Day One
It was raining on the day I was supposed to leave. Since I was waiting for a friend to deliver a tent, I wasn’t too worry. Not that I will be able to avoid rain the whole trip, I was just hoping to avoid it for the beginning of the trip. Anyway, I got a late start and still had to buy my own tent. My friend could not find his tent, so I bought one for $20. The cashier asked me if I wanted an extended warranty for a year. I told her that I just hoped it would last for the month.
Finally, about 1:30pm, I got on the road. And almost just as quickly, I got lost. I had failed to take into account the amount of instructions it would take to avoid the highways. I missed one turn and didn’t notice and till I was lost like a short dog in tall grass. Finally, needing to make up some time, I jumped on the highway.
Somewhere in Ohio a huge storm was brewing. Lighting was all in the West, and it didn’t look good. I found an abandoned gas station and pulled under the awning. Just as I was putting on my rainsuit, it started to rain. The wind had picked up significanlty and I got something blown into my eye.
I used a bottle of water and tried to flush whatever it was, out of my eye with no luck. It itched, and my eye started swelling. It was more annoying than anything. Then the worst part came.
Have you started something and knew it was a bad idea right from the beginning? I couldn’t find my clear glasses for night driving. I rode my bike across the street to a BP station to look for some driving glasses, no luck. Both of my eyes were red, my left eye was swollen. I probably looked like I was high or really emotional. No driving glasses.
What was I going to do? There was no hotel near, it was raining, my left eye was swelling shut,and it was night. I did what any level headed person would do. I got on my motorcycle and rode for a while. Finally, better sense caught up and I pulled into Wapakoneta, Ohio for the night. Oh, I found my glasses after I called Ruth to see if they were laying around on the table at home.
Day one finished and only a hundred miles or so down.
One of several gas stations in a day.