Sometime around the spring of 1999, I started telling my friends that in 2000 I was going on a long backpacking trip through Mexico, Central, and South America. Around summer of that year, I started believing the story myself. By fall, I thought I should start making preparations to leave. The first preparations were easy: I took a couple of Spanish classes; I researched the countries I might go to; I made a planned route of my trip.

The later preparations were harder—closing down your entire life is a lot of work. Figuring out which day to turn off the electricity, calculating how many cardboard boxes I needed to pack the things I didn't sell or give away, and saying 'goodbye' to everyone I know consumed a fair bit of mental energy. Most of the rest was spent on the details of the trek itself: How will I get money in Nicaragua?; Which jackknife has all the right tools?; and Who will take good care of my kitty? —all weighed on my mind.

Thus, there remained little emotional capital for the excitement and anticipation a trip of this magnitude should create. In the months leading up to my departure, it felt strange being less excited about my trip than my friends. They were eager to live vicariously thru my travels and didn't need to deal with the work and stress of leaving in the first place.

But on August 27, 2000 I did leave. The precious remains of my belongings packed away in storage, the last goodbyes said, I drove out of LA on a cool August night. My heart pounded with hope; I smiled 'til I laughed; I was alone in my car, but I was finally sharing that excitement with my friends.

Still, when you jump off a cliff, you don't necessarily have fun, but your life does become interesting.

Went to Burning Man in the Black Rock desert of northern Nevada. The art was really good this year; my favorite was the three big faces. I camped with my friend, Trey, who adapted perfectly to both the frequent windstorms and quirky vibe of the man-event.

I did have some car troubles getting in and out of the desert. I had to get a new alternator in Sparks on the way to the San Francisco Bay Area.

I spent this week visiting friends all around the Bay Area: San Jose, San Francisco, San Anselmo, and Vacaville. It was good to see everybody after so long. I got a CD player put in my car, too—some stretches of the Interstates are long and dull. Some friends put on another goodbye (perhaps good riddance to others) party for me in San Jose.

Started east on I-80 across California and Nevada. I camped in my car the first night just before the Utah state line, then again a ways into Colorado the second night. On the third day, I reached my friends Don and Kathy's place in Boulder, Colorado. We had a nice visit, including a bike ride and a small party.

Fall comes early to this part of the country; the leaves on the mountain aspens are all bright yellow, tho the evergreens are still a deep green.

Went from Boulder to Topeka, Kansas in one day. I visited many of my friends there including Bob, Dreux, Beth, and Vandora. I also went up the hill to look at the old NewTek building where I had made many of those friends and so many memories.

Then it was on to Lawler, Iowa, population 500 according to the sign. I stayed with an old Navy friend, Al. I lucked out in that his bachelor party was happening the day I was in town. There was no cake or girl, but we played golf and drank beer which I think is manly enough.

From tiny Lawler, I travelled to giant Chicago; I love that town. I toured the Natural History museum which is incredible and went for my favorite view from the Handcock building.

Then I went to Toronto for a couple of days. There's something about that city that I love, too. Maybe it's that it's full of Canadians. I took in a show at the Second City comedy club—very fun. I went south from Toronto around lake Ontario and had a look at Niagara Falls. They are not tremendously tall falls, but a lot of water goes over them every minute.

I crossed thru the mountains and blooming trees of upper New York state and western Massachusetts and got to my sister's house in the Springfield area on the 29th. I took a deep breath; the first step of the journey completed....