Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

July 13, 2008 - Sunday - Day 13
USA/MEXICO/CANADA
DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY
& THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY
-- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008
Miles Today - 5 (around town) - Total Miles - 3,334
- to Plainview,TX (north of Lubbock)
(-staying at Best Western -)
(TX)
- REST DAY IN PLAINVIEW,TX -

A number of factors figured into taking a rest day today. Mainly though after 10 days on the road motorcycling, and six out of the last seven 300+ miles, I was tired and thinking a rest day would be wise.

Also, it was the first morning I awoke to rain. It was pouring, and worse, to the north there was NO blue sky. The forecast called for lots more rain for the day.

Also, I wanted to craft the writing of the sandstorm day, and there was a lot to write about that and meeting Koy.

Also, and perhaps not least importantly, in this Best Western there was one of those cart popcorn machines that doled out free popcorn!

The 'free' continental breakfast wasn't too shabby, but I did indulge in my very first glazed donut in about twenty years!

I made conversation with Raul from Killeen,TX during breakfast - a former Apple technician. He's now studying to be a physical therapist. It was good chatting Macs with him, and when he carried in his 13-inch MacBook, I had a big smile on my face. (I am what one calls a Mac addict!) It was good chatting with Raul.

For awhile I stood outside the room door watching the rain. I had mixed feelings about not getting ready to go. I chatted with the three goth-type (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goth_subculture) young women from the room next door who were also watching the rain and smoking. The many rings and things protruding from their eyebrows and lips and ears were a little disconcerting, but they seemed like nice folks.

I was disappointed, as was Koy, that the weather kept him from getting here this morning for breakfast and more conversation.

Shortly, I went inside where I spent a good part of the day variously napping, writing yesterday's journal, and cleaning up the MacBook desktop of all the things that had been sloppily put there over the last week. And I devised folders and schemes to keep that from happening again.

I had a good IM session with my sister Lil.

I had to decide by noon about whether to stay or put in at least some miles, but I decided to stay, and make it a true rest day. I'm not sure my body knew what was going on.

The rain did clear up mid-afternoon, and I had pangs of guilt for not proceeding. But I know I made the right choice and that I'll come back even stronger tomorrow.

In the late afternoon, I had a half-decent run, and then went out for about 5 miles on the mc. Stopped at the Little Mexico for dinner and sure enjoyed that fresh salad and beans and guacamole on one of those flakey shells they serve it in. Filled the tank on the way back so I wouldn't have to do it in the morning.

I got the big USA map updated with the trip lines and stats.

I got everything ready so I can get my earliest start of the trip tomorrow morning. There's a lot to do in the mornings to get ready to go. Here are some of them in no particular order: sunblock on, lip balm on, water ready, ice in proper bags, everything packed in proper place, take cover off the bike, and fold it for packing, everything placed in or on bike, check last night's Cardinal's score, check the room and bed and bathroom for things left, double check the room and bed and bathroom, make sure all chargers are out of wall sockets, leave tip, catch up on email, send journal to everyone, and then send it to the blog site, send joke for day, go for a run, upload pictures to site.

Hope to be in or beyond Albuquerque tomorrow and then to Kingman,AZ the next day. Although it's likely I'll break that up into three days so I can get to Clark Isaacs' earlier in the day so we can spend some more time together. I met Clark on-line and he's an interesting guy who's an author, among other things. He lives on what appears to be a mountaintop in Kingman, and though I'm a bit worried how I'll get the Nomad up his long long driveway, he assures me it will not be a problem.

In the evening, I Skyped with Trish, a motorcycle pal from an early Savage on-line group. She lives in Fresno with her husband and has been following the trip. It was her first time on Skype, and it was good chatting with her and finally 'meeting' her.

I got other things done today like copy over that Pelican poem to put it on the bike to memorize it. I made various calls and paid various bills. But even with the full day, some things didn't get realized. Time. A funny thing about that “time” thing. There just doesn't seem to be enough of it. I'm thinking if people realized how much more important time is than money, this world would be a far better place.