Last day

Colorado and Utah were spectacular. From snow dusted, frozen rivers and precarious peaks, to vast, snow covered landscapes, I can't imagine a better part of the US to take the last stretch of my trip on. Driving through the Rockies this morning was like being on an accelerated winter driving course. When I began the ascent, the temperature was hovering around 38 degrees, and within a half an hour, it had dropped to -3. Ice covered the winding, undulating, mountain traverses. The Blizzack tires I had installed in Kansas City were impeccable. The amount of grip they demanded in snowy Kansas (allowing me to drive a treacherous fifty miles past big rig accidents, stalled cars, and ditches that seemed to be teeming with fresh four-wheeled iron), worked just as well over the icy roads in Colorado. If I had somehow made it through Kansas with my old tires, I simply would have found myself huddled in my mummy bag, in the back of my car, waiting for a brave tow truck driver to rescue me out of the Rockies.

The strange scenes I passed today are too many to list (or perhaps I am too tired to try), but one really stands out. Around the time the temperature bottomed out, I came upon a small factory, nestled in a tiny town. Out of it's four smokestacks came steam. The steam welled up to create a tiny cloud, that sat completely motionless above the building, leading me to believe that this was probably a cloud factory (picture below).

I will not write about my day tomorrow, as it is a route that I have taken many times, and as anyone who has driven up I-5 from LA can attest, it is the sheer lack of anything remotely interesting that makes the drive so mind-numbing. The amount of caffeine I have to drink to stay awake usually leaves me in a jittery stupor anyways, and I am certain my resulting ramblings would have ended up making sense to me, and me only.

So I leave with this….

I think every good adventure leaves you with more questions than answers. For me, I found that the pursuit of the questions, rather than the answers, is in fact the pursuit of happiness. Renewed hope and faith comes from the acceptance and the understanding that the world is so much bigger than you, and despite the handful of painful (and occasionally crushing) unforeseen events of the last couple of years, I no longer feel hopeless, but instead, for the first time I feel truly blessed. I am thankful for my wonderful family, especially Katy (who supported my 'man mission'), and Tinker and Pat, who made me feel right at home in Virginia. I am also thankful for my friends, and indebted to the ones that either took me in, or showed me around their local haunts (including the ones that offered, but I couldn't meet up with). Lastly, I am thankful for the strangers that showed me that good and kindness see no borders.

I'm here in Denver!

And I'm too tired to type!

Hmmmm....

There is snow everywhere, combined with strong winds. I have only traveled five miles. My dear wife guided me to a tire store that opens in half an hour. I have no choice but to put on snow tires. Bar none, this is the worst weather I have ever driven in, not due to the amount of snow, but rather the terrible condition of the roads. I know it is not just me. In those five miles, I passed at least a dozen cars and trucks that were either stuck on the shoulder, or hopelessly drifting between lanes trying to get traction. I had severe issues getting traction as well, but the AWD helped me enough to get to the tire store. Needless to say, I am looking forward to going home. Here is a picture of my car this morning. It has been beigneted by snow. The parking lot is what the roads look like.

More States...

As I sit here in my humble (read dilapidated) hotel room, nodding off to the lullaby of a colicky baby next door, and preparing to drive on frozen roads with 30-45 mph winds tomorrow, I reflect fondly on the wonder of the my trip through the south and up the east coast. I am reflecting on that specifically because my drive, even though I went through four states, felt like I ended up in Ohio again. The northern states are vast, and carry with them very similar terrain. I can't imagine what the settlers must have felt. Kindness extends across all of them, from gas station attendants to strangers at small roadside stores. There is no doubt that there they face similar if not, more acute, hardships as the west coast does, but I will say that from the people I have met, they have their priorities straight, and carry an air of content that I do not see at home.

I am off to Cheyenne tomorrow, instead of Denver, to avoid the higher mountain passes. I really want to see a moose. I don't mean a roadkill one like all the other animals I have seen. I mean a real, majestic, smelly, felty-eared moose. I will, however, settle for a bear.

