Is this for Real?

My last post ended with my Mom arriving from Michigan. So some of you may be wondering what happened next. Some of you may not even have thought that. So to enlighten those who wonder about my wanderings you may proceed to read.

So after my Mom picked me up in the nice town of Leesburg, VA we headed for a hotel. Room had a fridge, stove, microwave, basically a fully stocked kitchen. It was really nice, but I also thought it was a waste. Just think of all those folks who need this stuff and can't afford it. Got dinner from the grocery store because there was no restaurant close by. The following day we spent exploring Manassas Battlefield, where the ground forces first clashed in the Civil War. Little evidence left, mostly just nice quiet fields within the Park. The next day we took the bus into Washington D.C. This place has lots of buildings, I visited 5 briefly. Walked around a lot, especially the beautiful Capital Hill neighborhood. Broke down a bought a pay-as-you-go phone, because it's cheaper than pay phones (which are dern hard to find) and I miss my friends. Took some pictures. My boss contacted me and told me he might not have work for me this summer. Gosh dern, ARG, a bit late notice. Now I have to explore my options and that's stressful. Returned to hotel late evening.

The next day we returned and I wandered some more. Met up with a friend with Colorado and we had a really nice time just sitting on a bench along the Potomac River talking. She's wonderful fun! Enjoyed Chipotle burrito for dinner. Took some nice photos. That night we moved on the Fredericksburg and the next day drove to Williamsburg. I met up with another Colorado friend (made the big time with a National Park Service job!) and we spent a really fun unplanned day together. We got a pizza and soda, played a round of miniature golf, stopped by his house, got some drinks at the local watering holes, threw a frizbee like thing around, went to the local Greek festival for some more good food. Fun days end, back to hotel.

The next day we toured Fredericksburg and Wilderness battlefields. At the former Boy Scouts were placing candles at the graves of the fallen, to be lit that night. The famous Confederate "Stonewall" Jackson met his unfortunate end at the former. Robert E. Lee pounded the stonger Federal forces once again. That night we drove back thru Maryland and into Pennsylvania. Sunday we visited Gettysburg, which has a ton of monuments, also very popular and thus crowded. Seeing it myself gave me a better impression of the landscape. Recommended place to visit. Need to see the movie again. So we saw lots of battlefields, and it was Memorial Day weekend so that was fitting. And after weighing my options I decided to return to Michigan with my Mom.

Memorial Day we spent driving the high speed arteries of the road West thru Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. Everyone is in such a rush, difficult to get used to. Arrive back in Ann Arbor that night. The next day lounge around in the morning. In the afternoon I run to visit my fried at work. Run/walk back to the house. About 11 miles total, and so ends my first training run for the local half-marathon on Sunday. The rest of the week I do more stuff. Bake goodies, relax run once more. On Saturday I ride to town, get some new gear, find two books that I really wanted at a used book store (got the third for free. Support your local bookstore). Awesome! Wallace Stegner is a wonderful Western author, a must read!

So today I ran the half-marathon with my awesome friend, Bob. So Awesome!! The clocks on first few miles were off, way off. Didn't have a watch, felt okay, but thinking that two training runs was not enough. Kept running. Good roadside band rocking. Long strech between miles 8-12. Finally Main St. and a gradual climb to the finish. Sprint last part. Done and exhaused, but didn't feel like throwing up this year. Eat food, drink water, look for my friend. So sorry I missed your finish Bob. You Rock!! Get a ride home and take a nap. Hard to walk, will soon be missing two toenails. Dinner with family.

And so by now you may be saying "blah, blah, blah. What about the opitons? What's up my sleeve". So let me explain. In Leesburg, VA I walked into a coffee shop a saw young professionals in suits plugged into their computers. Scared me something serious. It just ain't for me. Plus I still seek adventure and find I can't sleep well in a soft bed. A tent and some forest duff is what I need! So tomorrow I board the Amtrak from Toledo (same place my brothers and I departed for the last journey in January). After a day on the train (hopefully letting my sore muscles recover) I'm getting off in Minot, North Dakota to continue my ride around America. I miss the West and so I'm returning to it, along with my Wallace Stegner books. Stegner in Stegner country, now how could I pass up the chance!

So if ya still want to, you are invited to continue following my journey...
"I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way" Carl Sandburg