May 3, 2026: Are you looking at the above photo and thinking, "Who cares? Another desert photo? Boring."
Oh, no! That is my new WINDSHIELD! It is so sparkly clean! And I'm so afraid to drive for fear, 1) it'll get bug guts all over it, and 2) some maniac driving a truck or semi will throw rocks at it! I am being very careful!
I am ready for my Second Great Adventure! Last year I left on Earth Day, or April 22, 2025, but it felt early. Once I got up to Wyoming I was driving down this beautiful country road I noticed no leaves on the trees! I thought how beautiful it would be with greenery! So I waited as long as I could before getting so antsy I couldn't stand it.
My to-do list was long! New back up camera, tune up, new water pump, new brakes, get rid of storage unit, donate or sell anything I couldn't fit in the van, go to the dentist, go to the eye doctor, get new glasses, get new drivers license, get new social security card, get registered to vote, get new virtual mailbox. Whew! The last on my to-do list was a new windshield. I was hoping to wait until next fall since it was already damaged and driving on freeways and rocky roads would only damage it more, but that last week one of the FOUR cracks started traveling across the width of the windshield. It drove me nuts.
I'm still having problems with Big Blue. She's still leaking coolant, still overheating on inclines, still groaning like a wounded whale when I reverse, the transmission still doesn't know what to do, and the brand new brakes feel "jumpy". I've had it into different mechanics and they all say nothing is wrong. I disagree! But what do I do? I think in another few weeks when I get to "civilization" I'll find yet another mechanic and invest another too much money! It would alleviate a whole lot of stress if I could find someone competent who could fix her! Or maybe she's just old and fixing is not going to happen! I certainly understand that!
Until then, off I go!!! It's an adventure!!
