Nebraska Farm Life

Day 8 Photo Album

September 10, 2009

My day began with overcast skies and turned slowly to multiple layers of billowing clouds.  Gray sheets floating in front of and below pure white columns touched by sunlight and moving like giants so close to the earth that I felt I could step into a spacious world of light, indeed, step right into the sky.

I drove from Waterloo, Iowa, through the remainder of the state west into Nebraska.  Contrary to popular belief, there are trees in Nebraska.  Many lovely trees and fields so brilliant with deep green and sunlight yellow I felt I was flying through heaven, arms outstretched to touch and gather the earth.  A magic carpet of earthly energy rising up to flow through any who were lucky enough to be there.

When I arrived at a friend's farm, it was about 5 pm and the light was beginning to throw soft shadows across the fields.  Quiet and a dirt road up to the farm.  Peace.  Stillness that reaches up to hold you steady. 

I was welcomed with warmth and the kindest hearts.  We shared a great evening of talk and extremely good food!  I learned a bit about the crops I was seeing and pig behavior.  Norman, their dog, has many stories to tell and is brimming with excitement.  Chester, their cat, had a missing leg but that doesn’t stop him from hunting and playing with Norman. 

Such days are so unique and full of richness, I never want them to end.

Illinois, Iowa, and the Great Generosity of Spirit

Day 7 Photo Album

September 9, 2009

I woke to the fog and dampness that has greeted me every day camping.  The ground and air thick with water.  Carlock is a peaceful camp site even though the highway is busy all night long and one train passed by, it was very quiet.  Two bikers on either side of me were traveling and camping with far less than my packed car.  There are so many RV’s on the road and in the camp sites.  It is very interesting and gives me a lot to consider.

Speaking of cars, I wanted to give my car its 5000 mile oil change and was finally able to get that done today in Iowa City.  I had stopped at a state rest stop in Davenport and found they had wireless access.  So I Googled Toyota dealers and called the one in Davenport.  They didn’t have time to help me today, but suggested Iowa City.  They didn’t have any open appointments, but offered to fit me in anyway. 

When I turned into the Toyota dealer, I was shocked to see University of Iowa Studio Arts.  This is a place that I am very familiar with from my former job.  Right next to the dealer!  There is a warmth and generosity of spirit in this state that I find so refreshing.  It flows without hesitation.

At that moment, I decided to change my plans and visit my nephew in Waterloo.  Since I hadn’t seen him since he was a little fella, it was a very interesting stop.

My nephew and his wife made me feel very welcome and the joy of sharing the evening with them and their happy children was wonderful.  It was one of the most significant experiences of my trip and I am very grateful for their grace and the connection we have now.

Carlock, Illinois

Day 6 Photo Album

September 8, 2009

I’m sitting in the middle of corn fields.  Corn, corn, corn.  Corn fields all through Indiana and so far in Illinois.  I like corn fields.  The trees are thinning as I move west and the rolling is becoming less, but green is everywhere and very pleasant.  

My trek through Indiana was less than perfect:  I sat on the interstate for 50 minutes at a dead stop while they worked on something.  Both directions were stopped.  So I made a call and leaned back to rest. 

I can attest to the stimulus money being spent on highway repairs.  Most of the 300 miles I traveled today had construction of one sort or another.  The interstate is two lanes in each direction mostly.  Some of the sections have asphalt that is so old it looks and sounds like concrete.  Maybe it is. 

One of my favorite stops today was in Farmer City.  I needed gas and had to get off the highway.  What a place Huck’s is!  A nice change from the same old same old at regular service stops on the interstate.  Two great names:  Farmer City and Huck’s. 

It is so much fun to be in the map instead of looking at it.  For many years I’ve had to look up these cities on the map for my job.  Now, as I drive through the country, I feel like I’ve broken through the looking glass and am in a wonderful landscape. 

