It was here in Surprise that my heart experienced a sincere longing for home. I wanted to be home. I also knew from experience that the last leg of the journey over several thousand miles would be through country that was barren, hot, and windy. In fact the wind was a huge factor for me all the way home. The news reports were beginning to tell of a little hurricane developing in the Atlantic called “Sandy.” This would also be the last of my significant photos.
Oct. 20th-23rd: Much like a horse sensing the security of the barn will step up its speed unless properly handled by the horseman, I stepped up my pace to reach home. I think Molly sensed the urgency and began “talking” to me. It was not a bark, whine or the dreaded three arfs. It was more, “Let’s get this done.” Albuquerque, New Mexico one night, Amarillo, Texas the next night and finally Tulsa, Oklahoma where gas was the cheapest all summer at $3.32. (Most expensive gas was $5.00 a gallon in Yosemite.)
Oct. 20th-23rd: Much like a horse sensing the security of the barn will step up its speed unless properly handled by the horseman, I stepped up my pace to reach home. I think Molly sensed the urgency and began “talking” to me. It was not a bark, whine or the dreaded three arfs. It was more, “Let’s get this done.” Albuquerque, New Mexico one night, Amarillo, Texas the next night and finally Tulsa, Oklahoma where gas was the cheapest all summer at $3.32. (Most expensive gas was $5.00 a gallon in Yosemite.)
I did not say it was an uneventful charge for
the brass ring. Have you ever been so
nervous that what comes out of your mouth is totally embarrassing? I’m on a turnpike somewhere near Tulsa where
there are no turnoffs or even a wide shoulder to pull off the road when Molly
tries to crawl into my lap with the car moving.
She is harnessed of course but this means “pull over NOW or I will poop
in your car!” This behavior is even more
urgent than three arfs and very, very unusual.
I did, she did, and then the cop's lights are flashing as he pulls up
behind the trailer. “Can I help
you?” “Ah, well, do you have a poop
bag?” “Am I going to get a ticket for my
dog’s indiscretion?” “No, but maybe I
should ticket you for your bad judgment stopping in such a tight place. But I would have done the same thing; dog
poop can really stink up your car!” He
turned away quickly but not before I heard him laughing his ass off.
The scenery was cactus and palm trees and I
needed green trees and hills again. I
listened to several audio books that helped to pass the miles away. I was already reliving my trip in thought and
pondering life’s lessons learned on the road.
This was a great time for reflection.
I could not quite believe what I had accomplished.
“If only I may grow: firmer,
simpler, warmer.” ~ Dag Hammarskjold
Oct. 24rd: I decided to drive a bit out of the way and
stay in Branson, Missouri for an extra night and decompress a bit. Good thing I stopped because I had to take
care of the good, the bad and the inconvenient.
The good: the Ozarks are almost
in full fall foliage with brilliantly colored leaves and tepid
temperatures. The bad: the refrigerator caught fire but all safety
measures deployed; the water hose blew a hole, left my water pressure gauge at
the last camp ground and had to buy another, grease my trailer ball and hitch – eeewe. The inconvenient: decided not to waste time repairing the
refrigerator. I summoned a technical repair
person who assured me the refrigerator was safe until I could get it repaired at home
– warranty of course. Unloaded the food and gave it away to fellow
campers and will use old fashion ice chest to get home. Yes, I tried to put the ice in the
refrigerator but it soon melted and ran out on the floor. So much for ingenuity.
With all that taken care of I spent the next day sightseeing in Branson. The tourists were gone and I pretty much had the place to myself with big sales in the stores. I did a little damage to the pocket book here. That night I got to see the Oakridge Boys in concert. They were fabulous and a great finale for my last hurrah. I left my camera behind by accident and tried to use my cell phone with very poor results including the heads of two unknown folks.
With all that taken care of I spent the next day sightseeing in Branson. The tourists were gone and I pretty much had the place to myself with big sales in the stores. I did a little damage to the pocket book here. That night I got to see the Oakridge Boys in concert. They were fabulous and a great finale for my last hurrah. I left my camera behind by accident and tried to use my cell phone with very poor results including the heads of two unknown folks.
Oct. 25th: Effingham, Illinois, is tonight’s stop. I laid awake most of the night worrying about
the growing threat of hurricane Sandy.
Oct. 26th: Today was going to test my stamina. I decided to make a run for home. It rained all day as Sandy approached. Somewhere along the vast wasteland known as
the interstate, I pulled into a closed rest area (many rest areas start closing
in October) and was going to use my trailer for a pit stop. I took care of business, exited the trailer
and the steps would not retract. Looking
closer, I saw where something must have got tangled under the trailer and bent
the stairs as well as the undercarriage.
My angels once again came to the rescue.
Here I stood in a closed rest area, pouring rain and no way to travel
with the stairs stuck in the down position.
Out of the storm appears a truck driver with probably the same agenda as
I had and saw me just standing there. I
waved him over and he was able to muscle the stairs back into place. Whew! Thank you, Thank you.
Just as I was within a few miles of home I am about out of gas and did not want to stop. I called Steve, who already thinks I'm a bit eccentric, to see if I can make it. The car says I have 58 miles to go before empty and the last mileage sign said I would be home in 42 miles. Steve says, "I think you should stop." and I say okay. Oh no, I am not going to stop, I can do this. Then I started thinking about the trip and how careful I had been and what good luck I had and could not bear the humiliation of running out of gas at the very end of such a beautiful journey. I stopped.
Just as I was within a few miles of home I am about out of gas and did not want to stop. I called Steve, who already thinks I'm a bit eccentric, to see if I can make it. The car says I have 58 miles to go before empty and the last mileage sign said I would be home in 42 miles. Steve says, "I think you should stop." and I say okay. Oh no, I am not going to stop, I can do this. Then I started thinking about the trip and how careful I had been and what good luck I had and could not bear the humiliation of running out of gas at the very end of such a beautiful journey. I stopped.
After 650 miles and 15 hours I pulled up to my townhouse. I walked in the door and was struck by the love emanating from the very walls, how wonderful the house smelled and how beautiful it was. I just stood there soaking in the allure of my charming home. I dropped everything on the floor and then dropped into bed with Molly-----home!
“The seeker embarks on a journey to find what he
wants and discovers, along the way, what he needs.” ~ Walley Lamb
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