Eleventh Hour Ruminations

Post date: Jul 22, 2015 4:28:45 AM

As I wrap up my existence in the "Lower 48" and gaze upon the heavily loaded GT, it occurs to me that despite all that pack, I'm leaving a lot behind.

Most of all I wish I could experience this adventure with Mary Ann. But we've been over that from several angles and it just doesn't make sense. At the bottom line, this trip is my own thing. Or obsession. If we went somewhere together it would not be Fairbanks AK. Indeed, that was the intent of last year's European vacation - nice.

We even thought about her flying separately and meeting me In Fairbanks to spend the first week of August together. But that's a working week for me and the flight is an all day affair (a red-eye, even). On top of that there might not be a week's worth of attractions for her to see in Fairbanks - and we'd need a rental car. Not a big problem but it begs the question of where we'd go (after hours) on those working days. Worst would be if Murphy comes calling and I don't even make it to the Sixty-eighth Parallel. She wasn't too keen on the idea of a solo visit (so then what is my problem?) No, it's best that we go somewhere else next year that suits both of our wanderlusts (with both Mark and Andrea/Andy situated in other parts of the country now, the possibilities are rich).

I'm leaving a lot of other things behind too. Like my home office. I'm going to miss my little subterranean HQ. Instead I'll log in with my laptop or smart phone from campsites and motel rooms, with a single note book, a mechanical pencil or two, and my USB headset, leaving everything else on my physical desktop behind. Hope I don't need any of that.

I'm leaving behind my workshop and garage, my faithful pickup truck and all my hand and power tools. Now believe me - I've got tools along for the ride -- one to fit every fastener on the GT. But what if something needs welding? Or drilling? Or sawing" Or even just a good whack with a five-pound sledge or ball peen hammer? I'm going to have to improvise, or maybe throw myself at the feet of someone who possesses those precious implements. Heck, that's the challenge of this thing.

Listen to me droning on and on. We're down to the single hours now. I'll finish up a few things and hit the sack knowing everything here is more or less ready, and affairs at work are in good, caring hands. What more could I ask?

Next stop, Minnesota!