Trash Night

Now that I'm settled a bit I wanted to get back in the swing of lunch riding. On my 3rd time out it was just Jeff and me so he decided that we would explore a bit. I know I'm outta shape and suffering is a part of all rides but this 3rd ride was very tiresome. Very different from when you are in shape and can pick how hard you want to go. Anyway, he decided we would ride up a newer trail to the snow line. From that point neither one of us wanted to turn around so we walked up what seemed like a sheer cliff to get back to rideable trails. This climb and portage was worth it when we got to dry trails. All was well until we got back to civilization and the world of trash night. I was following just a little too close when Jeff decided to skirt between a trash can and a bush. I saw everything he was doing but misjudged the can. I clipped it with my handlebar and was sent flying thru the air and landing in a gravel driveway. The trash can never moved! Hardest I've fallen in years. All was well aside from some bruises and blood and even though I know it wasn't Jeffs fault, I blame him. He tried to kill me. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I have pictures.

Moved

I made the journey in 1 piece. We packed the truck Thursday and I started off at around 10am on Friday. The first part of the trip was spent getting used to the truck. I discovered that the brakes would overheat easily navigating the western part of Maryland so that didn't make me so comfortable thinking about the mountain ranges in the west. Ohio was mostly 1 big rain storm. Indiana was ok until I got to Indianapolis. My mapquest had me go the wrong way on their little beltway in search of route 74 which would take me north through Illinois and connect to Int 80. While driving around this beltway thinking I may be a bit lost I decided to pull into a new car dealership and look at the map. While looking at the map I noticed out of my side mirrors that 2 guys appearing to be salesman were behind the truck looking at me yet they weren't moving AND they seemed to be smiling as if they knew I was lost. Then I thought I saw one of them move. At some point I got out of the truck to ask a passer-by and realized the 2 guys were painted on the side of a moving truck. This is when I knew it wouldn't be long before I needed rest. I eventually found Int 74 and decided to pull into a rest area and climb into the back of Hotel Subaru. This 1st nap didn't take so within an hour I was driving again. This went on through the night 2 more times. Saturday had me making Iowa, Nebraska and the beginning of Wyoming. At some point in Nebraska I began to realize just what I had done with my decision to move again. I had been so busy getting to that point that it didn't sink in quite as deep as I felt around the middle of Nebraska. Your pulling everything you own and leaving people you love. I felt alone for a lot of miles but towards the end of Nebraska the road smoothed and so did the music on the radio. It was almost surreal watching the sun go down and losing that questioning feeling I had been struggling with. This is when the new hurdle started. I stopped in Wyoming and filled up for the millionth time.(avg of 6 mpg) and decided to try for a nap. This nap also didn't take so I headed into the night. Made Cheyenne and started up the mountain range just outside the city when the snow hit. I was about 1/2 way up the mtn when I spotted a truck parking area with no services. (I had to #2 behind a snow fence at some point during the foggy night...no choice but what a rejoice) When I pulled in it was about 1/2 full. Maybe 25 trucks. I climbed in the back of my car and proceeded to have happy hour which consisted of 1 Sierra Pale ale. I quickly fell asleep with 2 blankets and 5 pillows covering me. Now I was car camping in the middle of winter. When I woke up in the middle of the night I realized snow was no longer the problem as fog and ice and taken the top spot and the parking lot was full. I decided to stay in the Subaru until morning at which point the fog was still thick. After some calls to Pam(master of the highway cams) we decided as bad as it looked it was only gonna get worse so around 9am I headed out of the comfort of Hotel Subaru. Once I told my parking space neighbor of my plans she decided to follow me up the mtn in a minivan. Up and over and blue skies that didn't last. It snowed most of the way through Wyoming and there were a handful of serious looking Tractor Trailer crashes that happened hours before I passed as cranes were already there. Around the middle of Wyoming there was a tunnel through the mtn that couldn't have been more than 200 yards long. It had a sign flashing, 'ICE in Tunnel..Slow Down') so I slowed to around 40mph but when I hit that tunnel I realized it wasn't slow enough. I hit the brakes and felt the truck slide. Aside from a butt puckerage that hasn't subsided 100 percent nothing happened. Thankfully, nobody was stopped in the tunnel. Utah was a breath of fresh air. No issues and as the pics show Pam and Tom took care of me well. After some nice homemade pizza, beers and shots of liquor 43 I headed off to bed. After many hugs goodbye they saw me off to bright blue skies which lasted the entire trip through Nevada. After getting a room at the Peppermill I met Albert and Amy for some slot machine action and when they left I hit the roulette table until midnight again after shots of this that and the other. Tuesday after I completed all my rental paperwork Albert came down and helped me unload this truck. He's still strong as an Ox but we did have to call J-Mo for assistance with the TV and bed. So, I'm here and that's about all I really know. ps....Thanks to Joe Hager for his expert packing job. Nothing broke!

What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing.

Wrapping up the loose ends. Changing the address's on all my accounts. Note: If possible change all credit card stuff online because when they get you on the phone they don't want to let you hang up. I almost got in a shouting match yesterday with an arrogant rep. Bugs has been adjusting to his new mom. Ellie has agreed to adopt him and he's loves her very much. Mom would be happy about this. I really grew to love him. He just showed up one summer day while my sisters were arguing in the backyard and he never left. Turns out he had been de-clawed in the front and neutered. His teeth work well though as he bit me a few times before I realized he didn't like anyone messin with his lower half. I can't blame him. What else. Ohh, yesterday I received the dreaded letter from the IRS stating I owe 14k from 2006. I don't think my Subaru has ever gone that fast in such a short amount of time as I went to H/R block. They fahqed up so I don't owe anything. Although I knew there is no way I could have owed that much money it still makes you nervous. I pick up the moving truck Thursday and hope to be on the road Friday. If not, Saturday will be fine. I'm really happy gas is at an all time high. Just great. Once I land I may never get in a car again! I've said a lot of goodbyes but missed a few too. I appreciate the people who've helped me through the darkness of the past few years. There are many. Ellie saw the worst of it without a doubt. I'm sure she had no idea she was signing up for some old wooden roller coaster ride that never seemed to stop shaking...................Included are some pics of my mess and Ellie with her new son. Tom Petty coined it pretty well...
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Its time to move on, time to get going

What lies ahead I have no way of knowing

But under my feet, baby, grass is growing

Its time to move on, it s time to get going...

Broken skyline, movin through the airport

Shes an honest defector

Conscientious objector

Now her own protector...

Broken skyline, which way to love land

Which way to something better

Which way to forgiveness

Which way do, I go...

Its time to move on, time to get going

What lies ahead I have no way of knowing

But under my feet, baby, grass is growing

Its time to move on, its time to get going...

Sometime later, getting the words wrong

Wasting the meaning, and losing the rhyme

Nauseous adrenaline

Like breakin up a dog fight

Like a deer in the headlights

Frozen in real time

Im losing my mind...

Its time to move on, time to get going

What lies ahead I have no way of knowing

But under my feet, baby, grass is growing

Its time to move on, its time to get going