Ohio

Well, no pictures today. I was chased by rain from 6:00 this morning in Hudson, all the way until I arrived in Ohio at 5:30 this afternoon. Because of this, I focused more on the road than the things that exist beyond it's borders, missing countless wonders that are only interesting to a visitor. Today was about getting miles put behind me more than sight seeing. When I got to the hotel this afternoon, I asked the clerk how much a room was, and it was then that I noticed that those were the first words I had spoken all day (although I may have whispered to a cat I woke up on the way out of Chris' this morning). As I sit, I can barely think, and am wholly content zoning out in front of a television.

On a side note, I have slept better on this trip than I had at home for as long as I can remember. I don't miss the restless nights when I was working. It seemed that every night I would wake up with my heart racing, worried that I had missed something earlier in the day.

So here are all the states I have visited so far. Assuming the weather holds out, I should be well on my way to 30. Tomorrow I am driving through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and end up in Kansas. Like Pavlov's dog, I am salivating for caffeine just thinking about it.

1) California
2) Arizona
3) New Mexico
4) Texas
5) Oklahoma
6) Arkansas
7) Louisiana
8) Mississippi
9) Alabama
10) Florida
11) Georgia
12) South Carolina
13) North Carolina
14) Virginia
15) Maryland
16) Delaware
17) Pennsylvania
18) New York
19) Connecticut
20) Massachusetts
21) Vermont
22) Ohio

Heading West

Decided to start the day by driving North to Vermont to pick up maple syrup for Katy. The morning started off in an optimistic manner; a full tank, 32 oz of Redbull, and two packages of PB&J Keebler cracker sandwiches. I know that New England gets cold, but despite the just-above-freezing temperatures in New Haven, I opted to drive North. Slushy roads greeted me in Massachusetts, and before long I found myself standing in line at 'Price Chop' supermarket in southern Vermont, armed with all varieties of local maple syrups, doing my best impression of a tourist. A painful ten minutes later, I was off to impress the locals with my California rendition of winter driving. Two hours across snowy, icy interstate 9 served me a healthy dose of well earned humility. I somehow made my way to Hudson, and was greeted by Chris and his three goats. I didn't know that goats liked cars until I saw Chris spend ten agonizing minutes trying to get his bags out of the car, while three goats grappled with each other for 'shotgun' in his passenger seat. I too was greeted by goat hoofs in my hatchback while fetching my things. I miss goats, and forgot how extremely entertaining and intelligent they are, and was more than pleased to make their acquaintance.

The farm is more idyllic than I can describe, and carries with it a sense of primal innocence. On the property is a homemade teepee that is not only fully functional, but warm and inviting. Sending the goats to bed on their alfalfa mansion in the barn, we left for dinner.

Chris took me to a restaurant that I cannot remember the name of, so let us refer to at as 'Awesome O'tastyhans', being as it was not only a perfect blend of country meets city, but also a wonderful combination of 1950's diner, and east coast chic. It was warm, inviting, and had a menu of perfectly executed American staples.

Back on the farm, I enjoyed great conversation, a lap full of cats, and a sizzling Franklin stove. Chris has made something great for himself here, and is an inspiration for taking a different path, and following your heart. A great day indeed!

Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Nubbins of New York, and Connecticut

Rocky outcrops emerged between the trees in Pennsylvania, reminding me that I am getting closer to New England. The pines, which I had started to consider a driving companion gave way to unknown bare trees, whose branches resembled whisks that seemed to stir the dense fog above. Southern New York was like driving through Sleepy Hallow, and felt saturated with the makings of lore and legend.

New Haven, as picturesque as it is, is a reminder that nice towns charge hefty prices for rooms. Due to that, I find myself in a hotel in West Haven, overlooking the interstate and sharing a parking lot with a Walmart. No doubt a strong contrast to the stay with family and friends the last two nights.

Nevertheless, I am joyfully keeping myself entertained by making arts and crafts out of the hotel supplies, and the change from my pockets.