#and my uber to get to the car shop is $50 *cries*

[flange5]

lol deja vu

I am, again, trapped by a car breakdown in rural PA.

This time, no cats with me, and only 4 hours from home.

Tomorrow is the last day of classes and I have office hours (Zoom) in a half hour.

[kayluh1915]

103 (?) Questions Answered.

I know this isn’t how this “game” works, but I had him on my mind and I needed a distraction. So, here’s 103 questions about me answered... I think. I’m pretty sure I numbered it wrong somewhere, but I don’t have the mental strength to fix it right now. Enjoy all of this completely useless information! It helped me forget, at least for a while.

1. Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? Spotify.

2. Is your room messy or clean? Clean…ish... most of the time...

3. What color are your eyes? Sea foam blue-green.

4. Do you like your name? why? Yes. IDK, I guess it just sounds pretty.

5. What is your relationship status? Engaged.

6. Describe your personality in 3 words or less. Witty, absent minded, empathetic.

7. What color hair do you have? Dark Brown.

8. What kind of car do you drive? color? I don't have a car yet.

9. Where do you shop? Walmart mostly.

10. How would you describe your style? Girly casual.

11. Favorite social media account? Tumblr.

12. What size bed do you have? Queen.

13. Any siblings? One blood younger bother and one adopted younger sister.

14. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Why? Japan because I love their culture.

15. Favorite Snapchat filter? It’s an old one and I don’t think it’s there anymore, but the butterfly crown.

16. Favorite makeup brand(s)? Maybelline and Covergirl. I don’t like to spend a lot of money on makeup.

17. How many times a week do you shower? Three to four.

18. Favorite TV show? Avatar: The Last Airbender.

19. Shoe size? 7½ US

20. How tall are you? 5’0

21. Sandals or sneakers? Sandals!

22. Do you go to the gym? Occasionally. Been meaning to start going more.

23. Describe your dream date A day in Disney or Hawaii.

24. How much money do you have in your wallet at the moment? Bold of you to assume I have money at all.

25. What color socks are you wearing? I'm barefoot at the moment.

26. How many pillows do you sleep with? Only one. I hate a crowded bed.

27. Do you have a job? What do you do? Currently unemployed at the moment due to certain circumstances.

28. How many friends do you have? I have a lot of friends, but only about six or seven close ones.

29. What’s the worst thing you have ever done? I used a guy’s feelings for me to get free food. I know that sounds bad, but they were aware that I was dating my fiancé and they were supposed to be getting married themselves, but still continued to try and pursue me anyway. Figured I may as well get a Big Mac and some Pepsi out of it.

30. Whats your favorite candle scent? Vanilla!

31. Three favorite boy names? Eric, Mason, and Xander.

32. Three favorite girl names? Brielle, Brooklyn, and Scarlett.

33. Favorite actor? Adam Driver.

34. Favorite actress? Jennifer Lawrence.

35.Who is your celebrity crush? Well, I just found out that he’s secretly been a manipulative monster all this time… so no one right now.

36. Favorite movie? Titanic.

37. Do you read a lot? What’s your favorite book? I hardly ever read “traditional” literature, but among the ones I have read my favorites are Hatchet and Bud not Buddy.

38. Money or brains? Brains.

39. Do you have a nickname? What is it? Usually just Kay. My Papaw used to call me Booch. I don’t know where he got it or why he called me that, but he did. He passed away in 2013, though, so no one calls me that anymore.

40. How many times have you been to the hospital? Admitted? About 5 or 6 times. Visited? More than I can count.

41. Top 10 favorite songs? These change on a regular basis, but for now they are:

43.Do you take any medications daily? I take a total of 4 medications every night before bed

44. What is your skin type (oily, dry, etc)? Combination.

45. What is your biggest fear? This is going to sound childish, but the dark. Well, I guess it’s not actually the dark its self that scares me, it’s knowing that there could be something standing less than five feet in front of you and you’d have no way of knowing. It’s more of what could be hiding in the dark than the actual dark.

46. How many kids do you want? Zero, zip, nadda.

47. Whats your go to hair style? Braid for a day or two then down until I wash my hair again.

48.What type of house do you live in? Small-medium apartment.

49. Who is your role model? I really look up to my old band teacher a lot. He always has something inspiring to say and makes you feel like you can conquer the world.

