KC, MO

Here, as well as my next destination is a case of the people taking precedence over the place. In case you didn’t know, I grew up in and around Kansas City, so as you can imagine, I don’t really have any new and insightful observations of the area. I can’t see through all the memories anymore. One thing I did notice was feeling distinctly out of place. Like running into your first love ten years later with her husband and three kids.

I visited the VC and gave him his VCmas present (which I suspect he wasn’t as excited about as he acted). We spent an evening or two in Westport and the mostly it felt like being at a high school reunion where I didn’t like anyone that showed up (other than VC, of course). I wasn’t able to meet the elusive Isabella (his daughter), but that’s just as well, it probably would have been a letdown for her.

For those of you that have been following this little project-o-mine, I have solved the vehicle issues. It took a lot of hard work to get it fixed. Well, actually it will take a lot of hard work to pay off...

THE NEW VAN!

OK, its not new, its an '02 with 28k miles on it, but it is nice. Every experienced road warrior has fantasized about the perfect ride, the ideal vehicle, the ultimate road trip machine. Some of you may be disagreeing with my choice but my reasons are sound. A van is small enough to fit in normal size parking places and through drive-thrus, unlike RVs. It also gets better gas mileage than many suvs and pick-ups, yet has more interior space. A van is better insulated (from both weather and noise) than a truck with camper shell and will attract less attention than some monster Suburban or Navigator. While it won't sip fuel like my Mazda did, the more upright posture of a full size van seat is better suited to long trips than the layed back lean of most passenger car cockpits. Also I can sleep in it.

Sorry for the huge gap between posts, but you shouldn't expect punctuality from an unemployed vagabond.