Getting over it.

It seems I was a bit optimistic about the availability of wireless networks on the road. California had free fast wireless at the rest stops, of all places, but I was in travel mode and stopped just long enough to try it out. It works fine.

At the moment, I’m staying at a campground that promised free wireless, but the connection is so bad it keeps dropping off even though I’m sitting under the antenna!
The front office was having problems too, so I guess I’ll just hang loose till I find a good connection further on down the road.

So far my journey has been full of ups and downs, emotional and physical.

A quick stopover in Sacramento with sister Nancy and bro-in-law Tom allowed me to fill up on Japanese food, which I sorely miss in Bandon.
My clothes hanger broke while there and Tom sprang into action, making me some new metal hangers to replace the plastic. I was impressed with how easy and fast it was to fabricate something in a good workspace. Looking over his workshop gave some me some good ideas for my future space.

I felt kind of guilty about just breezing through town, but if I visited everyone I wanted to see, I’d be there for a week. I think I’ll go down there and do that; maybe in the fall.

Heading down Highway 99, I was quite shocked at the price of gas. Some spots were up to $4.00 a gallon! I know our European cousins laugh at that but it’s a big shock to us Yanks.
I started having doubts about how long I could stay out on the road with gas prices going up so fast.

I spent the first night camping for free in a rest stop at Mojave, California. While there I worked out a few changes in van-housekeeping. You know, this needs to be here and that needs to be there.
I suspect that these changes will be constant, knowing how persnickety I am about having everything in the perfect spot, so motion is effortless and never wasted. Hah! How did I become cursed with that trait? My poor wife would like to know.
The Kosmic Joke Center at work again, no doubt.

My back started really hurting during the dash out of California. By the second night, at a campground in Holcomb, Arizona I was shuffling around like a really, really old guy. I was at wit’s end; too far to go back and a long journey ahead. With the double-whammy of pain and gas prices, I was really beginning to doubt if I could accomplish this trip.
I called Susan and whined about it then took a long hot shower and went to bed at 7 pm. I dreamed incessantly all night and woke up 12 hours later in much better shape, mentally and physically.

I think I may have been working out some separation issues or something. I find I miss my wife and dog more than I thought I would. Plus it’s not easy to get on a schedule while on the road.
I also realized I was too focused and anxious about getting to my destination. I was doing the opposite of what I had intended to be doing.

I was missing the pie!

So anyhow, I realized I have to stop fighting myself and come to some sort of resolution between my character traits and my desires. So I made an agreement with myself to just get to Kansas and deliver the bike, saving the roaming for afterwards. I’ll have my own bike at that point and will be able to stop worrying about it.
To alleviate my suffering, I’ll just stay on the main highway, do less miles per day (as Susan suggested) and stop a lot to see the sights, such as they are.
I now have plenty of time and feel relaxed.

I already feel better about everything and my back does too. What a relief!

…more follows…