50. What was the last compliment you received? I was told that I was super kind and sweet.

51. What was the last text you sent? “Well, if I ever play it with you you’ll get to hear me freaking the fuck out. 😂😂😂”- Sent to my buddy James when he told me about Phasmophobia.

52. How old were you when you found out Santa wasn’t real? My mom never told us that Santa was real to begin with. She felt like lying to us was wrong so she just… told us straight up.

53. What is your dream car? Just your typical, modern Chevy or Nissan. I don’t really want anything flashy, just something that can get me from point A to point B in comfort.

54. Opinion on smoking? I've lost three of my four grandparents to smoking induced lung cancer. One of those was my Mamaw who I watched cough up her lungs through a tube when I was only six. Don’t fucking do it.

55. Do you go to college? I did at one point. Hoping to return one day.

56. What is your dream job? Running my own YouTube channel or marching band… or both. Being an Achievement Hunter doesn’t sound like a bad gig either.

57. Would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? Suburbs. People love the rural lifestyle until they hear about these new, hip things like Uber, Grub Hub, on time delivery, and fast internet.

58. Do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? Are you… not supposed to?

59. Do you have freckles? Nope.

60. Do you smile for pictures? Usually, yes.

61. How many pictures do you have on your phone? 570. Had a shit ton more, but I backed them up to my Google account and freed up a bunch of space.

62. Have you ever peed in the woods? I grew up in the middle of redneck county where camping is an extension of one's self… of course I have.

63. Do you still watch cartoons? ...Duh?

64. Do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonald's? Mick D's!

65. Favorite dipping sauce? Ranch or honey mustard.

66. What do you wear to bed? Panties and a large nightshirt.

67. Have you ever won a spelling bee? Hell no. I can spell, but not unless I’m writing it.

68. What are your hobbies? Playing the trumpet, singing, sewing, writing, cooking, and video games.

69. Can you draw? Can pigs fly?

70. Do you play an instrument? Yes! I play trumpet (as mentioned earlier), flute, and piano.

71.What was the last concert you saw? I've never been to a concert unless you consider all the choir and band concerts I've participated in over the years.

72. Tea or coffee? Coffee.

73. Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? Starbucks.

74. Do you want to get married? Currently engaged, so yes.

75. What is your crush’s first and last initial? WI

76. Are you going to change your last name when you get married? Yes.

78. What color looks best on you? Red.

79. Do you miss anyone right now? Oof… too soon… Well, I miss the person I thought he was, not him... does that count?

80. Do you sleep with your door open or closed? Open. If my cats can’t sleep with me, they bring hell.

81. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes… and no. It’s hard to explain.

82. What is your biggest pet peeve? Someone telling me to go do something when I'm already doing it or was on my way to do it.

83. Last person you called? The fiancé.

84. Favorite ice cream flavor? Moose Tracks or Vanilla.

85. Regular Oreo's or golden Oreo's? Regular double stuffed or nothing.

86. Chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? Rainbow.

87. What shirt are you wearing? My old marching band shirt.

89. What is your phone background?

Created by this artist.

90. Are you outgoing or shy? Depends on situation. If I'm comfortable, I'm outgoing. If I’m not, I'm quiet and shy.

91. Do you like it when people play with your hair? Yes, but my hair is curly and it frizzes up when people run their fingers through it so no.

92. Do you like your neighbors? Yeah, they’re okay.

93. Do you wash your face? At night? In the morning? I wash my face every night before bed.

94. Have you ever been high? Nope.

95. Have you ever been drunk? Yes.

96. Last thing you ate? Homemade air-fried popcorn chicken. Made it myself and it was delicious.

97. Favorite lyrics right now? “It’s OK not to be OK.”

98. Summer or winter? Summer!

99. Day or Night? Night!

100. Dark, milk, or white chocolate? Milk!

101. Favorite month? June.

102. What is your zodiac sign? Gemini.

103. Who was the last person you cried in front of? The fiancé.

[marielledownunder]

The last 10 days in Straya

I decided to quit farmwork earlier and took the nightboat from Devonport (TAS) to Melbourne. I’ve planned to stay 5 days in Melbourne, to catch up with everyone I know who’s still there. I arrived quite early in the morning, 6am to be precisely. I tried to stay on the boat and lay down on the couch until one of those workers told me to leave. I walked out, got my backpack and here I am, in Port Melbourne! Port Melbourne was actually my first destination when I arrived in Melbourne last October. Interesting to be back on this exact place.

