Well, my bags are packed and everything I can think to take is loaded into my Ford Explorer. I probably will think of things I should have packed later, but I'll have to do without it or buy another one enroute.
I think many of you know it already but for those who missed it, the license plate on the Explorer is "CICS96". CICS, of course, is Customer Information Control System, and that was part of my life for about 29 of the 40 years I spent with IBM. If you see a beige Ford with those plates go zipping by in your area, honk your horn to say hello?
With me on this trip is "Tank". No, Tank is not a real person. I have had offers of travelling companions, but none of that worked out. Besides, Tank is a very good travelling companion. Tank is actually a stuffed, plush toy. A toy armadillo, fact is. Tank is one of the many 'bean-bag' toys called Beanie Baby produced by Ty Incorporated. Ty, Beanie Baby, Beanie Babies, and Tank are all registered trademarks of Ty Inc.
Tank is a pretty small, young armadillo. He was born (created) on February 22, 1995, so he's just a bit over two years old. Being born on George Washington's birthday, I think is pure coincidence, and I don't see that he has much in common with him. But Tank is an ideal travelling companion. He doesn't say much but he 'thinks' a lot. I'm sure we'll be hearing from Tank as the trip progresses. His first comment to me was actually a question - "Will we have a sun screen for the front windshield when the car is parked somewhere?". Tank won't accompany me to see various attractions, so he does care about his privacy, and in spite of his Texas heritage, he really doesn't like hot weather. Anyway, for Tank, yes, I do have a sun screen.
Tank was given to me by my two grandsons, Kevin and Brian Wade, who live in Calabasas, California, just northwest of Los Angeles. They insisted that Tank go along with my on the trip, so I have given Tank a vantage point, namely sitting atop the dash board directly in front of the steering wheel. That way, Tank and I can 'communicate' with each other during the trip. I'm sure Tank will have comments about the scenery, the route, the weather - even the music we might listen to on the CD player.
The weather today, here in Sparks, Nevada is clear and sunny, but then what did you expect for a desert state? I had lived in Nevada in 1959-1963 and it was my choice for a retirement location. I have lived here now since June 1995. I'm close to my adult children and my grandchildren scattered throughout California.
I'm hoping that the weather will be good for most days of my trip but maybe that's expecting too much. There are bound to be some rainy days. I hope I don't encounter a tornado here or there or some other nasty weather.
You can check my web site for my calendar and tomorrow's expectations. I will leave home early, pass through Fallon, Nevada, home of the naval air station, and head over to Berlin, Nevada, site of one the ghost towns of Nevada. From there, I'm head to Tonopah for the first evening's rest stop. I'll record my daily diary each night to keep you posted.
Cheers..........
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