Well, life events didn't allow an immediate scheduling, or the exact methodology. My original intention was to get a Toyota FJ Cruiser and perhaps a small travel trailer. As events turned out, I inherited a 'hauler' vehicle (1994 Dodge Caravan) so getting another (the FJ) was rather redundant.
Lo and behold I discovered a hottie...the new Dodge Challenger.
I was looking at some car porn online, and I spotted a Challenger they had dropped a Viper's V-10 engine into. Man she was awesome. She was a 1970’s retro styled muscle car that reminded me of the days when I envied one from the seat of my Schwinn.
I got to wondering what a 'normal' Challenger was like. I became intrigued. Correction: I was getting a crush on a car. Since a Dodge dealer was only a few blocks away, I decided to see one 'in the flesh' to see what it 'felt like'. I did and I was smitten right then and there. Fortunately, they didn’t have the top of the line SRT8 I desired.
A few weeks later, I had received a brochure in the mail and had been contacted by a local salesman via email and phone. There was the exact model and color in transit. All I had to do was put down a deposit and she would be mine. I did, and in May 2009 I took delivery of the car I always wanted, but didn’t exist until 2008. It was almost like one of those ‘twist of fate time travel’ movies.
So, now I had the vehicle to make my ‘road trip’ fantasies come true. It is the perfect Grand Touring automobile for me, although it cannot tow a trailer. Looking at the car, it would be a crime to do such a thing. It would be like hooking up an oxcart to a thoroughbred race horse. It just isn’t done. I guess I’ll make do with hotel/motels, sleeping at rest stops, and mooching off friends.
2011 is also the year of my 40th year (!) high school reunion. For my 30th year, back in 2001 I flew to my hometown. This year, I would drive and make it the only scheduled stop. I planned out a very squiggly route there, giving myself about a month to get there to hit many places I wanted to see and visiting friends along the way. As events worked out, I ‘consumed’ most of that month being sick at home. I did manage to take a test travel trip from Salem OR to Bellingham WA and back. From this jaunt, I managed to not only see the car would be perfect (as predicted) but also managed to add to my ‘to do’ list of necessary preparations. Additionally, I also discovered my highway mileage was about 19.6 mpg! At least that’s what the car computer said. I will crunch the actual numbers later to find the truth. However, approximately 20 mpg is remarkably good for my Challenger ‘beast’ (which I have named “Blackbird” after the SR-71 spy plane).
My planned route had only been mapped to my high school reunion. I had no idea where I was going after that. Now, I will do a straight shot to Minnesota, and after that, I will take a leisurely route back, retracing much of my path but open for detours and whatever else takes my fancy.
I have waited to the last to introduce the final factor: I am traveling with my pet cat, Aleksandra. She is the one pictured on the header of this blog and inspiration for the title. She used to be quite a good car traveler, but that was many years ago. I decided against leaving her with a caretaker or kenneling her. Besides, why shouldn’t she be along? I have traveled w/cats before so I have an idea of what I am getting into. It will have its difficulties, but also its rewards. In any event, she will be my travel buddy.
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