Getting ready for the trip
This week has been productive in getting ready for my trip. I took my camper to the mechanic and he said the only thing it needed was new windshield wiper blades. I then took it to the tire store and was told the tires are still in great shape, they are only a year old and have about 5,000 miles on them. I have used nitrogen in my tires for several years and I have found that the tires only lose about 2 pounds of pressure a month which is pretty good. I’ve learned to keep about 3 or 4 pounds less pressure in my front tires than is in the rear tires, this makes it easier to steer and control the van. I know when I am driving in the rain to really slow down or when it’s raining really hard to try stop somewhere until it passes.
Wednesday afternoon I had the camper washed and waxed. It looks really great!!! I love when the tires have the liquid on them that make them shine.
After work today I packed my clothes into the camper. When I get finished packing the the camper for this trip I will have used every nook and cranny of space. I’m sure I will rearrange things as I travel and find what I need to have handy. Right now I am trying to get everything I want to bring with me into a space or plastic container so it’s not loose and going to move when I travel. I figure that somewhere along the way a cabinet door will open and there will be a landslide. I have used lots of the rubber non-skid shelving liner to help prevent things from sliding. I’m learning new uses for bunje cords. I had to secure the oars for my inflatable kayak. I found I can stand them up along the wall next to the fridge and then use some of the non-skid liner with a bunje cord and secure them to the handle of the cabinet near it. Only thing, if I need to get into that cabinet I will have to move the oars. That should be my biggest challenge!!!
I was concerned about the weight of items I am bringing but my mechanic said that since it’s a 1 ton vehicle it will be fine and that I am safe with what I am bringing. My plan for this weekend is to have everything except for food packed in the camper.
Mixed emotions are starting to set in. I really love my job and the people I’ve worked with for 10 years. I’ve been working since 2 weeks after I graduated high school in 1968 and now for the first time as of this Wednesday, June 15th, I will no longer be working and will not have to live my life by the clock and calendar. I’ll also not be having a paycheck and steady income, I will be living on my savings. During the past several years when I have taken time off for a vacation it’s been nice to have those short breaks when the only date I needed to know is when I had to be back in time to go to work the next day. Now, I will have a new set of experiences. It’s exciting in some ways and this new beginning will have me learning many new things and meeting lots of new people. I have wanted to do this for about 40 years and now, here it is… It’s a couple of years earlier than I planned, but I know it’s the right time for me to do this.
Live Your Dreams
About 3 years ago when I was in Tybee Island, Georgia I went into a store that airbrushed clothes, etc. and I had them make this license plate for me. I’ve wanted to Live My Dreams and now that is becoming a reality. It’s hard to believe!!! I want to remind other people to live their dreams too.
During the past 40 years, I’ve frequently thought about taking this kind of trip and wondered where I would travel to. It took many years of saving, planning, weighing the pros and cons, praying for guidance and direction, many health issues to overcome, and sacrifices of various kinds. I am very honored, grateful, and humbled to finally reach this milestone. After all these years, and trials and tribulations, it’s hard to believe that this is really happening!!!
The route I’m taking on this trip just sort of evolved. I knew I want to be in Washington state in mid-July and August, I want to hike Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in Utah, and I have always wanted to go to the hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque, NM. I also want to spend November in Texas with my friends and then be back in south Florida in early December. So, I went to AAA and had one of their agents named Brian help me map out a route that would be interesting and scenic. Brian not only included the places I wanted to visit, but he also included Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, and Crater Lake in OR as some of the places I get to stop and see along the way.
I have the opportunity to do things and see places that I have wanted to do and see for so many years. As I am telling people my plans and where I am going they are making suggestions for things I need to see or visit and so my map of the USA has little post it notes on it to remind me where to stop along the way, and I’m sure it will have more as my journey continues. I have lots of people telling me they have always wanted to do this and never have. I guess I will be traveling and having this time not only for me, but for others too. As I share my journey, the stories, experiences, and photos all of you will be with me in thought and spirit cheering me on. I’ve been in contact with others who have been on this journey and they are not only being my cheerleaders, but are sharing useful tips and suggestions which are really appreciated.
I’m looking forward to seeing what adventures, experiences, and people God puts in my path.
