Time running down
May 23, 2023 - at 4:15 AM I'll be sitting on Dralla (my bike) waiting for first light - fully loaded - to begin my RTW trip. Four years of planning, work, research, buying the bike, modding, getting gear ready, selling everything and now I'm running out of time...
Part One - Ottawa to the Labrador Hi'way to Blanc Sablon, ferry across to Newfoundland - When done ferry to NS via Argentina - visit folks in the east - then its across Canada to Edmonton. Still trying to decide if I ride this or ship it...
Part Two - Edmonton to Tuktoyaktuk - to Alaska
Part Three - Alaska to Central America - where the plan is to spend a bunch of months taking a break, studying Spanish, gathering myself for part 4.
Part Four - three years in South America
As time gets close the emotions are interesting. Excitement mixed with fear. Methinks a little fear is a good thing. Keeps you on your toes.
I still have a lot to do. Shutting down an an entire career and life is a lot of work. And there's an interesting side effect I didn't expect - a loss of identity. I know this will disappear as the road and routine gets into place...but its been disconcerting.
I work every day on all my systems. Its complicated, and until I show you it working, you'll not believe me - but its close. Big steps every day.
Believe it or not I've found a new and powerful ally - ChatGPT. This technology has helped me solve more problems or opened doors that I never knew existed before than any other single technology. I use it every day now.
The bike is apart again in the garage...waiting for March 1st where no matter what the temperature is outside, I have to get at it and finish the wiring, mods to panniers, and other systems, so I can actually pack and see what I've done to myself.
Part one and two plus parts three are in Canada for a reason. I love my country and I have to see Newfoundland again. There's places I haven't been yet. But its also a way for me to shake down all my systems in a place where I can get parts, know people and get settled into a groove - get the mind, body and spirit ready for an never ending road.....
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