Date: 2006-04-03
To: A tale from the road - by Buoy
Miles today: 0.0

As Lefty already mentioned in some previous journal entries I Buoy had a chance to drive our car cross-country. Usually I look down on the United States from a plane during my numerous flights across country. This time I looked up to the planes while I drove. It took me nine days. From Barstow in California to Oklahoma city I followed route 66. Than I took route 40 to Little Rock, Memphis and Ashville. From Ashville I cut over to Myrtle Beach South Carolina. The whole time I used my camcorder to record the trip. I now have 7 hours tape of me talking to a baseball like the poor Fed Ex employee in the movie Castaway. I also have 7 hours of tape of me thinking out loud cracking up to my own jokes and head banging to music while driving in the desert. Does anybody have a lighter? We could ceremonially burn these tapes so I do not ever have to watch them again. As much as I cannot recommend to ever taping yourself on a cross-country trip I think everybody should drive across sometimes in his or her lives. I really loved to see the country from close up especially on route 66. It also made me love the Appalachians more than ever. The first parts of the trip lead me through some beautiful scenery. But starting in Albuquerque it all went down the drain scenery wise. For the next 3 days I drove through a green moon landscape and my tapes got even weirder than before. But than after so many hours of grass and bushes I saw the smoky mountains in front of me. They looked so beautiful in contrast. Where route 40 and the AT meet I left some beer for through hikers. I know I will get lots of bad response for that. It took me till the next morning to figure out that it was probably not the best idea to leave beer on the trail. Somebody needed to hike out the empty bottles. So I want to apologize to whoever found these bottles. I am still a novice and seem to think there is a garbage bin behind each tree. To my defense. I am looking so forward to being the beneficiary of the famous Appalachian Trail Magic. Trail magic is the kindness of strangers who leave useful items on the trail for through hikers. These Trail Angels help the through hiking community to pull through in hard times. They cook for them and hike in food and drinks The focus here is on Useful things, not heavy beer bottles. Following a list of Thanks that I want to get of my chest.Thanks to:·the Tennessee State Troupers for keeping my speed in check by strategically placing old cop cars on the median.·the anonymous crop spraying pilot in Oklahoma for giving me the thrill of the day. Thank you for keeping 20 feet clearance between my roof and your plane and therefore not killing me.·To Lefty for being my personal On-star system.·To KOA for the best bathrooms on route 66.·To all the Wal-Mart associates and KOA Campground hosts. They became my social life for the duration of my trip.·To everybody who donated money to high plains public radio. THANKS !!! It was my anchor while crossing the Texas panhandle.And special thanks and glory to my Ipod !!!No Thanks to:·the anonymous pilot in Oklahoma for spraying me with god knows what kind of awful cancer inducing chemical.·to people in central California for apparently not donating money to any public broadcasting station.