Ohio Interlude

September 7, 2009

The labor day weekend was filled with the pleasure of family.  I had never been to my brother's house in the Cincinnati area, nor in any other city he lived in.  Their children all grown up and beginning families of their own, it was a lovely interlude of peace.  

Ohio

September 5, 2009

The drive through Ohio, from the northeast corner to the southwest corner was all along the interstate.  I had no conception of what the landscape would be like.  I don’t know why, but I just hadn’t imagined the landscape of Ohio.  My only trip on the ground through Ohio was on the train from Philadelphia to Chicago and it was not interesting at all.

So it was a nice surprise to be encased by lush green trees and corn fields the entire distance.   Oh, and many state police standing outside their cars pointing radar guns at the oncoming traffic.  Hence, a strict adherence to the 65/mph limit kept me poking along all day. 

The interstate also has the best rest stops I’ve encountered so far.  Well tended areas of grass, paths for walking off the stiffness, and clean restrooms.  Believe it or not, a drinkable espresso from a vending machine that allows for using your own container!  For $1.00! 

Day 3

Day 3 Photo Album

September 5, 2009

A good night’s sleep! And a hot shower! So begins my day on a long trek to Cincinnati. As I’ve only traveled about 225 miles each day, this day will bring double that distance.

But the end of today’s journey brings me to my brother’s house and no worries about setting up the tent for a few days. I’ll make a diagonal route across the state of Ohio on I-90, then I-71.

It’s a wonderful feeling to wake with the stirring of birds and the slow breaking of light into awareness. A quiet that will last but a short time. A delicious space of time that is enriched by the closeness of the earth beneath me. So few boundaries between the elements and my body may cause some inconveniences but the rewards far exceed the discomfort.

Day Two

Day 2 Photo Album

September 4, 2009

After a sleepless night, though restful in many ways, getting used to turning in a mummy sleeping bag and all the distractions of newness, I made my way to Niagara Falls for a short visit to the roaring waters. Then on to the campground, about 10 miles east of the Falls, in Lewiston.

Another KOA site with more of a nook for a camp site. Instead of a murmuring river, some kind of industrial noise supplanted sound. I did not investigate the source but could see an industrial sort of structure in the distance.

The details of camping are beginning to be incorporated into the routine of my day. It is a good physical exercise to begin and end the day. While most things have found their proper place in my car, some are still being rearranged and remembered.

Camping in KOA’s, so far, is rather interesting. Most of the RV’s are very large and a social scene sprouts up with very lively activity into the evening. People seem to be having a good time.

Traveling across upstate New York is very beautiful with rolling hills and farm lands. Closing in on Niagara Falls I could see the sprouting of water rising from a distance. What caught my attention the most was the landscape of power lines and power stations. High energy is being produced here for many places far away on the grid.

The falls have an interesting color and visual sensation for me. The water is icy blue green with reminders of the Caribbean and the Arctic ice foaming and colliding with such intensity that the senses are confused about temperature.

After falling over the sheer edge in a chaotic rush, the water becomes nearly still far below. All that remains of the hurry is a wavy line of white across the deep blue water. It is a blue that could have fallen from the sky at dusk.

Driving through the city of Niagara Falls was a reminder of many other cities that seem to be falling into neglect, at least the portion east of the Falls that I traveled through. Once into the suburbs, life seems to be more well tended.

Day One (Well, One and a Half)

Day 1 Photo Album

September 3, 2009

It is difficult to believe that I am sitting in a tent in Herkimer, New York, with internet access (though no cell phone access thanks to AT&T and T-Mobile not playing nice together). The river is flowing about 50 feet from me, families are surrounding me, children are happy and tubing in the river, fires are burning (and smoking heavily), in short, a peaceful neighborhood.

The surroundings are very green. Many trees. I’m actually in closer contact with people than I am at home. We speak pleasantly and yet respect each other’s privacy. Wonderful!