I booked my hostel at Habitat HQ in St Kilda, because my friend Josh from Tasman Backpackers was staying there as well. Chilled at the hostel until 2 and checked in and I became Josh’s roomie! He wasn’t there when I arrived, cause he worked a lot. We would catch up in the evening. 

In the afternoon I went to the city to browse the lovely city centre again, bought some stuff I needed and deposited my money from my car I sold in Tasmania. It was pretty nostalgic to walk in these streets again, and I also walked around my old apartment, close to Southern cross. One big difference: Melbourne sure became a lot more colder! It even felt as cold as Tasmania! I was so happy to be back in my “second home”, but the weather was one of the things which made me craving for the weather of Queensland. Couldn’t wait either to get back there!

In the evening I met Josh (H) again, and we talked about the past weeks what we did after he left Tasman.

The next day I went to Brunswick to meet Samsara. I worked with her in Bundaberg when I was cutting ginger haha. We went out for lunch and got a huge chicken parma: a typical Australian dish. Later we went out for a coffee and talked a lot about what we’ve been doing for the past 2,5 months and what our plans are for the upcoming months. After that she wanted to get her free dumbells so I walked with her, the weather started to get worse and we walked the whole time in shitty rain haha. She had to go to work and I bought ‘new’ shoes. Replaced my old shoes with the same type so I’ll be ready for the hikes in New Zealand.

Later in the evening I went to Hotel Barkly. It was Tom’s and Joe’s last weekend before they would go back to England, and lots of people from Bundaberg gathered together for drinks and playing pool. I’ve seen Lee, Connor, Lucy, Molly, Emma, Joey, Tom, Joe, Alex, Jack,  Zanna, Alesia, Lauren, Ellie, Eluned, Wesley and some other friends from them. Played loads of pool and later we went spontaneously to a houseparty of one of Alex’s mates. Got into an uber to Brunswick and when we arrived there they told us that the party was over… bummer haha. Then we went to Alex’s place in North Melbourne. He did a few crazy house parties a while ago, but this one was more a chilled hangout. This night out was a pretty expensive one… especially because of the ubers we took. My bankaccount was not happy haha.

The next day I woke up pretty late, got lunch in Lentils as anything and in the evening I went to Elisabeth’s apartment. Finally got reunited with Stejara and Elisabeth. I’ve spent lots of time with them when I lived in Melbourne, they were part of ‘Dutchies in Melbourne’.

Went out in Lion, which is across Asian Beer Cafe and after that we went to Cookie. Got home about 5 and had to checkout at 10, yay. I decided to stay the last 2 nights in CBD, as it would be easier for me to take the train to the Airport.

That afternoon I hanged out with Britt and Rebecca. We went to the rooftop bar on Swanston street and ordered burgers and fries. Chatted a lot about different things, about what we do and what our plans are and other topics. Later a friend of Rebecca joined and we went afterwards to Asian Beer Cafe. I viseted that place so many times but we still go there because it’s cheap! Got cocktail jugs over there and ordered my last beer battered fries. I missed them! Later on Josh and Hendrik from Tasman joined.

The next day was more of an organising day. Booked flights to Bali! Yes, decided to go to Bali after New Zealand.  Booked train tickets to Bundaberg and arranged my bed in Bundaberg in my old working hostel. In the evening I watched up with Liam, (he stayed  during my first week in Bundy in the same hostel named Cellblock) and we went out for a burger at Betty’s. The burger was as everyone said really good! Later we went to the joint bar next to Flinders hostel for a beer and  we played pool for a bit. Then I went home on time to pack my clothes, because my 5 days of Melbourne has come to an end. Next destination is up north to Queensland!

After my 2h flight I landed in Brisbane and wow what a good weather!!! The sun was shining and it was about 24 degrees. What did I miss this weather! 

Walked on my way to my hostel and made a typical clumsy Marielle action again. I don’t really like the traffic lights in Straya, takes ages for pedestrians to cross, so I walked when it was still red. When it’s red, I normally walk faster. I did the same with my backpack, but it didn’t end well. Fell down so hard on the street and I couldn’t stand up cause my backpack was too heavy! Guess lots of friends would love to pay to see this happen haha! 

