to a point and have no choice and you do what you have to do.
  3. No matter how much I try (and I have), I am just not an outdoorsy-kinda gal.  I can appreciate nature and its beauty from inside the air conditioned car.  I still rather sit inside with a good book and an iced tea.  I tried….I really did!
  4. Seems most Western drivers like to go really fast.  I am a slow poke driver who has to work at keeping up with the speed limits out here.  Cruise control, on the open road not in town, is my friend.
  5. Diner food is the absolutely best!  I love the atmosphere and the food.  We need more diners!!
  6. I can exist on one meal day (and a few snacks).  I was eating way too much and that is not necessarily a good thing.
  7. I can sleep in a tent.  Yes, I can.  I may not be particularly fond of the notion, but I can now do it and am even somewhat helpful in the putting up and taking down of it.  NEVER in a million years!
A cute picture of an old ice cream / soda fountain.

A cute picture of an old ice cream / soda fountain.

I know it is not a terribly noteworthy list, but I am getting there.  I am doing things I never dreamed I could do.  Thank you for listening.  I appreciate all of you out “there.”

Doing Laundry Now – Thought I Would Post Some Pictures
At the Clinton, OK Route 66 Museum (in my Rock Hall T-shirt)

At the Clinton, OK Route 66 Museum (in my Rock Hall T-shirt)

At the museum. Really worth seeing the next time you are in Clinton, Oklahoma.

At the museum. Really worth seeing the next time you are in Clinton, Oklahoma.

Picture of the road being built. It had to be a brutal job. I am not sure how they did it.

Picture of the road being built. It had to be a brutal job. I am not sure how they did it.

Mike by an old gas pump. The artifacts are in pristine condition.

Mike by an old gas pump. The artifacts are in pristine condition.

One of my favorite parts of Route 66 -- The FOOD served in Diners!! Yummy!

One of my favorite parts of Route 66 — The FOOD served in Diners!! Yummy!

A far away shot of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

A far away shot of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

IMG_5837

At Tinker Air Force Base outside of Oklahoma City.

Great town for great hamburgers...more on that later!

Great town for great hamburgers…more on that later!

Welcome to Arkansas!

Welcome to Arkansas!

This sight is native to this area--we are in Walmart Country. Not near Bentonville, but close enough.

This sight is native to this area–we are in Walmart Country. Not near Bentonville, but close enough.

Day 12 – Grants, New Mexico to Clinton, Oklahoma

I did not have Wi-Fi yesterday so I could not post, sorry about that!! So today I will do a couple of posts.  First of all, yesterday we had an unremarkable day — which is good when the temps are over 100 and you worry about the car — traveling out of New Mexico, through a small bit of Texas and into Oklahoma.  We traveled on Rt. 40 which runs close to the old Route 66.

There were a lot of remnants of Route 66.  Many ghost towns, closed businesses, cars and trucks just parked and rusting and a very sad view of a life that was once vibrant and new.  Seems to me, and I could be way off base here, that my parents generation started off with roads like Rt. 66 (obviously after the dust bowl which is what facilitated the Mother Road) as a way to see the country in their new and shiny cars.  The heyday was amazing with post-war families driving out west to see the Pacific Ocean and all the other sights along the way.

Then the Interstate idea hit and now you could not only get out west but you could do it faster.  It seems to me that was the demise of important roads like Route 66.  I remember a couple of trips with my folks and it was always on interstate highways, never on “back roads.”

But our generation seems to be looking back to those simpler times when you could ride the Route and have a great dinner at a diner, and reserve a room at a motel (with conditioned air and color TV!).  You could see all matter of weird and interesting sights as you drove.

The resurgence of the Route is hopeful, in fact, many businesses never left they just seemed to wait it out. I am so happy to see that people are interested in the Route again. Interstate highways have their place, but Routes like 66 and 20 have American history attached to them.  People drove those roads to find better lives and we need to preserve that.  It is a piece of us and we cannot afford to just throw it away.  (Sorry, I am off my soapbox).

