You can appreciate why she needs the support, and I like to “spread the...The Punter’s Landing; or, Touched Down in a New Town
Ξ June 22nd, 2009 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Slice of (Real) Life |
Well, I’m back! Crap, that was the worst move EVER. I’m finally getting things sorted out, but it’s slow going. VERY slow. But this pace is a welcome relief from the hectic and frantic weeks leading up to the actual move, which was a nightmare. God. Glad that’s behind me! I’m already blotting it all out of my mind, so I’ll recap if I can, while I can…
The good news: I got the 26-foot diesel-fueled moving van picked up on time, which was a minor miracle since I had no way to transport myself to the Budget pick-up lot about ten miles away. But the owner of the lot said that he’d pick me up early and bring me there since I was on his way to work. For twenty bucks 
THEN the Mormons who’d offered to help me load couldn’t come on that Thursday, so the truck was left empty as I continued to pack up a three-bedroom house worth of belongings (crammed into a 1 and 1/2 bedroom house). They did come on Friday though and after just the couple of guys who’d bicycled over saw the enormity of the load, called for reinforcements. Shortly thereafter, I had another 8 guys who rapidly filled the truck up. But… they had to leave by five PM, leaving ME with a lot of stuff still to cram in. So after loading the heaviest stuff, they left me to my own devices. Which pretty much were nonexistent. Two arms, two legs and a sleepy-head, ’nuff said…
That night after loading more into the truck I gave out around 3AM and slept on an air mattress on the floor, rose at around 9AM on Saturday and continued with loading all the “light stuff” that still needed boxing, such as clothes and etc. I kept expecting to be leaving at just any moment, but always there was more… always more… Loads of books, magazines, memorabilia, collectibles… You wouldn’t believe all the stuff I simply had to leave behind. Just no room in the truck, and already way overdue to get the truck unloaded and returned on time by Tuesday morning.
I’ll cut to the chase: I finally left the place around 5AM Sunday morning after being up (and working my ass off) for twenty hours. Ready to take on a 900-mile move? Oh yeah; let’s GO!!! So I put Pennie’s litter box and food & water dishes on the floor of the passenger side, put her in her carrier box (she did notgo willingly, big surprise), and various bags of necessities/snacks beneath the seat and took off.
One little aside about Google Maps: They lie. Well, they got the mileage right; it was902 miles. But a fourteen hour trip? Noooo….. not exactly. Fourteen hours later I was still in Oregon, around Roseburg if I recall. (I also was utilizing the Rest Areas along the way; it was really a tiresome challenge to steer this huge truck.) See, they don’t actually figure into the equation that a moving van’s best speed will be around 55mph and will only take grades at about 30-35 miles an hour. There had been very few up to that point. I had no idea what was ahead for me LOL But I was determined to drive straight through to my destination, an “undisclosed location” south of Sacramento.
Pretty much everything between Roseburg’s southern vicinity and the border between Oregon and California is uphill. So, it took me another four hours to climb over Grant’s Pass, through Ashland, and finally cross the border. Where it started raining right at the Inspection Station where all vehicles must stop. I’d been up at that point for about 38 hours, and I guess it was telling, because the Inspector recommended that I get to the Rest Area ahead for some sleep. On the three-mile drive there the rain began to POUR down; I could barely see the road. Visions of the truck crashing and scattering my belongings all over the highway flashed before my eyes (where that particular scenario had been playing out constantly for some time during this insane drive). I drove on…
At the Rest Area, I tried to sleep but couldn’t; the rain was too loud, like the impatient drumming of horned demons’ fingers tapping on the roof as if to say, “Get on with it! You can make it; what’s a little water?” Well, it was a LOT of water, and it was falling in sheets that draped across the roadways and off the cliffs on the other side of the shoulders. Finally after 45 minutes, a break. I thought if I could make it to Yreka, I could get a motel room, because with the last of my senses failing, a good decent night’s sleep was absolutely necessary. Dodging bullets of rainwater I finally got through; the rain was now very light and manageable. At 1AM I checked in and was given a very nice room (AND SHOWER!!!)… after a refreshing dinner/breakfast at Denny’s I slept the sleep of the just-too-tired.
I checked out at noon and resumed my journey. Pennie was doing as well as could be expected; at my very first stop I’d let her out of her carrier and she’d scooted under the seat and stayed there pretty much the whole time. Once she did get up on the seat to look around but at the first sign of instability on the road she retreated to her Safe Place. She’s a curious kitty but not all THAT curious! Believe me, she and I both were more than happy to finally get onto California’s straight and level highway!
I made it to my destination around 8PM. I would’ve kissed the ground but (a) couldn’t bend, and (b) it’s dirty, y’know.
So: here I am in my new Location, a total oppositeof where I’d come from; from the cool, moist, and friendly San Juan Islands into the fiery heart of California’s troubled Central Valley. Where it’s HOT. As an example: After my brother and my new room mate finished helping me unload what we could keep and fit here (which took two days), I had to take the truck back to the Budget place, where I would need to store the rest, probably around 1/4 of the full load. Left alone, I toiled in 98-degree heat and in about 3-4 hours finally got it inside te storage unit, the truck returned (two days late), and then unbound from my obligation, finally on my way home. 98 frickin’ degrees :-O
Oh well… once beyond 88 it’s all the same, pretty much. But what do I know? I just got here 
Aside from a funeral trip in 2003, I hadn’t been in Cali since September 2001. Things have changed, but a lot has not. I kind of feel happy to be back, and definitely happy to see my family and friends whom I haven’t seen in so long. But I’m still sorting things out, setting up new accounts etc etc etc and am essentially still in a major daze. Moving. UGH. You know how it goes, right?
That’s enough for now; that made me tired again LOL Shortly I’ll make a new Post regarding first impressions and all that, which are still forthcoming. Hey, what IS Life anyway without a few earth-shaking experiences to deal with (and get through)?
Perseverance furthers, yes it does 
on June 29th, 2009 at 4:15 am
So you’re back, Rob
Considering what you wrote here, it seems that your journey was quite adventurous, moving can be quite challenging for body and soul, especially if things don’t go as planned. But you probably have already managed the hardest part and can laugh off the overcome obstacles, in retrospect most things shine in a different light ^^
You travelled really far, 900 miles by truck is quite a feat. I travelled 550 miles (~14 hours) by car some years ago and it was a real ordeal.
So I wish you and Pennie the best for your settling in period ^^
on June 29th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Yep, I’m back! The journey was *so* adventurous that I didn’t dare print all of it here. There’s a limit to how much information Visitors can absorb and/or pass on LOL
tl;dr… it’s a Thing
All that remains now is to find employment, and then I can focus on once again trying to get the novel published, only now with a renewed vigor.
Oh, and doing the drive all over again, after (hopefully) retrieving my own truck out from storage up there. Gotta have wheels in this town, especially if seeking a job!
Man, I’ve attempted so many leaps of faith over the last few years that I feel like I’ve been mostly flying all the time, and through a dream at that! Hoping for a touch-down really soon
Pennie is doing better than I am; at least she doesn’t have bills to pay LOL She isn’t visible anywhere in the house, so I’m presuming that she’s happliy asleep, lying beneath Lily-doll’s feet in the closet
So we’re all pretty happy for the moment, depending on whether I can “sell” my transfer papers tomorrow morning. Crossing fingers and keeping the faith
Thanks for your good wishes (and for all of those from “The Invisibles” out there)
~Rob