I listed the house For Sale last Wednesday and had a house showing on Thursday. The people liked the lot and location but just needed more square footage.

I had another one scheduled Sunday afternoon but they ended up having to cancel & reschedule. It’s all good – two showings scheduled in only four days is okay with me.

🏠

Last Saturday one of my cousins came out and took a bunch of stuff. They came back last night to get the couch and a dresser along with a few keepsakes. They are coming back Saturday to get even more. That really helps all of us out, and it means the last of the big stuff will be gone. I can deal with most everything else on my own. This is a huge relief and takes some pressure off of me trying to find someone to help.

They will get the rest of what they want this coming Saturday and it will make a huge difference. I get to get rid of things I do not need and family gets some things they need and will use. That also gives me more room to stage what is left in the garage to take to storage when ready. It will be fairly empty inside the whole living area except for a few boxes, basic everyday stuff, kitchen things and my bed & nightstand. Working my way out the door.

I think I have one trip left to donate stuff and that will be done tomorrow. I won’t make a dump run unless I have enough stuff to go. Last dump run will be when I leave for good so I can take the last of the garbage out. I think I will probably have two more trips to get rid of stuff and that will be done.

The basement is still the biggest thing left but I wanted the living areas taken care of most to start showing the house. I also have a systyem I am using; I will need to bring stuff up to go to storage but I want to get everything in one area so I can measure out how much storage I need.

Monday night I moved everything out of the house and into the garage that I could move. I also brought some things up from the basement as I took some paintbrushes and other wall-repairing supplies downstairs.

I have not been in the trailer much lately so I also organized things in there and packed a few containers with things that need to be in there for my upcoming adventure. I tend to buy deals in bulk for a year or so, and I loaded up the trailer with my stash of toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, dental rinse, paper towels, deodorant…anything extra I can use and already have on-hand.

It is really nice having the baskets to organize the cabinets in the trailer. It is making life so much easier with just the few things I am packing so far. Things won’t slide around or go very far if they do, plus it helps spread the weight around to keep the cabinet bottom panels from bowing. This will also help in keeping groceries in the same place for each trip so it is easier to see what I have, what I need, and how much space I have for a few extras. I have a few leftover baskets to put canned goods in down low storage.

I have been debating winterizing it but if the house looks like it is going to sell then I can leave on the day of closing. I don’t want to go through the process twice plus I do wanna camp!

This has been a long, arduous, sometimes-painful process. It feels good to not be rushed but it feels better to just have some things done. I have cleaned the garage and the living areas already so I have the house in pretty good shape. and with the showings I have to keep it that way.

🛣️

Over the last several nights I began looking at some websites in anticipation of my pending adventure. I was checking out some of the things there are to see along the various westward routes I am considering taking. I do want to take some alternate routes during parts of my wandering but do not really have a plan. I have been on many of the potential routes in questionable weather and they are not really where I want to be pulling a trailer in winter if possible.

My guess is that there will be several POI (Points Of Interest) only open seasonally so those places I will need to check on since if too many are closed then it is just not worth the detour. I guess it’s not like I need to be anywhere so it is just extra time.

Admittedly, I do love technology, but there is nothing for a road trip quite like a road atlas or a stack of state maps. Or both plus the AAA guidebooks for offline campsite listings so you can still find your way signal or not. I just like to have paper to look at the bgger picture easier.

There are long stretches of even interstate highways that are in remote areas. On the “Blue Highways” it can be even more remote in some areas so you need to make sure you have what you need – especially traveling through these areas. With the high prices some things may not be easy to find or expensive if you do find them. This is something to keep in mind if you are worried about mechanical issues or fuel availability/price while traveling – especially while towing.

It is tough when trying to plan lengthy travel this time of year. You need to avoid heading too far south to avoid backtracking to go back north, but the weather can be a little concerning this time of year and it may be challenging on some mountain passes. I do try to avoid those when possible because it is hard on the tow vehicle.

Knowing routes west out of here like I do I know that it is a gamble this time of year for most of the northern routes heading west. It gets better the further south you go but I want to head north.

This will be some adventure I believe! One huge difference between now and 2012 is that I am not simply heading to a job or a place to live; I am simply heading out…into the next chapter of my life.

I will have no real deadlines to be someplace so I can explore. I will have no residence to go to. It will be total freedom,

See you next time.

Shawn