Last night, after a long day of driving, we got to our KOA cabin and I melted down.  It is amazing how lack of quality sleep and overwhelming heat can cloud your mind.  I just sat on the edge of the bed and cried.  Not for any particular reason, just for all of it.  But I broke out my Kindle and I read a short story from “Christmas in Absaroka” by Craig Johnson.  Between Craig and Mike, I calmed down and forgot about the scorpions and rattlesnakes (did I mention they live where in the same state as I was sleeping!).

I am not a bug person, I totally understand their purpose in life other than to bite me.  I understand food chains and such, but I am not a fan.  There are so many bugs alive and dead in the southern part of the states — many more than I am used to.  But I have decided to embrace my inner bug lover and get over myself.  I still slept partially awake looking for scorpions, but luckily they stayed away.

I do have a bug repellent tip:  Repel Lemon and Eucalyptus (DEET Free) is amazing.  It keeps bugs way away.  Most people too.  DO NOT BREATHE IT IN!!  It is harsh and strong, but it works.  You get used to the smell after a few days and then you can tolerate it better.  Good grief though, it is powerful.

I am going to shower since it has been a few days in 100 degree heat, then do some laundry (again it has been a few days) and then I will come back and tell you about today.  I also have lots of pictures, I just have to go through them.  Hope you are enjoying the posts.  More fun to come!!

Rattlesnakes and scorpions live here...oh my!!

Rattlesnakes and scorpions live here…oh my!!

Day 11 – Seligman, Arizona to Sedona, Arizona to Grants, New Mexico
Yet another goofy picture of me.

Yet another goofy picture of me.

Today was a big driving day on Route 40 which parallels Historic Route 66 on some parts.  The people at the Seligman KOA were awesome and we talked for hours while I did laundry.  Diane and Larry made us feel at home.  What great people!!  I cannot believe how nice and kind the KOA people are, they are helpful and friendly.  I am so glad I started using them.

Had breakfast as the best place in town, Westside Lilo’s Cafe, on Route 66.  It was an adorable place with great food.  The portions were huge, I could not even eat all my breakfast.  Everyone had a smile and it was the perfect way to start the day.

Great food and Great service!

Great food and Great service!

Too much fun on Rt. 66!

Too much fun on Rt. 66!

The big plan for the day was to visit Sedona, which was in my original plan to do.  After some thought, much of this trip actually follows with my original trip, I just will not be going south or east (except to Cleveland at this time).  Anyway, after looking at the map and not knowing much about geography (failed it in high school), I did not realize there were mountains between Flagstaff and Sedona.

On the way to Sedona!

On the way to Sedona!

Got off Rt. 40 to drive approximately 28 miles to Sedona.  The road was absolutely mind-blowing for two reasons:  (1) The scenery was breathtaking and (2) The road was insane.  The road was a 7% grade with multiple hairpin turns, sheer drops and low visibility.  Even though the drive was early this morning, my stomach is still too upset to even eat.  No more mountains for me, they are just too stressful.  Beautiful but stressful.

The red rocks and dirt are stunning to see!

The red rocks and dirt are stunning to see!

So many rock formations!

So many rock formations!

Rolled into Sedona only to find hundreds (or what seemed like hundreds) of shops (of which I wanted nothing or could even afford if I wanted), restaurants and galleries. A quaint little town with too many tourists, and too much consumerism.  I know that if I was an outdoor-type person, this would be a great place to hike and do other outdoor stuff.  But I am not all that great with the outdoors.  The outdoors and I do not get along in the least especially if there are threats of scorpions and/or snakes.  I just have to say NO!

So, what I was I thinking Sedona would be like?  I guess I pictured artists sitting around the beautiful scenery doing their thing, music playing off in the background, muse heavy in the air and available to anyone who needed inspiration.  Obviously, I was wrong yet again.  I am sure you could find those things there but I was not really patient enough to look around.  So onto Route 17 to go back to 40.  I have wanted to see Sedona for quite some time, and I am so glad I stopped.  I am sure there are lots of other opinions about the town, and I am not saying my opinion is right, it is just mine.

The drive to New Mexico was stunning though.  The vegetation was much more lush and the land flatter (Thank you God!).  I have only been in New Mexico a short time, but I am really enjoying it and the people I have met so far.

It was a pretty uneventful day (thank you again God!) but it was a good day.  I am happy to have been around to see it 🙂

Pictures with TEXT for Lemon Cove to Seligman on ROUTE 66….Hope you like!
Route 66..cannot believe I am here!

