The Journey.

The count downs begun and with this rainy, cold and winter’s coming (too fast) weather,  I’m ready to hit the road.  Friday morning the trip begins and while I’m excited, I’ve got to admit, I’ve still got butterflies.

Got a phone call today from Florida State Parks informing me that the camp ground at Three Rivers State Park located in Sinead, FL, has closed because of Hurricane Michael and they’re not sure when it will reopen. scheduled to be there from November 27, thru December 6, and right now, not sure how to work it out.

That’s one thing about travelling and it goes true in life as well, expect the unexpected and just roll with the flow.  I know it may sound trite but if you stop and think about it, it works (at least it does for me).

The count downs begun.

Why is it White America (no, not all whites), is so supportive of Donald Trump and (to a lesser degree), the Republican Party?    I’ve come to the conclusion that White America is  drawn to Trump and the Republican message  because they’re scared, and his words and actions sooth their fears.

They see a changing world; one in which illegal aliens are portrayed as locusts, coming to take away from them their jobs and “way of life”, and they’re scared.  The irony is these people are coming and doing the jobs that “White America” wants nothing to do with.

They see a changing world; one in which African-Americans are portrayed as ‘Out of Control,’ a threat and drain to their “way of life”, and they’re scared.  The absurdity of this being that to be black in America today is really (in so many intangible ways) no different than it was in 1965.

They see a changing world;  one in which Muslims are seen as the enemy to their religion,  their “way of life”, and they’re scared.  They forget that it is the same god, with the same message, that both religions follow.

They see a changing world; one in which the “American Dream”  their dream, is dying, and they’re scared.  In its place is a world of increasing uncertainty, anxiety, and fear.

They see a changing world; one in which they’re no longer automatically the captain of the ship (so to speak), and their scared.  The history of this country has always been seen through the eyes of “White America” and now that that’s changing, they fear the future, they fear the unknown, and that scares them.

 

 

I caught a look at myself in the bedroom mirror while cleaning and yeow, I did not like what I saw.  I saw a squat, old, fat man and I am disgusted how I look (Gee Curt, tell us how you really feel).  I’ve decided that while I can’t do much about the age, I certainly can about the body.  In our trip I’m pledging (to myself) to lose 60+ lbs.  I think it’s going to be a slow process but then hey, we’ll have the time.

This will be our home (and ride) for the next six months.   It’s not five-star, but I think we’ll do OK. 

Wow, It’s three weeks before the start of the trip.  For me, It feels like the closer it gets to leaving, the faster the time goes by.  Of course it doesn’t help that I’ve been kind of dragging my feet in getting things ready.  I do this every time I travel (and I’ve traveled a lot).  It’s like I have this little voice in my head (figuratively) telling me not to go, and it increases in intensity the closer it gets to leaving. That part of me just wants to stay home and curl up in my nice, safe, comfortable, and controlled little world I call life.  Because of this voice, I tend to procrastinate which only makes things worse.

I can imagine some of you thinking at this point, Great, traveling with a “head case,” This should be fun.

What makes this trip even tougher is that it’s going to be a long one. It’s going to be Six months traveling a nomadic lifestyle (Albeit, a nice one),  and any way you look at it, that’s a long time.  It’s going to be unpredictable, and with little control over so many events.  I think that’s what scares me the most, the loss of so much control.  I think it’s also why I hear that voice so clear.

But in the end, I will do as I’ve always done (and I havent been wrong yet) and listen to the other voice in my head, the voice of reason.  I’ll chose life and all its crazy unknowns over the safety and security of living hidden away in some box.  I’ll take a deep breath, and on October 19, Take that first step into the great unknown, and come to love every moment of it.

One of my favorite photos (Taken by a favorite cousin).

  The photo was taken off Panama City Beach, Fl. (March 2018).

The Trip Down.

Our first journey down “the path” is set to begin on October 19, 2018, and last until sometime into mid April of next year (knock on wood).  After loading up the truck (2017 Ford F150 2.7L), and trailer (2018 Coleman 1625br), We’ll start our adventure from the central Minnesota town of Osakis.  After an all day drive, we’ll stop and set up our “home” for the next six months (the trailer) at our first camp site in Winterset, Iowa. From there, another long day on the road will bring us into Northwestern Arkansas.  We’ll spend a couple of days there to explore the area and then we’re off to the Southern part of the state for another couple of days.  Up to this point the stops we’ve made will have been for only a couple of days at a time. After leaving Arkansas, we’ll head into Louisiana where the length of stay at the sites will become longer (7-10 days).  We’ll spend time exploring the bayou’s of Louisiana, and then we’re off to Mississippi where we’ll headquarter at a camp site north of Biloxi for ten (10) days (I sound like a travel guide).  The plan is to meander the back roads and try and catch a glimpse of the “Old South.” We’ll pack up from there and head east, hopefully keeping one step ahead of cold weather, as we enter the Sunshine State, FLORIDA, USA.

Yes, Florida will  be the main focus of our journey,  and where we’ll spend the most time.  we’ll travel south from the panhandle down along the gulf coast to the Everglades, and  on to the Keys, where we’ll begin heading north up along the Atlantic side and  begin our journey back.

 

Thanks for joining me!  With this site I’ll try to keep you involved and entertained, as we walk down that path called life.