In the afternoon I went to my favourite sport of Brisbane again: Southbank! I met Nynke again. I lived for 5 days in the “Jersey house” together with Annemiek and Nynke, back in Melbourne in February. I catched up with her and we were just chilling in the city beach and later in the city. Said goodbye in the evening again and chilled at my hostel with karaoke night. 

The next day I took my train to a certain place I was before. A place where I spend my first month of farmwork: Bundaberg! I arrived in the evening where Kayleigh and her friend Emma waited for me. I checked in and got a 2 persons room and shared my room with a lovely Korean girl named Jinny. I was so excited to be back and spending my last weekend with her. We told eachother our stories from the past months. We haven’t seen eachother since NYE so it has been 5 months. We laughed a lot again like the old days.

The next day I made the crazy decision to do some cherry tomato picking again, because I wanted to make myself a bit useful and getting a tan. That day was the worst picking day: Started at 6 and got back at 9:00. Chilled at the hostel and spoke to lots of people from the hostel and played often pool.  

It was weird to be back. Lots of memories came back and even the hostel changed a bit. Upstairs got renovated: walls were painted, my room got a fan, the floor upstairs was shining and even the floor downstairs was even cleaner. Besides, the walls look more colorful by drawings and paintings from the backpackers from the hostel. Also the people are different, more different nationalities, especially the Italians are a majority. 

Friday I reunited with Sunny and Mike again. I encountered Niko from Tasman Backpackers while I was doing some groceries shopping in the Aldi. He told me that Sunny and Mike are also in Bundy. We spoke a bit and the next day I went to the beach with Sunny and Mike. Around sunset time I saw some kangaroos jumping to the seawater!

That evening I heard from Kay (from England) that there would be a karaoke at Base. Ha, that was my first accommodation in Bundy. I definitely had to visit that bar again and rock them with the microphone and my voice. We had so much fun and it was actually more crowded than the regular Friday I’ve experienced. We continued to club hotel again, can’t believe I stayed there so long cause there was almost nobody haha. On my way back to the hostel I visited the Hungry tum again. They were 24/7 open and we always came there for a snack after going out. I took the cheese/gravy fries again! (looks disgusting but the taste is pretty good!)

The next morning I waited for Kayleigh to explore Bundy one more time. She worked like 50 hours so she woke up pretty late. I decided to go to the Bundaberg Destillery by myself as Kayleigh couldn’t make it. I had no car and only 30 minutes left... shit. Walking would take me 50 mins so decided to go there by jogging/running. I just made it in time and did the rum tour including tasting. Got 2 tastings and 1 extra from a couple. Gotta say that I fell in love with the salted caramel liquor, but unfortunately they don’t have small sample to bring back home. 

In the evening we had a birthday dinner with the people from dingo blue. Andrea and Giuseppe from Italy organised it and they offered us to cook risotto. Lots of people joined, like almost everyone from the hostel. The risotto was amazing and it was such a nice vibe as we were eating outside with everyone. After that, Andrea and Giuseppe gave us all sparklers and by countdown we enlightened our sparklers and sang happy birthday to Andrea. It was so lovely and Andrea even cried a little. After the meal we all sat on the sidewalk in front of the hostel, drinking our alcohol, because the hostel banned drinking since I left Bundy. 

Around 10/11 we went to base to continue our night. It felt like the older days: lots of people and lots of jugs. Of course we got the “Closing time” song again when Base would close at 12. Then we all moved to club hotel again, like every Saturday. That cover band was there again. I can imagine if you’re staying there for like 4 months everything gets boring, but for me it wasn’t because I stayed only a month and an mid-week and I loved it!

Together with the karaoke and the birthday party I definitely chose a good weekend to come to Bundy and I definitely didn’t regret it to spend my last weekend here!