Route 66..cannot believe I am here!

Day 10 – Lemon Cove, California to Seligman, Arizona (on Historic Route 66)

Well, we made it out of California.  My driving style, if you can call it that, does NOT work in California.  I drive much too slow and much to cautiously.  That ended up causing several problems with the locals.  So, needless to say, I am thrilled to be in a more rural locale.

All day, we have been bopping on and off Route 66.  We wanted to make some time, so it only made sense to stop off once in a while and see it.  All the reading I did on Route 66 said that there were places along the way in disrepair.  I am sorry to report that those reports are true.  I know there are historic groups working to revitalize the route and I hope they are able to.  It is such a chunk of real Americana.

Yesterday and today, our lives have been touched by several people and I thought today’s post might be a nice shout out.   This list is not all encompassing, but I hope it helps you all realize just what an important part of this trip you all have been.  I would have chickened out if it were not for you.  So thank you.

And the Thank you’s go to:

  • Everyone who helped with a financial donation.  As you know this trip was planned before Mike’s employment situation changed.  We were forced with the tough decision to wait and take the trip at another time (which probably would never have happened) or tough it out with what we had saved and ask for help.  We received the kindest donations, gifts I will NEVER forget.  Thank you for without you, I would have only made it to Chicago and probably not back (kidding,sort of).
  • Everyone who helped with donations of food, camp gear and, most of all advice.  I have been able to save a boatload of money eating the items that were donated and the items I got at Aldi’s.  Shout out to Aldi’s and their Gluten Free items!!  Thank you for your assistance as I was definitely not ready to do any serious camping.
  • Thank you Bryan Farr for sharing your excitement for Historic Route 20.  The enthusiasm was contagious and I caught it!
  • Darlene and the whole crew at AAA Solon who created the Trip Tik I am using and providing information on the area’s I am visiting.
  • Thank you to KOA for making my camping experience tolerable.  As I stated in an earlier post, starting at age 53 with no prior camping experience (okay there was that one time, but talk about a disaster, let’s just forget it ever happened) has proven to be a challenge.  I love the friendly people, the clean facilities, the laundromats and more.  I am a KOA convert!
  • Thank you Brittiny Morrison (fellow Ohioan) and Barb Jensen Elmlinger for all your help trying to connect me with the right people in Buffalo, Wyoming.  I will be back!!  And to Craig Johnson who introduced me (not personally) to Buffalo.
  • The great folks at Lemon Cove for giving the great tour!  Thank you for everything!
  • Everyone who is reading these posts.  I know sometimes I am so serious and not quite humorous enough, but I am working on that.  I want to write things that come from the heart and apparently my heart is rather serious (who knew).
  • This is a Supernatural shout out.  I have a Supernatural bumper sticker on my car (it says “Driver picks the music. Shotgun shuts his cakehole.”).  In all the time I have had that sticker I have only met one other SN fan as we are few and far between.  On the way to Newport, Oregon a car sped by us and when I looked over they were showing a picture in the window which I could not quite make out. As they pulled in front of me I saw the picture was of them with Jensen Ackles and Jared Padelecki of Supernatural.  You guys made my day.  We honked and waved and they drove off.  One of life’s little pleasures!
  • Last but not least, thank you Devi.  Devi is a comfortable car to drive and sleep in.  She carries my stuff and lets me always have a place to eat.  She is my traveling buddy and I appreciate all her extremely hard work!!  Love you Girl!

There are so many people to thank, I just wanted to list a few off the top of my head.  I will be listing more because this trip has actually become more about me and about the connections I am making with wonderful people.  Okay, it is still about me but I am seeing the value in opening up, losing the shy routine and finding out other people’s stories.  Everyone has a story, they just need someone to listen to it.

I merged two posts so the text would sort of align with the story of that part of my journey.  I am amazed at how many pictures i took, and at how the natural beauty along this whole trips fills my brain up with things i NEED to write about.   Hopefully it is an interesting diversion for you readers?

Thank you again for your support and for listening.

The sky out west is truly amazing!!

The sky out west is truly amazing!!