Driving through New York on I-90 was lovely. The countryside is beautiful: rolling hills, farm land here and there. My vision was of variations on the path into a vanishing point ahead. Always gentle folds in the land suggesting more around the bend.

Herkimer, Niagara Falls, Cincinnati

September 3, 2009

After a few hours of packing the car and re-arranging physical space vs. imagined space, I made my way to my friend’s house yesterday, just 100 miles from home. Here I was able to sleep in a nice bed, have delicious meals fresh from her garden, and enjoy her wonderful company before leaving for the journey.

Today I head for Herkimer Diamond Campgrounds, New York, a KOA site about 215 miles from here. The KOA’s seem to have all manner of amenities and are family oriented. This will give me a chance to explore the camping experience with very little inconvenience.

Then on Friday I’ll head for Niagara Falls North KOA campground. Again, only about 230 miles from Herkimer.

These short distances will give me a chance to stop and explore along the way and ease myself into the fact that I’m now living out of my car.

On Saturday, I’ll head for my brother's house in the Cincinnati area, a much longer distance, about 400 miles. I’ll stay there until Monday.

Definite stops beyond that have yet to be determined.

It was a bit emotional in the last few hours before leaving, the enormity of my journey hit me. I let that out, waved it good-bye, and embraced the joy of one step at a time. This morning, I’m happy as a lark and ready to ease into the experience, come what may.

Countdown Has Begun

September 1, 2009

Everything has been gathered, organized, washed, packed, tested, and fussed over. My mind is thoroughly exercised with my mantra: “how are you going to do this on the road?” and then proceeding to gather, test and adjust my belongings to accommodate the task.

The nice thing about the process of preparing is that instead of worrying about what will happen, I can use my creativity to find something to bring along that I think may solve the problem.

Choosing a route and gathering all the details I need to get there, find a campsite, and have alternatives is not as easy.

My goal is to leave Wednesday, September 2nd. But if I’m not ready, then departure will wait another day.

Tent Practice in the Studio

August 22, 2009

The tent and I are becoming friends. On the advice of my brother, I bought the “60-Second” tent. It is possible I set it up in 60 seconds, sans flap, which requires tying bows. The footprint is 7’ x 8’ so I’ve got plenty of room. It’s about 4’ 4” at the center inside. The poles and tent are all in one piece so there are no parts.

A few push pins in Google Earth got me on my way to a route, though I won’t plan every step before I leave. I’m thinking of major points and allowing for spontaneity in between them. So far I’ve got these major points from the east to the west:

Ipswich to Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls to Cincinnati
Cincinnati to Omaha
Omaha to Cheyenne
Cheyenne to Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City to Reno
Reno to The Land of Milk and Honey (Monterey Bay Area)

No doubt I will need more than one day to get between some points and allow for diversions, explorations and visiting.

Going from west to east I have gotten as far as Denver and keep drawing blanks on the route back. That may be because I don’t like to think about it. At least not right now.

Monterey Bay to Death Valley
Death Valley to Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon to Grand Canyon, North Rim
Grand Canyon to Sedona
Sedona to Albuquerque
Albuquerque to Denver

What I’ve discovered at this point is that planning should be done in moderation. Educating myself about options and alternatives is comforting and yet not confining.

The Decision is Made

August 19, 2009

For several months I have debated whether or not I should make a trip to California. Having been laid off after 14 years with my employer, it took some time to sort myself out enough to see a future. I have been drawn to California for an unknown reason and if I were to make a move, it would involve an ocean. The only way to know is to go.

By going the slow way by car I will be able to explore the landscape and meet people as well as see family along the way. My intention is to camp instead of stay in hotels. I’m gathering information and gear and not set on a route just yet. The main objective is to spend several days in California, around the Monterey Bay Area.

My hope is to set out either the first week of September or just after Labor Day.

I’m scared and excited and certain that this is what I should do right now. Perhaps in opening up to the land I will find more in myself than I ever knew.