I get sucked into camping spots far too easily. I could have stayed several more days parked next to the north fork of the Cherry River, lost in the middle of West Virginia.
But we have what I consider a punishing pace of places to go and people to visit as our time in the US is running out. The first of October should find us trundling across Nuevo León state in Mexico if the stars align as we hope. And you can’t go abroad without seeing The Family one more time. So here we are.
We left near noon and arrived around six and I took one toilet break while the van took one gas stop ($3:60 for regular). Layne made sandwiches in the back for lunch and we pressed on. Rusty laid on his pillow the picture of irritation at being swept away from another excellent grass patch.
I enjoyed the winding roads, the asphalt track through narrow valleys, and these odd little red sentry boxes along the roads. I forgot my camera was in black and white mode unfortunately but these one person outhouses sat alongside the roads through the valleys. I thought perhaps they are bus stops but whatever they are we never actually saw anyone using them.
Most of the day was an assortment of four lane highways, including free interstates, toll interstates and Federal Highway 19 winding awkwardly through valleys, around ridges and under mountains with a couple of tunnels included for good measure.
I find myself wondering why people keep pushing belief. In the fullness of time we shall all find out what’s next, if anything, and we shall have to cope just as we have to manage right here and now. I find the thought of death invigorating as it pushes me to get things done like driving to Patagonia before I lose the ability.
Decrepitude is all around, time passes.
But the mountains abide! And they look good as one approaches the Blue Ridge.
I-26 to Asheville through the Tennessee countryside up to the summit and the state line.
And then the moochdock, a driveway, laundry services, hot showers, conversation.
And a happy dog, that homebody Rusty who Esther be in a house than a van I think.