More sky, it's like it is everywhere...oh wait, it is :-)

More sky, it’s like it is everywhere…oh wait, it is 🙂

A picture of the tent I sleep in.

A picture of the tent I sleep in.

The last of the foothills and mountains...looking forward to flat lands again.

The last of the foothills and mountains…looking forward to flat lands again.

The west has an amazing beauty.

The west has an amazing beauty.

Cannot seem to get away from Walmart (a joke for all my Bonitas friends).

Cannot seem to get away from Walmart (a joke for all my Bonitas friends).

Stunning views!!

Stunning views!!

Day 10 – Lemon Cove, California to Seligman, Arizona (on Historic Route 66)

Well, we made it out of California.  My driving style, if you can call it that, does NOT work in California.  I drive much too slow and much to cautiously.  That ended up causing several problems with the locals.  So, needless to say, I am thrilled to be in a more rural locale.

All day, we have been bopping on and off Route 66.  We wanted to make some time, so it only made sense to stop off once in a while and see it.  All the reading I did on Route 66 said that there were places along the way in disrepair.  I am sorry to report that those reports are true.  I know there are historic groups working to revitalize the route and I hope they are able to.  It is such a chunk of real Americana.

Yesterday and today, our lives have been touched by several people and I thought today’s post might be a nice shout out.   This list is not all encompassing, but I hope it helps you all realize just what an important part of this trip you all have been.  I would have chickened out if it were not for you.  So thank you.

And the Thank you’s go to:

  • Everyone who helped with a financial donation.  As you know this trip was planned before Mike’s employment situation changed.  We were forced with the tough decision to wait and take the trip at another time (which probably would never have happened) or tough it out with what we had saved and ask for help.  We received the kindest donations, gifts I will NEVER forget.  Thank you for without you, I would have only made it to Chicago and probably not back (kidding,sort of).
  • Everyone who helped with donations of food, camp gear and, most of all advice.  I have been able to save a boatload of money eating the items that were donated and the items I got at Aldi’s.  Shout out to Aldi’s and their Gluten Free items!!  Thank you for your assistance as I was definitely not ready to do any serious camping.
  • Thank you Bryan Farr for sharing your excitement for Historic Route 20.  The enthusiasm was contagious and I caught it!
  • Darlene and the whole crew at AAA Solon who created the Trip Tik I am using and providing information on the area’s I am visiting.
  • Thank you to KOA for making my camping experience tolerable.  As I stated in an earlier post, starting at age 53 with no prior camping experience (okay there was that one time, but talk about a disaster, let’s just forget it ever happened) has proven to be a challenge.  I love the friendly people, the clean facilities, the laundromats and more.  I am a KOA convert!
  • Thank you Brittiny Morrison (fellow Ohioan) and Barb Jensen Elmlinger for all your help trying to connect me with the right people in Buffalo, Wyoming.  I will be back!!  And to Craig Johnson who introduced me (not personally) to Buffalo.
  • The great folks at Lemon Cove for giving the great tour!  Thank you for everything!
  • Everyone who is reading these posts.  I know sometimes I am so serious and not quite humorous enough, but I am working on that.  I want to write things that come from the heart and apparently my heart is rather serious (who knew).
  • This is a Supernatural shout out.  I have a Supernatural bumper sticker on my car (it says “Driver picks the music. Shotgun shuts his cakehole.”).  In all the time I have had that sticker I have only met one other SN fan as we are few and far between.  On the way to Newport, Oregon a car sped by us and when I looked over they were showing a picture in the window which I could not quite make out. As they pulled in front of me I saw the picture was of them with Jensen Ackles and Jared Padelecki of Supernatural.  You guys made my day.  We honked and waved and they drove off.  One of life’s little pleasures!
  • Last but not least, thank you Devi.  Devi is a comfortable car to drive and sleep in.  She carries my stuff and lets me always have a place to eat.  She is my traveling buddy and I appreciate all her extremely hard work!!  Love you Girl!

There are so many people to thank, I just wanted to list a few off the top of my head.  I will be listing more because this trip has actually become more about me and about the connections I am making with wonderful people.  Okay, it is still about me but I am seeing the value in opening up, losing the shy routine and finding out other people’s stories.  Everyone has a story, they just need someone to listen to it.

