Entries this day: Bye_San_Francisco SNOW!! Success area_of_rest dudes

Bye San Francisco

1:44pm PST Saturday 21 December 2002

I'm at an oil changin' place in Novato, California, just north of San Francisco. I took Wende across the Golden Gate Bridge with me, dropped her off at her truck, parked in Loretta's parking space at her apartment complex. This parking arrangement saves her money on parking, but kinda inconvenient for driving.

I got lost trying to get to the Penzoil place here, which frustrated me cause I knew Wende's family is waiting for her to come rescue them from the hotel. Wende stopped by a gas station to get her oil changed and still made it to the oil changin' place before I did.

A weird thing is though I have an idea about how I got lost (wrong turn), I got doubly lost on the way back. I'm usually able to retrace my steps, and if not, at least to know geometrically which direction I am away from a particular place. Not this time.

But I made it here, locked my keys in Scott, gave Wende a hug, found out that my keys were locked in Scott when Ashley came out to take my information and such. Fortunately I have an extra key in my backpack, which was on my back. Whew!

Whew.

More hugs to Wende and when she was all, "this is difficult [to leave]" so I snuffed in her ear like a dog to give her chills down the leg. Not necessarily supportive of her emotions in that moment, but something by which she can remember me.

2:11pm

We go. 151658 miles on Scott. 3157 miles on this trip since Dallas.

3:41pm

96 miles driven since I dropped off Wende. Have passed through Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley (I assume it was those; I was definitely in a valley with signs for Sonoma and Napa all about).

Saw a couple of big sized roller coasters in a park at the 37 and I-80. What amusement park is that, I wonder...

Cool rainbow ahead of me for a while. I got some pictures of it.

Now I'm at a gas station to pee and wake up more.

SNOW!!

6:27pm PST Saturday 21 December 2002

380 miles from Portland (I don't know if I have more or fewer miles to travel to Dude & Veronica's). I don't really know where on the 5 I am. But I would like to note there's a mysterious white substance piled up along the sides of the freeway. Lumpy like a big pile of powdered sugar. Very interesting... what ever could it be??

3418 miles traveled since Dallas.

Success

7:06pm PST Saturday 21 December 2002

I figured it out! I know what is a big part of the fear that wrenches me, rends me useless when I begin these treks alone out into the world.

It's a fear that I'll be alone. That I really am alone. That I won't be able to meet people every where I go.. That's the fear, or at least a big part of it. Such a silly silly fear! Begone, silly fear! Adios, payaso to you, buddy! Whoohooo!!!!

I had this epiphany while driving and thinking of other places to visit, and I got a flash of Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction who said something like, "I go to Amsterdam for a month every year just to chill out." and the words "chill out" are what got me. Would I be able to 'chill out' in Amsterdam? No. What? Why? Because I don't know anyone there. AAHA!!! Gotcha. That's it!

No, I don't know anyone there now, but there are bunches of cool people all over the world, ready to chill out and swap stories and share beverages and just have a great time! Whoooooo!!!!!

I just tried to call Janette to give her this answer to that previously unanswerable question "what are you afraid of??" but she wasn't home. Or no answer at all; they may be on the phone.

area of rest

9:13pm PST Saturday 21 December 2002

I've just arrived at a rest area, about 120 miles from Dude's. (Eugene is 108 mile closer to SF than Portland, according to Veronica.) 3576 miles on my trek. 152077 miles on Scott. 420 miles so far today I think.

Been listening to mp3s via my cassette adapter and computer. I'm really happy with this setup. 22% battery left, so I'll conserve it for a while, though I wonder if it could make it to Dude's... Aw heck nothing to lose if the computer goes to sleep due to no battery. I'll see if it makes it.

But, first things first.

dudes

2:14am PST Sunday 22 December 2002

(Computer didn't make it, so I had to call Dude to get the final bit of directions to his house.)

Have arrived at Dude and Veronica's some hours ago. Dude and I have been watching TV while he's been playing Civilization on his laptop. My laptop has been charging, as it went to sleep hard and wouldn't wake up before getting a battery boost.

Their house is nice. Three stories and all that, plus hot tub in the back.

We're going to see Twin Towers tomorrow at 7pm. Good stuff.