A Fork In The Road

Hi y’all!

As I wrote in my last post, (Sept. 22, 2018,) I planned to travel to the Great Smokey Mountains for some autumn leaf-peeping action.  As things turned out, so did my plans.  Thus, I named the title of this post the proverbial “A Fork In the Road” because there are always fortunes and misfortunes in your travels, choices and life in general that can alter your course.

When I returned from my vacation in Hawaii, I was notified by airport security that the Wander had been broken into through the driver’s side window.  A nice gentleman called me the last day of my stay in Waikiki to give me the news; he had my phone number from the tag on the empty suitcase (I have two suitcases) I left behind.  From his investigation, he told me that somebody probably wanted to find guns in the vehicle, in which there are none. In fact, all that was missing when I got there were some spare quarters in the front glove box.  One may call this misfortune, although crime is everywhere.  But, I say this was fortunate because nothing else was taken!

Of course, I fixed it immediately when I got back from Hawaii.  Besides the window, I replaced a special-order spark plug that has a computer chip in it that monitors its performance; (the dashboard engine light had come on about a week before I left for Hawaii.)  While I waited for the part at the big rig repair shop where I took the RV, I conversed with some truck drivers who were there for the same purpose as myself, though they were on a deadline and I had all of the time I needed. Contrary to misconceptions, these guys were pretty nice and informative.  I never expected to learn anything about 18-wheelers, but I have been schooled now!.  As a bonus, I got to laugh at the trucker’s joke of “windshield” or “bug-splatter” TV as a form of entertainment in the industry.

I said my goodbyes and headed east.  Then, another fork in the road.

The weather turned vicious where I planned to go.  Since I began my trip, I tried to stay up to speed with weather forecasts in my areas.  If it rains too severely, I slow down and hunker down in a nearby campground if possible.  I am reminded of another proverbial saying, “never fool with Mother Nature,” and with most proverbs, there is truth.  So, as I approached Memphis, I turned south towards Florida.

This brings me to where I am today, and for the next week.  I am spending three nights near Jacksonville and Amelia Island – a suggestion from a friend.  Again, this has been a blessing and not a curse, as I have been comparing and contrasting the tropical weather differences between Florida and Hawaii, and how my hay fever reacts in these locales.  This is useful experience before the final decision of where I live next.

I am over to Fort Myers, Florida, and the Everglades tomorrow.  I will end up near Miami sometime next week.  Then, my plan is to drive the Dixie Highway from Miami all the way to Detroit.  The Dixie Highway is another route with historical undertones, much like Route 66, although not as famous.  (Well, Journey did write a song about it on their live album!)  Weather permitting, maybe I’ll get some fall leaf-peeping along the way.  Yet, fortune/misfortune, rain/shine, and any number of chances, or forks, may appear in the road.  

It’s not what life throws your way, but how you react to changes that determine character.  Until next week, I will end this post with more proverbs, as this seems to be my Proverbial Posting.

‘When a fork appears in the road, take it.” (action instead of hesitation)  And,