Traveling around the US with an RV brought to imagination
wild places, freedom and meeting people who like to explore. The reality is a
little different. There is the learning curve, the inability to turn around
easily, gravel RV parks, big trucks, construction zones and road burn. A third
of the way through the trip and I just want to get there and hug a tree.
We left the green
hills of Northern California and stopped to see friends in Bakersfield who
heroically showed me how to dump the sewage tank on the trailer. It was gross,
but doing it alone would have been super shitty. Thank you Scott! The truck
climbs hills with much less engine howling.
My sister and I talked about traveling different routes. She preferred the northern route that would be colder with higher elevations, but shorter. I wanted to go the southern route that is warmer, flatter and a little longer. The day before we left I threw a fit about going alone and said I would not do it. My lack of adventurousness surprised her, but I'm glad she decided to come with me. We problem solve well together. Sharing the hard parts is certainly helpful, but precious moments of joy and folly are astronomically better with a friend.
Sadly Mernie fell
two days in a row hurting her knee and wrenching her back. We arrived in Williams late in the day in cold too bitter to heat the trailer floor. She had always wanted to visit
Sedona and a restorative break seemed like a darned good idea. Luckily it was a
short drive from Williams. She found a dog friendly resort to commune with nature and visit chiropractors.
I went ahead to visit friends near Santa Fe and sleep late. She found help
and is doing fine. In a few days we’ll be ready to move on.
On Highway 40, as
most thruways in America, semi-trucks full of goods roll nonstop. They pass
going 20 mph faster creating a wind wave that rocks my world. The trailer sways
like a boat on the ocean. I wore my hands out gripping the steering wheel in
fear until I learn to take it stride. The slow lane is my domain. The giants
roar into view in the rear view mirror on the left and I remind myself to
breath and relax. Nelson (my truck) weaves a little and then it’s over until
the next roars by minutes later.
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| Nelson likes to park with the big boys |
We still have a
long way to go, but love and friendship make any journey less daunting and more
promising.
