The predawn hours of Monday at the Casa usually have a different feel than those of a Sunday, or even a Friday, for that matter, but one thing sets this one apart:
Anticipation.
It’s amazing the difference that actually setting a goal will make in a dog’s psyche; in this case it’s our departure next week for the west. How are we going to do it? Dad has no idea; Miss Ellie is still in the shop, and if she was released today, it would be difficult to complete a proper “shake down” period. If dad instead takes the motorcycle, that means I can’t go, and THAT ain’t gonna happen, as the southwest is in the grips of a heatwave. What to do, what to do?
Just go vacilando.
Vacilando is a Mexican term with no English counterpart describing the act of wandering when the experience of travel is more important than reaching the specific destination.
Make it work, and play the hand that’s dealt us; if we wait for the everything to line up perfectly, or even preferably, we’ll still be be talking instead of doing this time next year.
When Zach was small(well, he’s still small; maybe I should say when he was a sprout), he never approached other kids to play; instead, he would drag out his coolest toys and nonchalantly start playing where the other kids could see him, and inevitablly they would wander over to see what was going on. This was his “low impact” approach of making friends; showing off his toys, but also inviting others to play.
That’s what these trips are all about, showing off our toys, and you’re all invited to play. There is no reason why anyone can’t do what we do; we travel fast and light, but more importantly, inexpensively, camping where we can, usually eating one meal a day at restaurant, the rest just grazing on what we can find at roadside stands. We intend to visit as many friends and locations as possible that are mentioned in the book, but if we dont, it’s all good, as we’re going vacilando.
Its not about the destination, it’s all about the journey, and the people, not the places, are the mortar that holds the bricks of the journey together.
My heart’s about to jump out of my chest.
I can’t wait to see the pictures of your travels! I’ll be with you in spirit.
What an awesome trip this will be with Queen Charlie 🙂
Photo cred to a guy from Texas who happened to be at the Dallas Divide when we went through there back in April; I have his contact info somewhere, will find it and post
Ah yes … “it’s always about the journey”. ❤️
Love it!!
The only way to vacation, just GO and do it.
Going walkabout… 🙂
Charlie, you’re inspiring!
That’s the point; we all can!
Have a good friend finding trip.