Great pictures coming.  This is proving challenging for me, but I will post some cool pics very soon.  Thank you again for your support and for listening.

Day 9 – Mount Shasta, California to Lemon Cove, California

The adventure is continuing.  More mountain driving, and some very busy California road driving.  I realize that maybe California is not for me.  It is a lovely state with lovely people, but they drive way too fast and way too wild for this country girl.

So with all the drive time today, I thought of a Top Ten List of things I have learned so far.  Maybe this list will help others who are interested in doing a trip such as this:

10.  Never leave gummy vitamins in the glove box of your car in 90 to 100 degree weather.  My vitamins all melted into one big glob that I cannot even spoon out unless I reheat them.  Lesson Learned.

9.  O’Reilly’s, Walmart and any Dollar Store are your friends.  Yesterday, the check engine light went on in Devi.  Had Mike not been with me, it might have been the straw that broke my back.  He was able to diagnose the problem and saved the day.  But you never know when you are going to need an auto part, a first aid item or any number of things that you might have forgotten.  Forget the politics of the stores, they can be lifesavers in an emergency.

8.  Car camping in a Walmart parking lot is not quite the delight you might think it is.  I could barely sleep for all the random people just walking in the parking lot after midnight (mind you the store we slept at was not 24 hours, so they were closed).  There were skateboarders up until about 2 am and a car circled us for a while around 3 am.  They kept lighting something…a bowl maybe.  But it was downright scary and I do not think I am going to do that again.

7.  KOA (Kampgrounds of America) are a great resource for either tent camping or for sleeping in one of the adorable cabins.  We have been doing the cabins lately because I am just too old to sleep on the ground.  The price is better than a hotel; you have to walk to a bathroom and shower and it is not as luxurious as a hotel but for the cost difference it can mean an extra nice meal once in a while.

6.  Laundromats are a haven.  I never knew clean clothes were such a pleasure until you go a few days.  The task I felt was drudgery at home is now a gift.  Plus the time alone doing laundry is true “Me” time.

5.  Trust your gut.  Everyone says it, but it is so true.  Your instincts know when something is not right.  If you feel it, get the heck out.  If you feel really good, stay.  Today on the road I had a bad feeling and I did not stop until I was out of the place that made me uneasy.  Nothing probably would have happened, but it is not worth the risk.

4.  Simple food is the very best!!  I always wanted to try an In ‘N Out Burger (saw them on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives).  When I pulled up to the drive through, there are four main menu items; nothing fancy.  It was a great burger (gluten and all).  I appreciated the simplicity and the fact that every order is cooked to order.  Simple is the BEST!!

3.  Generally, people are animal lovers.  Today on a crowded California highway, a cat ran across the road and almost all traffic stopped including an 18-wheeler. Glad to report that the cat is okay and there were no car accidents either.

2.  When figuring travel budget, figure out all your costs and times them by three.  It is amazing how much everything costs.  I was truly unprepared (and I ain’t living large).  Money shortages can ruin a trip.

  1.  Mountain driving is not for the weak of heart.  There are sheer drops, insane grades up and down the mountain roads and your car may not like it either.  I found out, on this trip, that some states have mandated the use of ethanol in their gas which lowers the gases octane.  This can be very detrimental to a car’s engine.  I was lucky with Devi, but there was a 10% grade (doesn’t sound like much right — wrong!!) that almost blew her engine in the middle of absolutely nowhere.  Find out what your car can do before attempting mountain driving.

I hope this lists helps you as you think of your own Epic Journey.  These are things I will definitely consider on my next one.  It is rough out there, be prepared!!!

Day 8- Reality Check-Please Accept My Apologies

Welcome to Day 8 of my Epic Journey.  Yesterday, I met my goal of seeing the Pacific Ocean.  It was even better than I had anticipated.  I cannot believe that I am sitting in Newport,Oregon watching the waves crash, listening to nature’s music and I feel the healing force from the ocean. I am so thankful for this journey.

Unfortunately, I think this particular chapter has to close.  This trip taught me so many things that I did not know.  I realize now that you can make lists, read books and plan but when the reality hits it is usually way different than what you expected.

