Across The Bridge

Another day waiting for Joyce to return, so I decided to do some exploring of da u.p. today eh – picked up a copy of the good ole Porcupine Press, avoided tourist traps (although they were relatively empty), and took a lot of pictures of the Mighty Mac (and many of seagulls too).

Around 5:00p, after driving around the St. Ignace area for a few hours, I started back for the bridge. The last exit before the toll booths is a bridge viewing site. What the heck – I figured I could take a few more pictures and then back across we’d go. The site is too close to the bridge to get a view of the whole span and there was a road trailing off the rear of the site so I went for it – and was rewarded with an absolutely amazing view.

I drove the van right up the water and began backing up to take a picture of the bridge with the van in the foreground. A middle-aged man in a rented SUV pulled up and asked a few questions about my trip. Apparently my license plate sparked a memory from college and a friend who set off on a similar journey. We had a great little conversation, including a bit about the book, and then he was off to catch a 7:00p plane back to Chicago. Right away I could tell he was a kind-hearted old soul. Before departing he offered verbal support and then he wrote me a check to help with gas. What an amazing experience – if I could just put into words all the tiny decisions of the day and all the reasons why I shouldn’t have been at that particular spot at that particular time, but I was and so was he. Words don’t seem quite enough, but thanks again Joseph. All your support meant so much today.

Update on The Letter: I don’t think I mentioned it earlier, but the letter that Artie wrote to Mary Moskowitz was worn and only partly legible. Back in Mt. Pleasant a friend of mine has devoted her time to deciphering the remainder of the letter’s contents. I spoke with her today and she has made some progress. We’re planning to meet next week so she can fill me in on just what Artie had to say.

Being so close I knew I had to take a look at the Kewadin casino. It’s quite a bit smaller than the Soaring Eagle in Mt. Pleasant, but I’m sure grandma enjoyed it just the same when she was here. I don’t play slots at all, and their poker room was closed, but just for the souvenir I requested a player’s club card. Being my first visit I was given two rolls of small gold-colored tokens to use in any of the eight designated slot machines hidden at the rear of the casino floor (next to the women’s restroom). So there I am at the slots (Have I mentioned that I don’t play slots?) plucking tokens in three at a time, when the bells on the machine start jingling and quarters start dancing in the tray below (15 quarters to be exact). I put the remainder of my complimentary tokens in and again hit a whopping jackpot of 15 quarters. So I took my loot (totaling $7.50) and with a conniving smile I headed for the hills. Thanks Kewadin! P.S. – The Bridge toll is $3 each way, so thanks for paying my passage and providing a nice cup of joe too!

As soon as I get to a place with faster wifi I’ll upload some trip pics.

The Day ‘Whitey’ Died

Today I drove “Whitey’ to her (almost) final resting place – the scrapyard.

It was quite an excursion, driving twenty miles to place her at the hands of the metal collector gods. A few miles in I noticed the gas gauge was on ‘E.’ Then I went back and forth in my mind deciding whether I needed to get gas. I decided to put $2 in the tank, and then had a tough time getting her started again.

After a few minutes it started, but with a splatter of sputters, and a few puffs of smoke. And then it happened: within a few feet of leaving the gas pump, the smoke started in through ‘Whitey’s’ internal hump. About eight miles out the smoke increased and the van’s speed decreased down to about 45 mph. It was quite a site if you can imagine: smoke billowing out from under the van and from my open window, while I’m driving with my head stuck out the window and my eyes oscillating between the angry mob of cars behind me and the few miles to pay dirt.

I felt a little light headed when I arrived, but we did make it!

The financials – I purchased Whitey for $850, put about $100 into it, then sold it for a down payment of $100, then took it back for $0 when the buyer blew it up, then traded it at the scrapyard for $753. If my math is correct I lost a total of $97 overall. Not bad considering that if I hadn’t first bought this van, I would have never found my current van.

peace.

Gas Prices

When I wrote my original budget I had accounted for $3.45 / gallon even though the price of gas at that time was around $3.20 – $3.35 / gallon.

Now that the price of gas has reached $3.45 / gallon and consistently rising, I’m beginning to have concern for that [largest] part of my budget.

I’m not going to worry about the price of gas once I’m on my trip, but I may have to make the necessary modifications to the budget and the trip.

Possible modifications may include: travelling fewer miles, praying for lower gas prices in the states I visit, or running the van on used vegetable oil. Since I don’t have a diesel engine, and since I pray only for the knowledge of God’s will and the power to carry that out, I guess I’ll have to settle for travelling fewer miles.

peace.

The Story of ‘Whitey’

“Whitey’ was my first great hope [van] that I bought in Lansing for $850. Add another $100 for title tranfer, gas, and tags and my total investment for ‘Whitey’ is around $950.

After my mechanic gave me the thumbs down sign – I bought the second van [Raw Amber]. But that’s just the beginning of this story. As the great Paul Harvey would say, here’s the rest of the story:

I sold ‘Whitey’ to a couple with three kids. They had almost no money, so we made an agreement that when they came up with $100 they could pick up the van and then we’d work out a payment agreement. And that’s exactly what happened.

I really hoped the van would be great for their family, but I received a phone call today that brought that hope tumbling down. The van’s engine had ‘blown up’ [not real sure what that means - but it seems to be a huge problem when it comes to driving the thing]. I decided to take back the van and let them out of their agreement. We both agreed that I should keep the $100 they paid me – so my investment [fast turning instead into an expense] is back to $850.

My plans are to take it to the scrapyard and bite the bullet for a loss and just be done with the thing. I’ll update just how much I lost when I make it to the scrapyard.

peace.

The Budget

So here’s the current budget, although it may change [again] before I leave:

-Gas for vehicle                 $330

-Food & Water & access*$300

-Entertainment                   $120

-Cell Phone Bill                 $60

-Pay Showers                   $45

-Meetings                    $45

-Gifts                                $45

-Tolls                                $30

-Laundry                          $30 

 

Total Monthly Budget      $1005

 

I’ve decided to forego buying the hand-crank non-electric washing machine I had my eye on and instead budget $30/mo. for laundry. The tipping point for this decision came when others’ who currently full-time in their vans stated they enjoy meeting locals at laundrymats – they often learn a lot about the area.

 

I’m also planning to have an additional $2500 in the bank for repairs and other unforeseen expenses. Basically I’m putting all my cash into this and when I get close to going broke I’ll start heading back.

 

peace.

65,000 Pennies

Well, not exactly – but close.

I’ve been collecting my change (not limited to pennies of course) in a five gallon water jug for a year or so, and today I began the lengthy process of separating, rolling, and banking the coins.

The grand total was just over $650.00 – Super Yeah!!!

At $40 / day expected expenses (originally I was hoping for $30 / day – but not realistic) – That change just bought me 16 days on the road.

peace.