Nothing between us and the open road now but millions of details! Line up house sitter. Check. Place Fun Institute into capable hands. Check. Arrange for bills to be paid. Check. Contact lawn guy. Check. Set email auto-responders. Check. Connect with Bookshop Santa Cruz about my August book signing. Check.
And so it goes, the never-ending list! But we’re getting there. Dixie is just putting the finishing touches on screens for the van’s side doors. We could encounter bugs. We also might hit snow, or torrential rains, or electric storms, or gusting winds. Who knows? But, good Girl Scouts that we are, we’re trying to think of everything. When the real improvisation begins we want to be prepared!
Thank God I have Dixie. That’s all I have to say. Last time we took a long road trip—Two weeks. Seems short by comparison—the rearview mirror popped off the windshield when we were removing our windshield visor. I, of course, freaked out. No rearview mirror? How could we go on? Dixie, however, was not flummoxed in the least. “Not a problem,” she said, and proceeded to pull a tube of epoxy from one of her many hidey-holes in the van. The girl is a wonder. I don’t have to give it a second thought when people ask that silly question, “If you had to be stuck on a desert island with someone, who would you choose?” (As if we have a choice about these things) But Dixie, of course! Not only is she my favorite person in the world, she’s also a very practical choice. Within a week she’d have built us a little hut, foraged us a year’s supply of coconuts, and crafted arrowheads from some indigenous rock so we could spear fish.
People’s reactions to our four-month road trip across the Untied States in our ’91 Chevy Conversion Van range from, “You must be so excited!” to “Aren’t you terrified?” I respond affirmatively to both. I am both excited and terrified. I’ve never given myself this much unstructured time. I’m also a little worried about those places where we’re going to have to pretend to be “best friends.” Wink. Wink. (Fortunately, at our age, people really don’t give us that much thought. Booyah!) But I’m determined to keep fear from taking the wheel. There are so many places and people we want to see. And we live is such a gorgeous country—with so many national parks.Yes, yes, I know, they’re being threatened. So what better time to see them? Plus, on Dixie’s sixty-second birthday we’ll be able to purchase a lifetime National Parks Pass for only eighty bucks! Such a deal. But what’s it going to be like? All that time away from home? Away from my routines? Away from my refrigerator?
People who’ve made the trip themselves are by far the most encouraging, saying things like, “You’re going to have a blast!”, “Jealous!”, and “You’re gonna wish you took more time!” Plus, they give great tips like: “Make sure you stick around to see the bats at Carlsbad Caverns!” and “Love’s Truck Stops are the best.” And everyone says, “Are you going to blog?” To which I answer, “Who knows?”
But I’d like to try. And if you’re interested in keeping up with our journey, you can subscribe to my blog and then you’ll know if I did.
Over and out… For now.
Book signing August 16, Bookshop Santa Cruz, 7pm
I hope you do blog and put up pics. Do you have a route planned to start off? I’m wishing you great adventure and fun.
I just bet I will. You know how it is with us writers… You can’t shut us up!
I hope we see you guys on this trip.
I hope so too. Will contact when we get close.
I am so excited for you both. Can’t wait to read about all your adventures. I will be following along vicariously!
Yay! xoxox
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡ have the best time you two ..i am subscribing to your blog!
Can’t believe haven’t done that yet!
What an,adventure!
Small towns are so fun!
I went cross country by train when I was in my early 30’s.
Love to you and Dixie!
If you visit Hot Springs National Park, let us know we can get together. We would love to see you both.
Have a blast and enjoy the s p a c i o u s n e s s of unstructured time! xoxoxo
How do I sign up for your blog? Hope you’re having a wonderful adventure !
Just hit the subscribe button.
Yeah, yeah… have a great trip and all, but I’m mostly commenting so I can see what little monster avatar I get assigned! 😉
Ha!
Loved 36 Hours & Counting. Would love to get your on the road blog. Wishing you a blast and safe travels
Thanks!
I’m so excited at the mere thought of reading your blog which is bizarre since I’m a complete stranger. My latest YouTube obsession has been vanlife vids so your adventure just adds to my addiction. Have a great time.
Cool. I know about vanlife, but not much. Glad you’re enjoying the ride.