Northeast Ride – Day One

Here I go again on my own. Going down the only road I’ve ever known. Like a drifter I was….. OK you get it. So here we are again, States Trip 2019. New states to hit this year are New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Delaware. Once complete there will be only 3 states left to hit, North Dakota, Hawai’i and Alaska. The last two will take some planning. That’s also assuming Hurricane Dorian doesn’t throw a curveball at me.

Today started much like every other day one. I woke around 7am with a myriad of emotions. Excited to hit the road for another adventure. Sad to leave the cherub faces of my little ones. Scared of not knowing how each day will end. Hesitant, do I really want to do this? Yes, I have to. I owe it to Dad. Hell, I owe it to myself.

I took myself a nice, long shower. Campground showers aren’t great and hotel showers just aren’t the same, it’ll be a while before I get back to MY shower. Libby was loaded up last night so there was just a couple of small last minute things to do. I got myself a little hydration and said goodbye to my children, my little girl the only one who really seemed like she was going to miss me. I kissed my wife and out the door I went.

After giving Libby a quick pep talk we were on our way. I felt she needed one as this trip had already gotten expensive before it began. A couple of weeks ago Libby went in for a routine check up, 20k mile service. This is a bit costly but necessary, about $350 unless I take her to the dealership where it costs even more. She also needed a new front tire, about $200 and that’s with me ordering the tire online. During her service it was found that her rear break pads were in need of replacing, and boy were they, not much pad left at all. But brake pads are fairly cheap so not a big deal and they’re kind of important. So, a few days later she was back at the shop for new pads and it was then that I discovered a very expensive little roofing nail in her rear tire. Since we were so close to go time I had no choice but to order a tire through the shop, another $400. The worst part is there was still plenty of miles left on the old tire. Maybe I’ll just get one night in a motel this trip.

On to the ride. It was an easier start than last year but still rough. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to our annual bike trips being my annual bike trips. The first couple of hours riding to Dallas was the worst, grief all over again. Every mile a memory. Every one good but also heartbreaking. But, if you’ve ever driven I-35 north towards Dallas you know that there’s not a lot to it. It’s pretty much a straight shot north. I made it into Italy (the town) and judged the blackened sky ahead. Was looking like another first day rain event so I suited up and as I started my way east the rain began to fall. Nothing too serious and certainly not like last year’s apocalyptic storm but we got wet. 50-60 miles of rain and then the skies began to clear.

Lunchtime. I jumped off the interstate at Mt. Pleasant and headed into town. Now, if you’ll remember, the rule is no meals from somewhere you can get at home. No chains and certainly no fast food. I broke this rule a few times last year and don’t intend to do it this time. Finally came to the town square, saw a pizza tavern and pulled into a neighboring parking lot to get out of my rain suit. I asked a few passing locals what was good to eat around dem der parts and was told the pizza place sold beer but was a bit “fancy”. There was also a BBQ joint, Outlaw’s Barbecue, a couple of blocks down the street that also served cold beer. I chose the BBQ. Hell, I’m still in Texas, can’t lose right? Should of had pizza. Wasn’t terrible BBQ but I’ve had better. And I certainly make better. Beer was craft brew but pretty good.

Back on the road. North east Texas is much like east Texas, a lot of trees. The highway is lined with trees for miles. Crossing into Arkansas was no different. Trees blocked out any view of the country side for several miles. But eventually the trees lessened and gave way to more and more farmland. Still plenty of trees but more and more fields of corn and what I think may have been soy beans but I’m not a farmer so could have been cotton for all I know.

I finally reached my projected destination of Forrest City, Arkansas and after judging the sun decided I could go a bit farther. Yes I looked at the sun and not the clock. I knew I had a few more hours of sunlight and it’s day one so I’ve got a few extra miles in me. Stopped at a rest area and started making calls to nearby campgounds. First one was 50 miles away and had a spot so we pushed on, a little closer to Memphis. The local KOA near Marion, Arkansas is home tonight. I love camping at KOA’s. They’ve always got a store with most of the little things I might need. And they almost always allow a camp fire. And not only do they usually sell bundles of wood, they will deliver to your campsite.

So, here Libby and I sit in Arkansas pondering the days ahead. I am hopeful I don’t hit a wall again like I did last year. No, not hopeful, confident that I won’t. I remember waking up in Las Vegas last year. After getting showered and dressed I opened the curtains of my 17th story room and looked out over the city. I wanted to go home. I wasn’t having fun. It wasn’t an adventure, it was torture. I’d already gone through a storm that scared the living hell out of me. GPS decided to completely ignore my waypoints and skip the Grand Canyon which was one of the biggest highlights of that trip. And, I spent a night in Vegas, alone. I spent several minutes in front of that window trying to convince myself that turning around was a bad idea. I finally decided that I couldn’t give up, I wouldn’t give up. I had let my father down so many times before, I couldn’t do it again. So on I pushed, and I am so glad that I did because this trip may not have happened.

Tomorrow we shoot north towards Illinois. I’ve got family up there and will spend the night with them so no Diaries entry for day two. However, I will make sure to post that I’ve made it safely to my destination.

Total mileage for today was 616 miles. That’s a lot for a guy with no butt!

I’m a little past Little Rock.