California Travelogue, Day 1

This entry was written offline, and is backdated.

Today begins my cross-country odyssey to return friend BC’s van to its California home, and in the process transport myself to his house for the Christmas holidays. As one of those strange people who enjoys long drives across unfamiliar territory, I think I’ll do all right.

There was considerable discussion about the proper route to take. In winter, the pass across the continental divide can be treacherous, and is often impassable. BC and I tossed it around a bit and decided that the best compromise between climate and directness was to follow I-20 from Atlanta to where it meets I-10, and thence into California by way of San Bernardino.

I intended to get on the road last night, but some last-minute demands by my boss as well as some preparations on my part put me fairly far behind. I departed Norcross at about 11 PM and quickly realized I was too tired to go very far. I stopped for the night in Villa Rica, Georgia, just a few miles west of where I used to live, and set out again at sunrise.

The weather was overcast but dry as I rolled across Alabama and into Mississippi. I made good time, traveling at a conservative speed about 5 mph over the posted limit due to the general ungainliness of the nearly-empty van. In the early afternoon, I arrived at the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, and stopped for a brief stretch break and a picture or two. By this time there was a drizzling rain falling and the weather was looking increasingly depressing. I sought out a grocery store, filled my styrofoam cooler with cheese, tomato juice, and water, and pressed on.

I had fully intended to end the first travel day in Dallas, Texas. Then the snow began. By 10 PM, I was in snow flurries and light sleet, and the road was becoming somewhat treacherous. Discretion prevailed, and I stopped in the suburban town of Terrell, Texas, about a half hour east of Dallas. At this point, I also spotted something I hadn’t seen previously — a gouge, perhaps two inches across, in the sidewall of the right front tire. I was a bit frightened by the fact that I’d just driven several hundred miles on a tire that I wouldn’t trust any farther than I could throw it. That will have to be fixed in the morning before I get out into the badlands!

It is cold here, very cold. The temperature is presently 18 degrees and is dropping rapidly. I hope it will warm up significantly in the morning. I plan to set out at sunrise once again.

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