Shifting into gear – My road trip begins

I’m about to set off!

The trip is somewhat planned.  According to Google maps, the approximate total mileage for my trip will 10,062km.  I start in Toronto.  For the first 6,000km, I will be driving West, towards the setting sun, reaching the halfway point when my feet meet the refreshing cool of the Pacific Ocean.  I aim to drive through Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon, where I hope to avoid grizzles, attend rodeos and festivals, walk and try lots of different craft beers and cheeses.

The second part of the journey’s big stops will probably be Yellowstone National Park, the Badlands, Bighorn Forest, and I suspect I’ll be a proper tourist when I stop to take a few photos of Mt. Rushmore.

Note the ‘probably.’  I’ll ‘probably’ be stopping at these places.  I get lost, change my mind, veer off the path.  When travelling in a city by foot, I start off without a map and walk, turning towards things that take my fancy, and usually, towards the shade.  I’ll use a map to find my way home when my feet start to ache.  With a budget, a car and sporadic gas stations, I have less freedom, but there is plenty of opportunity to change plans.  The only certain things is that work starts again in September – I need to be home by then.

So, the car is packed – everything fits into the boot and there is lots of space left – from the outside it doesn’t look like the car of someone who’s heading out for an 8 week road trip.  I don’t know if this means I’m excellent at packing only the things I need, or if I have grossly underestimated the things that I will need to keep me happy and safe on the trip.

The things I’ve deemed most important for the trip:

• A 13 year old tent, which in addition to my small car, will be my home – I’ve budgeted for only a few nights in motels.  A sleeping mat (that is the size of a big can of beer when folded up) and a sleeping bag.  No pillow.
• The usual – passport, insurance, money, address book.
• Camera and lap top, plus chargers.
• Cooking stuff – Trangia, a small grill, a dicing board.  Travel toiletries kit filled with soy sauce, sesame seed oil, balsamic vinegar.  Dry foods including quinoa, arborio rice, noodles and oats. Nutella, Marmite, 4 can of tuna and nutritional yeast.  A variety of spices.  2 sets of utensils, 2 plates, 2 bowls.  Dish washing tools.
• 3 pocket/survival knives. Sharp ones.  For cooking and feeling safe.
• A compass.  A SatNav.
• Phone.
• Clothes.  Not very many.  I’ll be stopping by laundromats to read up on the local news and listen to local gossip.

And off I go.  First stop will be Chicago.  The first and last day will likely be the longest drives, then I’m aiming not to drive for more 4-5 hours a day, with lots of driving free days sprinkled everywhere.