Took a blur of a late April cross-country drive, alternating between hotels and sleeping in the truck next to RVs and longhaul trucks for four nights. Hotels are nice, but extra work compared to overnighting with the RVers and truckers. Started out retracing a route into NE Oregon, past a friend’s town, then through the Blue Mts., including Deadman Pass. But the curves and hills west of that pass are probably worse. This was the second time on that stretch during a rainstorm. A few years earlier it was with a friend, on motorcycles. Hardly any photos were taken this trip, because the nuisance of a trailer made me avoid unnecessary stops. An overnight stop at the OR-ID line. The spot between my big truck and an RV was later grabbed by a pickup truck clearly trying to hide its cargo (two drums of chemical) and itself. Seemed meth industry. He left after twenty minutes. Next, into the more interior west, over the continental divide and through snow storms, then a descent to rainstorms and fog. It’s vast, desolate and visually pleasing in Wyoming. Surely people in hurricane areas like Florida will have to relocate there at some point. I doubt the US government will continue rebuilding decade after decade, storm after storm indefinitely. The devastation’s not over politics or money. It’s not from war, so there’s no economic boon from it for anyone. Well, maybe for the FEMA contractors. Later, reaching the humid midwest, then south to TN. Although I barely had opportunity to interact during the drive, I sensed Iowans were the friendliest people of the states passed through. Unless it’s IL I’m remembering. So friendly I even liked their truckstop coffee despite it being no better than others’. The people running this shop were the nicest encountered on the trip:
A lonely workforce, the truckers. On a NE overnight stop, the north side of freeway had a muddy truckstop parking lot next to a motel 6 with an attached massage parlor. Maybe the sex industry is really just the loneliness industry, like dating apps. Or dating apps are just part of the sex industry instead of the loneliness industry. Or maybe both are just under the impatience industry umbrella. Wonder what NAICS they all use. I bet people want these distinctions made and kept straight in ways to their liking. But speaking of human reproduction — which may unconsciously be the top umbrella/driving force behind impatience, loneliness, and dissatisfaction, unless search for human relationship is the umbrella — reaching TN I met a flurry of family gatherings with relatives I hadn’t seen in years. It was really nice.
Thoughts on Trails 