The next day I had to wake up early. Went to bed at 5 and woke up at 8.. ouch haha. Luckily I packed everything the night before, so I just needed to take my stuff and make breakfast. Said goodbye to Kayleigh and some others in the hostel and took de train to Brisbane. On my way I had to take the bus cause the train wouldn’t move further from a certain point. Then I took the bus from Brisbane to another station and from that station I took the train again and later the bus to Coolangatta. It was a long trip. Left at 10 and arrived at 6pm, so travelled for like 8 hours. I checked in at the Komune resort hotel where they also have dorms. I was here 9 months ago with Peter, Britt, Imke and Kayleigh and we went to the Sunday party. Guess what, it was Sunday again and they still had that party so I checked it out until I went to bed on time.  

The next morning was my last day in Australia. Went to the pool and jacuzzi in my resort and enjoyed the sun as this will take a while to get a good summer day again. After that I did my last preparations and took the flight from Goldcoast to Auckland. This time I got checked for the first time with my carry on… You’re supposed to take 7kg and I had 10km. Managed to sneak the extra 3 kilos haha, lucky me. Got into my plane and there I go. 11 months and 21 days of Australia has come to an end. Kind sad but also satisfied and ready to go to the next destination: New Zealand!

[bruceroseman-blog]

Go East  Old Man

Get Your Kicks… WAIT, What?

Check engine light, oh NOOOOOOO!!!

Not four hours into my trip across America and my check engine light lights up and I thought I was cooked, goosed, stuck, wrenched, and fried. How was I going to go 2,800 more miles with some unknown engine problem on day one?

Fortunately, I had purchased roadside assistance from AARP – yes, I’m over 50 and yes I’m a card-carrying member (mostly for the free donuts!), but the light never came back on and my Ford purred across the country with no further issues. Whew, what an auspicious start!

Losing the California Dream

It was the ultimate reverse commute, California to Pennsylvania, in Ford no less! How American.

Indeed, can it get more classic than that?

What a way to add another notch to my bucket list.  And, isn’t it a rite of passage for every American to cross the country in a car?

It had been over three years since I added anything to my list so why not do something epic. I had to try it at least once!

For many years I scorned such a trip as I never really idolized cars or road trips and preferred trains, planes and boats.  Perhaps it was the 60,000+ miles of Ubering I logged a year and a half earlier in and around San Francisco Bay Area and my love of shows like American Pickers that changed my mind. In any event, I was ready for a new adventure.

Easier Than I Thought

It wasn’t too easy to leave my home of nearly 30 years and give up the California dream, but it wasn’t too hard either. I was getting priced out of the area anyway, thanks to high tech firms, making my beautiful corner of the world totally unaffordable!

Besides, I was in-between jobs, if you know what I mean.

I felt as if I had overstayed my time and all that was left was the gut-wrenching feeling that I wasn’t growing or going anywhere and the time had long passed to get a move on. Nothing was left for me in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Get Your Kicks on Route 66 (Sort of)

So, with a reliable car, bought originally to ride-share spoiled Millennials around the Bay Area, I again sold everything I owned, in a record 72 hours, except for that car and what I had come back to California with three years earlier, from my stint working on cruise ships just three suitcases. (See Life At Sea)

When you’re not encumbered by family or a job, it’s always a whole lot easier!

All things considered, I'd rather be in Philadelphia

I had bought a plane ticket to Philly earlier this summer that was supposed to be a plain old, long overdue visit to my sister, brother-in-law, nephew and cousins until it morphed into a very welcoming plea to return to my roots. The love and open arms of my extended family awakened the possibility that I could leave the solitude of the West Coast and find more than I ever had in California.

With the help of AirBnB and the only friends I’ll miss in Northern California,  I saved enough to make the trip. And on Saturday, Oct. 14th, 2017(I purposely avoided a departure on Friday the 13th), five weeks after my visit, I jumped into my car, left northern California and drove south to Barstow, CA. to connect with Interstate 40/Route 66 and head east.

Good Morning America!

Most days I started out early, hours before the sunrise, up and out of my motel room before 5:00 AM, every day and in every time zone (Look, mom, no jetlag!)

Driving in the dark, trying to get at least a couple hundred miles behind me before the sun rose, happily listening to an audiobook, treated to the amazing spectacle of Venus rising with the diminishing crescent moon soon to follow.

It was my favorite time of the day when the sky lightened, turning from black to purple, to pink, as the desert spread out before me in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, paralleling the old Route 66 doing 75 mph on Interstate 40.  

The sky so big, the scenery so grand I wanted to capture every moment and photograph it all, but the road compelled me to drive and drive and drive.

