I am smiling as I drive down the highway.
Last week at a dog park in San Luis Obispo I tallked with two sets of people (while Jerry played with their dogs) and at the point in conversation when I told both that I was at the beginning of a long road trip and they asked where I was going I could see their mouths drop open (in awe I like t believe) when I said I was going across the desert to Key West Florida. I know I am so lucky and so privileged to be getting this adventure and to have had a life that truthfully has been filled with road trips and many trips to Key West.
Today is the beginning of day nine of this trip and I am sitting in a Starbucks in Kerrville Texas drinking a hot latte and using their wifi. Jerry has already had his breakfast and is waiting in the car. It is less that 800 miles from here to Pensacola so I hope to be there tomorrow and am looking forward to a few days in a hotel (out of the car) and especially to exploring the beaches and dog parks and enjoying blackened fish sandwiches and cold beer with the beautiful gulf views and breezes. I have been sleeping in my car at rest stops along the road which of course is not the most comfortable or luxurious of accommodations but works especially well because I try to stop driving whenever my eyes get tired and don’t like driving in the dark. (both are symptoms of my old age)
Driving along in solitary (with only Jerry for company) has been lovely. I generally listen either to the Grateful Dead station on my Sirius XM radio station (only occasionally switching to MSNBC) or to one of the group of Leonard Cohen CD’s that I brought with. (I can’t believe that Sirius doesn’t have a Leonard Cohen station). Mainly I think and reminisce. I’ve tried cases all across the country (I think something like 20 states) and have travelled all around so I am constantly being reminded of people and places and circumstances I’ve experienced and enjoyed.
So I drive generally until I notice my eye getting tired and then I pull off and rest. I stop frequently at highway rest areas to let Jerry stretch his legs and pee. For those of you wondering where my co-pilot was in the selfie above. Well, this is where he sleeps some of the time while we drive.
