LaVonne’s Big Adventure is over — for now

San Diego

I’ve spent the last few weeks, as I meandered through British Columbia and down the coast while at the same time processing the election craziness and violence (don’t tell me the two aren’t connected), trying to figure out what it all means, how to sum it all up for you — and for me. (Click the photo above to see the full itinerary.)

So I haven’t been posting much here, sorry. I’ve been writing, but none of it ever got finished. It all seemed too big to sum up. So let’s try again:

Impressions from the trip

1. I was shocked at the relief I felt when I crossed the border into Canada. I didn’t realize how unsafe I feel in the U.S., not just from the instability of the constant political circus, but from my actual fellow citizens. Watching Canadians go about their daily business, I found myself envying them, the way we Americans assume everyone envies us. Would I live there if I could? Yes. I’m feeling a bit more hopeful after the election results but still, Canada beckons.
2. I saw people living in vans, RVs, and cars everywhere I went. It’s obvious that we have a serious housing crisis going on, and not just in the U.S. Big difference, though: Vancouver (not sure about the rest of Canada) doesn’t treat them like criminals. As long as you don’t park where signs say no overnight parking, you can relax and get a good night’s sleep knowing you won’t be jarred awake by a knock on the window in the middle of the night. Not so in the U.S., especially along the coast. I’ll have more to say about this later.
3. Through much of the trip I felt like I was doing it wrong. Except for a few days camping with friends in Colorado and eastern Washington state, I barely spent time outside of cities at all. Instead, I felt pulled to visit as many friends as possible along the way, so I often passed up beautiful scenery and landmarks that I would have loved to explore. I’ve decided to put a positive spin on it and call myself a people person.
4. I think my main mistake was trying to cram everything in one trip which, in the end, turned out to be impossible. Weather was pushing me forward too fast: heat first, then smoke from fires, and finally, rain. Because of the heat last spring, I had to cut out a third of the planned trip altogether. That was very disappointing. I’m hoping to correct that next year.
5. The other problem was the same one that always plagues me: I spend most of my money during the first half of the month, and then I have to sit still and wait for my next SS check before I can move again. On the other hand, money troubles forced me to stay put for seven weeks with a delightful family in a lovely little town, weeks I sorely needed and enjoyed.
6. Slow travel is definitely the way to go. I just need to figure out how to plan better. In Vancouver, I was thinking that in order to see everything and everyone I want to see before I’m too old to travel, I will have to stay on the road pretty much full-time, doing a circuit. I’m 72, people; the clock is ticking! But I was so tired last week in Oregon that I decided to pass up the last leg of the trip along the coast and zip down I-5 to San Diego and get it over with. Travel takes not only money but energy.
7. I want to go back, again and again, to visit old friends and new like they are only a few miles away. But this continent is just too enormous. I plan to make the trip again soon, though, and do it right this time. My bucket list is growing.