In fact, I only stopped a few times every day at places like Painted Desert Indian Center to capture a taste of it for my friends watching my progress on social media and get a free piece of petrified wood. 

Or, to buy a keychain or postcard in every state at some unnamed truck stop where I saw too many Duck Dynasty clad gentleman for my comfort.

If only I had purchased a GoPro camera to mount on the dash and continually shoot photos at intervals (should have, could have, would have… -sigh-), but I was watching my budget and ever diminishing savings. It was my only regret, not stopping and seeing more!

Plans be Dammed!

Originally, I had mapped out dozens of interesting places to stop, but as I mentioned above, money or the lack of it severely curtailed my options. And, with the suggestion of a friend who had made the trip several times in her life, I just winged it with only a rough plan to make it to certain cities and landmarks like Albuquerque where I had to pick up new lenses for my sunglasses that weren’t ready when I left. (Thank you Costco Optical in Santa Cruz!)

But I still had a few places I had to see, like Meteor Crater in Arizona, that corner in Winslow, Az., an interesting museum here and there along the way, Mike and Frank’s shop in Nashville and a very cool stop along the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. If only I had more money to spare! Next time. Next time!

At least I didn’t get any speeding tickets, although I did get a warning from a nice highway patrolman in Arizona at 5:15 AM, who happened to have relatives in the Philadelphia area – small world!

Deserts, Farms and Truck Stops

Ah, the ever-changing landscape of Middle America, the mornings in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Kentucky as fog lingered to the fields around me whiffing above in tendrils with the wind, passing truck, after truck, after truck, after truck.

The Waffle House in Arkansas with the super friendly staff and deliciously inexpensive $5 pecan waffle, eggs and coffee, the nearly empty Bluegrass Parkway where I cried listening to Tom Petty’s “Face in the Crowd.”

The early afternoons as the roads cleared and miles passed. Timeless.

My only thought as to where to stop, sleep and eat as the miles crept on and on and on…

Sleep Anxiety

The only real anxiety, besides the check engine light on the first day, was finding a place to stop for the night to sleep.  I brought a tent, sleeping bag, and other camping gear, but I never really felt like roughing it in the end and preferred a good bed, some cable TV, somewhat reliable Internet and real sleep.

As much as I love to star gaze, it wasn’t a big enough drawl to just relaxing in a clean motel – well, at least 3/4th of them as I’d rather not think about that one night in a $29 dive in Oklahoma or the marginally OK motel in downtown Flagstaff. (At least the Flagstaff motel was close to the Flagstaff Brewing Company with live music and great beer).

11 States of Mind (12 Including NJ)

In the end, it took less time than I thought, just seven days and 3,140 total miles. It didn’t rain a drop and except for a very tight spot on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, sandwiched between a big rig truck and a retaining construction wall at 75mph, I had nothing that scared me or came close to an accident.  I was lucky!

The last day, however, was the toughest, as no matter how much coffee I drank or how loud I played Bruce Springsteen – what else would you play as you as entered Pennsylvania? --, I could not stop yawning as fatigue finally crept in.  I stopped every hour, sometimes less as I got closer to Philly on that last day.

And I knew I was close when I could pick up KYW New Radio 1060 (If you’re from Philly, you know the jingle).  And then, suddenly I arrived, driving into the ally of my sister’s house – her and her husband waiting to record the momentous event. Somehow it felt sad, a bit underwhelmed, but joyous as I had made it safely with my car intact.  And it was over.

Now What?

Sitting in the guest room of my sister’s house in Northeast Philadelphia writing this, I begin the first day of the rest of my life and ponder my future at 55.

Should I get a New Jersey real estate certificate and make “big $$$” as my cousin says, teach English in South Korea and run the risk of getting nuked, go back to PR, or get back on the road?

I won’t bore you anymore, but ask: Any suggestions?

Epilog: Don’t Fly The Unfriendly Skies!

Suffice it to say, I’d highly recommend taking at least one trip across America in a car. Your whole perspective will change as this is HUGE, boundless country with so much to see. One can’t possibly imagine.

And, oh yeah, take plenty of snack food (I took two bags of homemade beef jerky) plenty of good music and several audio books – unless you like being distracted changing channels and searching for something to hear.

Drive safely!