Hey y’all,
I hope you’re all having a great 2020 out there and that the New Year has brought new plans and new hope. I know it has for me. I’m just checking in with you to let you know that I’m finally almost ready to get back on the road. I’ve been working hard these last few weeks to get everything done which needs to get done and leaves me with a clean slate as I head back down the highway.
First of all, my photo albums are almost all up to date. You can see these last four State Albums at the links below:
I had hoped to have my last episode of Season 1 of my American Anthology Podcast done by now, but it’s not quite finished yet. I’m working on it though, and it will definitely be done by this time next week. If you are a fan of my podcast and are on social media and want to keep up with it, you can now find podcast specific Facebook and Instagram pages both @AmericanAnthology. Speaking of Instagram, I’ve been pushing out a lot of my favorite photos from the last two years recently and getting some nice response from it. If you’re on Instagram, be sure you give my main page a follow @miles2gobeforeisleep.
My trusty van Shadow Catcher is just about ready to hit the road again as well. I’ve been putting a lot of hours into getting her cleaned, fixed up and re-outfitted - knowing now a whole lot more about what I need, and more importantly what I don’t need as I go. She’s got a new stereo, polished and cleaned headlights, a lot of new drawers and storage bins (thanks for the Christmas presents mom!), full fluids, new filters and new latches to keep the fridge and big closet from flying open as I drive (you can’t imagine how irritating that is). I’ve also started to personalize the inside a little more this time around. It has always felt like home on the road, but I want it to be a little more homey. I don’t want it to be cluttered up with junk, but I do want it to be a little more decorated. I really like how it’s starting to come together. Now she just needs a good cleaning on the outside, and a few more mechanical tweaks, a propane fill-up and then I can start loading her up to hit the road. She’s been sitting in front of my mom’s house for too long, and I’m sure she’s ready to get back to what she’s meant to be doing.
Other than that, there’s just a lot of tying up of loose ends. I have been to all my doctors and the dentist, ordered all of the new things I need for this next leg, read some good books on Mississippi and even gotten my passport renewal form ready to go. By this time next week I will definitely be on the road and headed south towards Mississippi. My first stop will be Corinth in the northeast to learn more about the fascinating Battle of Shiloh. I’m really looking forward to it.
That being said, it’s always hard leaving home. It’s been a wonderful couple of months here spending time with my friends and family. I’m very fortunate to have an amazing, supportive, loving family and a truly remarkable set of friends. It’s been great to play with their kids, talk about old times and new ones and feel that indescribable sense of “home” for a little while. And DC will always be home. As much as I love my people here though, my destiny lies elsewhere and I’m ready to get back out there and see if I can find it. After all, I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep!