Getting there

What I've learned about myself during a very long road trip

Belle Starr, a bonny lass

Scout and I finally got to Asheville, North Carolina Friday afternoon, two months and 6000+ miles after I left Palm Springs with my new-to-me van, Belle Starr’s title in hand. 

It was a circuitous journey, after taking a plane from Washington state to Palm Springs, visiting with my dear friend, Yolanda and her handsome husband, Scott in Desert Hot Springs and buying Belle Starr from them: driving to Palm Desert to visit my ex-niece-in-law Sally and her hubs George; over to Yucaipa to show Belle to my mechanic friend, Lou, and get some repairs done; then to L.A. to meet my writers’ workshop-mates Patricia, Daniel, and Ildiko in person instead of Zoom; down to San Diego to visit friends Joyce and David; up the West Coast to see friends Linda, Nelda and Jerry; then zip over to eastern Washington state to pick up Scout, pack my stuff, and bid farewell to Larah, Chuck and fam before heading across Idaho (and visiting Delisa), Montana, North Dakota, and Northern Minnesota, where I stopped to see my old friend Ruth and another friend, David.

Then, it was down to St. Paul to see my cousin Bill and his wife, Karen, and a quick coffee date with the beautiful Giesla; further down to Missouri where Deborah waited with her friend Wendy to help tear out Belle’s fragrance-soaked carpet; and at last to the Oklahoma home of my best friend and movie star, Linda May. (You may remember her from Nomadland.)

It shouldn’t have taken so long to get to Asheville, but I didn’t feel safe driving any farther than that until I could find out, and fix, what was wrong with Belle Starr’s steering. That took longer than it should have, but at last I found Buck, who was willing to weld two tiny cracks in the frame (everyone else had turned me down, saying they were worried about liability.) After that, Firestone did a speedy fix on the steering. 

I wound up staying in Oklahoma for nearly a month, a pleasant one at that. Linda and I binge-watched the entire (so far) Outlander series together, and then started over.  And may I say that I LOVED it, in spite of my normal snobbiness toward romance novels? Now I’m thinking with a Scottish accent.

We gabbed and ate and napped and visited Linda’s daughter and her family. We played musical rooms with my dog Scout and Linda’s cat Prissy, who must never be in the same room together. On the last morning, we hugged and got misty-eyed, and hugged good-bye again.

After that, it was a straight shot (well, not exactly straight) on I-40 all the way to Asheville, with one quick stop in Memphis to see my good friends, Brenda and Dan.

Now, we are here and I am suffering from post-roadtrip letdown. I am bone tired and anxious, suddenly faced with the reality of my impulsive decision to drop everything and relearn how to be a nomad. I forgot how stressful it is to worry about where I’m going to park tonight, how bad it feels to know that, when I’m not gunning down the highway, I’m considered homeless.

I’ll figure it out, just like I did ten years ago. I’ll find some good spots in the nearby national forest to camp, make some friends, and learn my way around this beautiful city. My son, Robby and I have been hanging out, enjoying each other’s company.

AND — we’ve decided to look for a place together!

I’m looking forward to that, because I’ve discovered that I am no longer a full-time nomad at heart. Occasional road trips and visits with friends, absolutely. I loved seeing everyone along the way and hope to see them again someday. But for now, I’m done.

If you want to see me, I’ll be waiting right here in Asheville to give you the tour. It’s a beautiful place. I should have learned my way around by the time you get here.

Love,

LaVonne

p.s. Belle Starr is so pretty, I have had no less than two inquiries already about buying her. Um, no thanks.

p.p.s. I should note that every single one of the friends and relatives I saw insisted on giving me something to help me on my journey. My gratitude is overflowing, you guys!