It Begins!

Nick Woodland – 6/15/23

The two things I’d been dreading since this whole idea surfaced came to pass on the first day: getting lost and driving on unplanned roads and having to maneuver my 52′ rig through a ‘normal’ gas station. Yes, my rig is 52′ feet long.

Somehow I missed the turn-off to I-25 North from I-76. Literally, in my backyard and a turn I’ve made numerous times. I was chatting away to Wendy about Natural Born Heroes (Author Christoper McDougal’s homage to natural movement, endurance athletics, World War II heroics on Crete and finding purpose and usefulness in our lives – it is full of diverting stuff, as you can tell) and drove right by the sign for the road I needed. I probably shouldn’t have been chatting away as I had plenty to focus on, what with driving a ‘big rig’, but there it was…and there it went.

So I had to U-turn at an exit hoping I’d have room to work it. I did. But then the exit to I-25 north was closed coming the other way. So we had to flip it AGAIN. Pretty ridiculous start.

The trailer drove really well, though. I was relieved about the way it performed. We stopped at a rest stop (previously researched on imagery) and then pulled in to a Flying J. I even managed to find the RV fuel stations, there were three of them angled at such a way as to allow a big rig to pull in and out easily. But the one I pulled up too was broken, with weird code flashing all over the screen and the card reader down. Really!? So I had to use the normal stations and a 52′ foot rig just doesn’t pull up easily to any old fuel pump.

The rest of the drive went smoothly. We crossed into WY and drove through Wheatland and Chugwater (home to Chugwater Chili…you guessed it, the World’s Best) and then into Glendo. Wendy and I skillfully (if I may) parked and leveled our Apex and then set about unloading…and unpacking…and unloading…

We have lots of work to do to organize our lives so they can fit into this small space. So far it’s wonderful though. We’ve already noticed a difference in ourselves. Something about the unknown in front of us, the possibilities, the opportunities, and the knowledge that it is just us is stirring.

Another epic storm is rolling in now. These storms in Glendo are no joke. The skies darken, temps plummet, the cottonwoods along the lake shore sway wildly in the gusts and then the rain comes slashing in. Thunder follows.

Thanks to Ava for the lakeside sunset shot from last night.