Hello Everyone,
It’s been just about two months since I last updated this blog, and it’s been a restful and productive couple of months. It’s always great to spend some time with my friends and family and to be in the familiar surroundings of home. It’s comforting to know where I’m going to sleep tonight and that water comes at the turn of the faucet. Home is a good and comfortable place for me where I can rest and work and plan, but I miss the freedom of the open road and look forward to getting back out there soon
This week I’m celebrating the nine year anniversary of Miles2Go. Nine years ago, I set off in my trusty Dodge van, Shadow Catcher, and headed towards Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. That drive began a 100,000 mile adventure around the country which brought us to 35 states and a whole new appreciation of what the U.S. has to offer. I remember those first cold, short November days in Appalachia, learning the ropes of van life and a lot of things about myself along the way. There have been a lot of adventures over the last nine years – mostly good ones, some not so great, but all of them have taught me something. I’ve spent time with farmers and surfers, Mennonites and Mormons, cowboys and American Indians, city slickers and mountain men (and women). I’ve met kind, intelligent, wonderful people in every corner of the country and it’s been the people who have made it special. I’ve listened to their stories, their struggles, their politics and their jokes and they’ve all contributed to the person I am today for which I’m eternally grateful. Beyond the people, the landscapes have inspired me in ways I can’t possibly explain. From the deserts of Arizona and the rainforests of Washington to the snowcapped Rocky Mountains and the beaches of the gulf coast, I have loved them all. The times I’ve spent in our incredible national parks have probably been the best part of this adventure and I look forward to returning to them all. Before I leave on the next leg of my journey, I hope to take a closer look at where I’ve been and share more of my thoughts about all of these places, but suffice it to say it’s been nothing short of incredible. So I want to wish a big Happy Anniversary to this project and to all of the people who have supported it along the way, especially you for coming along for the ride.
Over these last couple of months, I’ve managed to clear out my van and get all of my gear cleaned, sorted and ready for what comes next. Shadow Catcher is currently in the shop getting new exhaust manifolds, and then it’s time for her to go on the market to start a new chapter without me. It will be hard to say goodbye to my home and constant companion from these last nine years, but it’s time. Parts are getting harder to come by and finding someone willing to work on it has always been a struggle. I think she has a lot of good years left, but with someone else behind the wheel.
I celebrated my 51st birthday two weeks ago with family and friends around the fire pit in my mom’s backyard which was really special. I’m back to my Monday night music jams with my friends and I can honestly say my fiddle playing has not improved at all since I played with them last, but it’s still great to be with them. I’ve been getting to the gym several days a week since coming home, and I feel good both physically and mentally. My annual medical check-up came back pretty good which felt great after the work I’ve put in this past year on my diet and exercise routines. All told, I’m feeling pretty darned good for 51, and I’m looking forward to many more years of hiking, traveling, exploring and continuing this great adventure of life.
It was hot when I pulled up to the house in early September, and I was grateful for some air conditioning. These days the weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter and it’s nice to be able to sit and read in my recliner and sip a warm mug of tea. I’ve been reading a lot about Lincoln this month and I’ve had plenty to think about from what I’ve learned. I’ve really enjoyed watching the leaves change, as this is probably my favorite time of year to be on the east coast.
Of course it’s great to be back spending some time with my mom and my stepdad. We’ve been busy finishing the clearing out of my uncle’s house in Virginia, but the end is in sight for that project after almost two years. We’ve also been getting out on some adventures in the area including a nice trip last weekend out to Shenandoah National Park which was a real treat. I spent a lot of time out there when I was a kid, but I think I can appreciate it more as I’ve gotten older. No, it’s not the Grand Tetons or the Sierras, but it’s still a beautiful area, especially this time of year. We’ve been able to get out and explore some new-to-us historic sites and of course we’ve checked out a few new breweries in the area as well. We’re looking forward to the Maryland Irish Festival this weekend which should be a lot of fun. There’s been a lot of work that has needed to be accomplished, some of which I have been putting off for many years, but we’ve had some fun adventures these last couple of months as well.
We did get up to see my brother in New Hampshire for a few days in September which was also nice. We got to spend some time hanging out with him, but we also got out to do some exploring on our own while he was at work. We visited the New Hampshire State Capitol in Concord, and had an excellent tour of the building with a very well-informed guide. We had a nice visit to the historic maritime town of Portsmouth and a then a lovely drive down the coast. Robert Frost spent a decade of his life in central New Hampshire, and while this was our third visit to his farm there it was the first time it was actually open to visitors and it was interesting to learn about his life there. We also got down to Boston for a day which was pretty crowded but always interesting. While we were there we had lunch at the oldest tavern in Massachusetts, which was apparently a favorite of Paul Revere. It was considerably colder in New Hampshire in September than it was in D.C. so we also enjoyed a few fires in the fireplace and some lovely hot cider as well. I cooked up a big pot of clam chowder for the Penn State-Wisconsin game which also turned out really good. All in all it was a good trip to New England.
Looking ahead to the near future, the next month and a half will be occupied by the holidays. I expect to do a lot of celebrating between now and the end of the year. I really love the holiday season and plan to fill it with Christmas lights, concerts, plays, parties and plenty of cookies. It is always great to be home for the holidays and I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be for the next few months.
I had originally hoped to be taking off soon after the New Year, but it looks like I will probably hang around here for another month or so. There is a lot left to do, and I’d just as soon do it and leave with an empty list and a solid plan in my head. I have made contact with the tour company I hope to start up with in the spring, so if that works out I’ll be back to guiding tours next summer which I am really looking forward to. It’s time to start bringing in some money again and I’m genuinely looking forward to having the opportunity to share all I’ve learned in the last few years with my tour passengers. What happens between when I leave here and when I go back to work is still up in the air, but it will certainly be in the warmer part of the country.
In the long term, I’m also really looking forward to some more international travel in the years to come. There’s so much of the world that I have yet to see and I’m not getting any younger. I hope to get out of the country for at least a couple of months every year and go see what’s out there. I have no idea where I will head to first, but that’s probably still a year away and it will give me something to think about through the months ahead.
That’s about what I’ve been up to these last couple of months. I apologize for the rambling train of thought of this newsletter, but I’m out of practice and not used to being in one place. It’s been a productive and restful stay if not overly exciting and I feel like I’m making real progress towards my future goals. I hope you’re all having an enjoyable autumn wherever you are, and I hope to start posting some photos and memories here starting in the next few weeks. I want to close by once again saying thank you to all of you who have been so supportive of this journey. Whether you’ve been around since the beginning or if this is your first time seeing this newsletter, I appreciate you. Have a wonderful few weeks and you’ll be hearing from me again soon. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading and for being a part of this adventure.
-Mike