March 13 - Homeward Bound

The meet was over. Mom's filght left this afternoon, and I had just enough money to make it home. How that was going to happen was beyond me, until I talked to Rod. He had gone back to Cincinnati to resume his job as a commercial pilot. It just so happened that Rod’s flights would leave him in Savanna, Birmingham, and Cincinnati on each of the next three nights. He invited me to meet him in each of the cities for beers, grub, and a free place to crash. How could I say no?

The next three days, I rode while Rod flew. Each night Rod treated me to some of the best food in the city. That man knows how to eat: Creole in Savanna, BBQ in Birmingham, and Thai in Cinci. Each time we sat down to eat, it was with somebody different and he took delight in telling my story for me. I didn’t object since I had told the story so many times before. It was interesting to hear what points he emphasised. After that we would delve into conversations about life and personal philosophy. Good couple of days.

My Rain Suit was a success, although a bit awkward. The northern path home was putting a chill on me, so I got to wondering. If plastic could keep me dry, could it keep me warm too? So I wrapped saran wrap and duct tape around my first layer of insulation to keep my body heat in. The problem was that the plastic was too warm indoors and ineffective on the bike. At the end of the day I was no warmer on the road and my clothes were damp from the trapped sweat. Grade: F+. The + is for effort.

Aside from one last stop along the way, the journey is all but wrapped up and I am all but home, wherever that may be in the coming months. My total independence and freedom is all but over, as is the time of not having to know what will happen in the immediate future. On the other hand, I will soon have my bed and computer back. I may even enjoy the novelty a closet instead of a duffel bag.

What’s next? Well, I will be looking for a position as a project manager and trying to consolidate my pieces of home in the Chicago area. What about that one last stop along the way home? Nearly every day since I resumed my journey in January, I have talked with a very special lady by the name of Shona. Before going home, I am going to pay her a surprise visit in Chicago. But that is another story.