It’s the journey that counts.

And so, we set out on our journey.  Part celebration of the end of a long career and part hopeful new beginnings.  Retirement…end or beginning?  I choose to dwell on the beginnings.  All the packing and the planning ends the moment the journey begins.  RV in motion. Truck in tow.  We take to the backroads, the little highways that pass farms and small town houses.

Somewhere along the way we get gas, we rest, we eat.  We enjoy the day.  Until……..the doldrums set in.  The houses begin to look the same.  Each field blends into the next.  Six hours in and we just want to be there. Where ever there is.  Thirty minutes from the first campsite.  I take the wheel with a sense of happiness.  We are almost there!

But then, a road closure.  A stop light in the middle of nowhere.  The road to the bridge we must take is down to one lane.  And so we wait.  Seven minutes can seem like an eternity.  Are any cars coming toward us?  I can’t see any. And so, the stop light meant to protect us becomes my enemy.  I beg the light to change.  I feel myself get annoyed.  I wonder what would happen if I just went through the light anyway.  And we sit for what feels like forever… until finally I see a cloud of dust and large vehicles come streaming down the one lane road.  Finally, I understand that the red light has done its job.  It has kept me from rushing headlong into danger.  It turns green and I am thankful and move on.

The road is narrow for a large RV towing a truck, but we make our way.  Over the river and into Nebraska.  The GPS entices us to try a dubious road in the back country, but we persevere on the well worn highway.  11 miles to go and we land behind a hay wagon.  So slow! I so want to be out of the car.  The GPS again entices with a road.  Turn onto county road or go an additional four minutes to look for a larger road? The county road looks ok.  You can go 50 MPH.  How bad can it be?  Four minutes faster!

The first half mile looked good,  then the pavement disappeared.  Nine miles of dirt roads.  Tractor ruts.  Dust.  I feel myself beyond irritated.  How could the GPS take us here?  Who uses these roads?  Why did I let the promise of four minutes faster lure me into this never ending, bumpy madness?  Never again, I vow.  I will navigate better.  I will have more patience. I will make sure my journey is on a better path.

Finally, we are there!  Happiness, joyfulness….wait are those rocks on the hood of my truck?  Under an inch of fine dust, the RV and truck seem tired.  We pull up to the gate, only to find no one is there to help us check in.  Do it yourself is the order of the day in 2022 America.  But we are pioneers of our new life….intrepid travelers….and so we do help ourselves. 

We settle into a secluded, wooded spot.  The birds are singing.  As fireflies dance and spotted fawns wonder the fields, I slow cook steak and fried potatoes over the campfire.  I have learned something today about taking shortcuts.  I have decided to take the longer path this evening and enjoy every minute….and every mouthful.