I started this trip to learn what I did not know.  Some of the things I came looking for I did not find and I will continue looking in the next chapter of this trip.  Other things I never expected to know have become like friends to me.  The learning process is different for everyone, this much I know, and my experience with learning has always been somewhat slower than most.

I realize now that I started this journey to run away from the things in life that I no longer wanted to deal with.  Today, my reality check is that I have to return and take care of those things, face them head on, and then free myself from the burdens.  If I just run away, I am not dealing with anything and, therefore, I can never find true peace.

I also realize that the next chapter has to be planned out better.  The reality of the costs of living on the road are so much more than I expected.  I figured gas, food and lodging on a scale that might be reminiscent of the 1970s.  Today’s costs are so much more and money just flies out the window.  Without the support of friends and people I have yet to meet, I could not have made it to here. I will be eternally grateful for the support.  I could go on and run out of money along the way with no way to get home or to live or I can take what is left, add to it and be smarter next time.

My ability to car camp did not meet my expectations in the slightest.  At 53 years old with no real camping experience, I expected to live in my car for up to eight weeks.  My body physically cannot handle it.  I now know pains that have never reared their head before.  This trip needs more physical training, like a marathon.  My flabby, undisciplined body was not ready for this reality. I need to make a more realistic plan for sleeping and finding a sleep position that works in a car.

The night before last I slept in a Walmart parking lot (my first attempt at that) in Spokane, Washington.  I had it all figured out how it would be and when I got there the reality was much different.  Suffice it to say, I got very little sleep which made the next day’s travels very difficult.  Every decision while living on the road impacts all the next decisions you make.  If you do not get enough sleep, driving is downright hazardous down the line.  I have to have a better way to sleep than I planned for on this trip.

The idea of driving seemed to me to be a relaxing activity.  I was extremely incorrect yet again.  The stress and grueling reality hit when on Day 1 I got lost in Chicago,almost wrecked six times and practically ran out of gas in the middle of an extremely busy highway.  That was the kind of stress that takes its toll on one’s health.  I have since gotten lost several other times, one more in Yellowstone.  I never considered that could even happen.  I have GPS, road atlases and Trip Tiks (from AAA).  Yet, the reality is that signing is not always apparent and sometimes split decisions have to be made.  Turns out that split-decision making is not my strongsuit.

Another plan I had was to find a new place to live and start a new life, possibly on a Farmstay.  That plan is still in place but it will have to wait until the next chapter.  The reality of just starting a new life and doing something that I have never done before was thought too romantically in my mind.  Maybe if I was 20 years old, but not today.  I still want a simpler, more organic life but I have an old, pre-existing life that needs dealt with first.  I have some options for more local volunteer and farmstay experiences.  Baby steps seem to be the correct path at this point.

So it is with much sorrow that I head home today with my tail between my legs.  I realize that this trip was not so much a failure as it was a learning curve.  I have not left home in years, even for a weekend, and I expected to live on the road for up to eight weeks.  I thought I was more of a realist than that.  I really wanted this to work, I had a lot of people who were behind me and I did not want to disappoint them (and I hope that I did not).  But I think the funding, time and resources would be better served if I could use the knowledge from this trip and apply it to the next trip.

Time to come clean with another thing, early on the panic attacks were pretty strong.  Mike joined me, with the intent of making sure I was safe and that I did not Thelma and Louise it off a cliff.  The concept that I was supposed to be so brave doing this trip went right out the window when I had to have help. I tried to be that heroic person, but I was ill-prepared this time out.  I am sorry to all of you who are dissappointed.

I dismissed the glances from friends and family that said I was crazy, they were right I was crazy to think that something this gigantic would work the first time out of the gate.  Just because I dreamed of this trip since I was 15, does not mean I was ready.  The situation I am in now shows how un-ready I truly was.

Where do I go from here other than back to Ohio?  I take what I learned and keep blogging (hopefully, you all will still be interested), I re-invent a new plan which will end up with real results not just pipe dreams and I continue to journey on my Epic Journey in different ways than I had ever imagined.

There are so many things I have learned that I still want to write to you about.  I hope you are not too disappointed with me and I hope and pray that you will join me for Chapter 2 of my Epic Journey.  I honestly could never have gotten this far without you.  I appreciate and love you all!!