Day 34
Another day, another 300 miles of local driving. Here I am in the Hampton Inn in Bardstown, KY … again, wondering how did I get here? What am I doing? Why can’t I find the town I have in my mind in reality?
And while mulling over the answers to those questions I’ve learned a few lessons while on the road:
Lesson #1: Skunks are invisible.
At least in Kentucky they are invisible. And if not invisible then they are overly sensitive road shoulder dwellers. I KNOW I did not run over any little black and white striped rodents tonight in the inky blackness while on Highway 150 – however those skunklets sure made their presence known. I think they must have seen my car coming or felt the ground shaking or had some inate sense of my approaching vehicle and when I got close they’d Pffffft … spray! All I can say is … P-U! I think I drove the last 45 miles with skunk smell up my nose! Either there was a skunk convention on that highway or there is a very dead skunk plastered to the back tire!
Lesson #2: Never overestimate the capacity of your bladder.
Bathrooms are never available when you need one. Seriously. If I had some way of counting fast food places (with public restrooms) in this part of the country I’m sure the total would almost out number the Waffle Houses in this part of the country. Not quite – but close! And WHAT is it with WAFFLES anyway?! However, think you are good to travel and you pass what quickly becomes the last semblance of civilization and suddenly you realize you need a bathroom and, of course, there is NOT ONE for miles and miles and MILES. Needing a bathroom usually coincides with needing gas – see Lesson #3.
Lesson #3: Never overestimate the capacity of your gas tank.
See Lesson #2!!!! Gas stations are numerous until you really need one. Word to the unprepared: when driving and your gas tank drops to half full – go fill it up again. (And use the bathroom.)
Lesson #4: Fast food and junk food don’t taste all that great on Day 2 of traveling.
Yesterday I enjoyed my Subway Spicy Italian sub loaded w/veggies (super messy to eat when driving even when cut in thirds), Snapple Peach Tea (bring on the diabetic coma after that drink – jeesh! Sugar city!), Hostess Cupcake (I need to get my fill before the factories close!) and Russell Stover Dark Chocolate/Coconut Creme candy egg (10x better than a Mounds bar) … YUM!
By this morning I was craving carrots.
I don’t even LIKE carrots.
Lesson #5: Being a long-distance truck driver isn’t as glamourous as it seems.
Not that I ever thought it was glamourous – as much as “what a life” kind of sentiment … the open road, endless natural beauty, new experiences, wanderlust. It all seems so carefree and romantic … until you are on the road the second day and Lessons 1-4 stuff up your nose and slap you in the face.
So, here I am looking at not another 2 days of on the road woes: 300 year old geezers going 18 mph in the left lane, punishing rain, the lack of street signs, Herbs Today as the only receivable radio station program, needing a bathroom … but then there’s the wind in my hair (if I opened a window), endless expanses of hills dotted with cows and horses punctuated by a few sheep – all held in their pastures by miles and miles of that famous Kentucky fencing, and the beauty of Spring just starting to show her new growth.
Can’t wait for morning to get on the road … again!