Ready, Set, MAYBE!

I’m preparing to move out and head south tomorrow. Maybe. Over the past six weeks, I’ve had almost $2000 worth of repair and maintenance done to my truck and when I went out to start it yesterday it refused with the same symptom that got it into repair six weeks ago! Fifteen minutes later, it started just fine. One friend just sent me a not that he’d had chronic engine problems with his 2013 F150 as well and that was why he traded it in for a 2017. Well, that’s unlikely. As much as I’d like to trade up, there is no money in the bank for that.

I finished my 2017 income tax yesterday and got it filed a whole two days before the October 15 deadline. Fortunately, I made a large payment with my extension and didn’t owe anything more. I plan to do some better bookkeeping for this year.

Right.

WYSIWIG

Last night was the Black Tie/White Glove dinner at Sun Meadow and I stayed here specifically so I could attend. Had a moment of panic when I couldn’t find my tie. I’d just worn it at New Year’s Eve! Some one said that was ten months ago. How time flies. Well, it was with my cufflinks, where it should have been. I just couldn’t remember where I’d put them. And the cuffs and collar. I suppose that if I celebrate New Year’s Eve this year, I’ll have to wear clothes.

I had a great trip back to Seattle for the three Fs, friends, family, and physicians. Michele and Jason have a new home and kindly invited me to stay with them. Really beautiful but the week convinced me over again that I’ll never own one again.

The lake in M&J's back yard was a convincing argument for home ownership!

I was very happy to spend time with Quinne during the week even though she is very busy with work. Dinner with her boss was also delightful. Very nice woman with a lot of common interests. Q and I, of course, talked about writing, travel, and her promise to visit me in Quartzsite in December. It happens that her book is set in a National Wildlife Preserve not too far from Quartzsite and she’s applying for permits to visit it while she’s there. Definitely need to make sure the truck is dependable!

Then it was on to the Washington Cigar and Spirits Festival at Snoqualmie Casino Saturday night. Sister Kim and Nephew Brendan joined me. We met up with Mike and Sue and had a great time.

Me, Brendan, Kim against the hazy background of cigar smoke.

Brendan wants to be included on our annual get-together from now on. Food was good. Spirits were good. Cigars were good. Company was good. All wrapped up to be a good night.

Then I headed back to Spokane to have dinner with Dennis and Jackie before spending the night at Mike and Sue’s so I could pick up my trailer after maintenance and having some badly needed repairs done at Camping World ($2000!). As usual, I stopped at every rest area and twice for coffee. That’s six rest areas. I skipped the Starbucks at Moses Lake because it is so hard to get in and out of. Only hit the ones at Ellensburg and Ritzville. There are some very impressive rest areas on I-90 across Washington and I’ve been to each many, many times.

Sprague Rest Area west of Spokane. From here, the next rest area eastbound is in Idaho!

I’m already beginning to wonder how many rest areas there will be along my proposed route south. I’m taking a route I haven’t tried before, cutting over from Boise to Twin Falls and then south on US 93 to Vegas. I might continue south on 93 until I reach I-40 and not cut into California at all on this trip. We’ll see.

My proposed route south is on US 95 to Boise, I-84 to Twin Falls, and US 93
through Las Vegas and on to Kingman, AZ. I-40 west to Arizona 95
and from there south into Quartzsite.
Anyone along that route to visit???

How I get back in the spring is still subject to discussion. This is such a direct route that it is tempting but it is also pretty much deserted. Last year I came a good ways east and up through Kansas and across southern Wyoming. I might do a central Oregon trip this year. I guess I’ll find out when it’s time to start north.

Well, if you are located anywhere along that route, let me know. Company for a glass of wine or a cup of coffee is always welcome!

The time has come to get things posted and update my other sites. Here is a reminder, though. I survive and subsist on my writing and Federal Benefits, otherwise known as Social Security. People often look at my carefree lifestyle as a full-time RVer. (After seeing all the number of repair people who came through M and J’s house a week ago, I was going around singing “Yo ho ho, the trailer life for me!”)

But here are the facts. I’m going to Quartzsite for the winter because I can get a site for my trailer for six months with electric, water, and sewer for $200 a month. Every penny above that which isn’t used for food will go to paying off the maintenance on my trailer and truck from this fall ($4,000).

I have a Patreon page where people who enjoy my writing and want to keep me on the road can contribute anything from a dollar up each month. It’s at www.patreon.com/nathaneverett. The page is fairly new, so there aren’t many supporters signed up yet. I’d like to invite you to join my community.

And here’s the big bonus: Members who join by the first of November at the $10 level will have access to the first draft of my new novel Wild Woods, the sequel to City Limits, as I write it in November. Your chance to not only contribute to the success of your favorite author but also to contribute ideas and suggestions as the story progresses. I love engaging with readers and invite you to read along.

That’s the end of the commercial. More exciting news from the road as I turn south next week.