We left Suzie three and half weeks ago, it feels like two and half months. Being back in the land of overplenty has been overwhelming. Although life on the road isn’t always easy, its always simple. Wake up, make breakfast, eat breakfast, pack up and hit the road, drive for a couple of hours, park, set up, laze on the beach, walk up a volcano, hit the local market, eat dinner, watch an episode of Dexter/Weeds/The Wire, sleep, then repeat. After over 10,000 miles and 210 days, on the road we have the routine pretty down pat. Within this simplicity lies great complexity. As amazing at it is to wake up every morning in a new place, finding that new place the night before is often not a walk in the park. After hours of stressful driving with Ken swerving potholes, dogs, ox-carts, horses, people, and me in the passenger seat occasionally putting in my two cents worth (usually at the most inopportune times) then utilizing my limited spanish to try to explain to a confused hostel owner why we want to park and sleep in our vehicle and instead of one of their rooms. Does this place have a bathroom, a shower, a kitchen, running water, electricity, and internet are all questions that need to be considered. One beautiful thing about being back in familiar places (Montana, Alaska) is the ease of decision making. We have at toilet with a seat that we can throw toilet paper in, a hot water shower that lasts longer then five minutes, and a full kitchen, complete luxury. I miss the road though. I miss Suzie and the lessons we learned every day. I miss Ken and the partnership that we have forged together. We relish the freedom of our individuality, the ease of making my our decisions in a familiar environment, but we cannot wait to return to that elusive road.
Hoping to see you June 14 while on break from your travels 🙂