My van is in the shop today, getting a thorough once-over before the trip.  Because the weather around the country has been so unsettled, and also because I plan to drive to Alaska, where roads can be rugged, I am having my winter tires put on.  The tread is deep, and I think the tires will grip the road better.  It may mean gas mileage will suffer a bit, but I am more concerned about safety and stability.

Among the features of my van are a bench seat that becomes a bed; a refrigerator; a makeshift toilet, created using an orange bucket from a well-known big box home improvement store, lined with a plastic bag and topped with a toilet seat and lid; a free-standing plastic sink with a base that holds 5 gallons of (cold) water; a small TV; newly installed toaster oven that air-fries along with the usual stuff a toaster oven does, and a microwave; and little cubbies filled with whatever I am convinced I will need on the trip: pots and pans, utensils, clothes, shoes, coffee maker, camp stove, food, water, pet stuff, electronics, blankets, etc. I think I have packed, unpacked and repacked the van around 40 times, and doubtless will continue doing so until Saturday morning.

{“colorSpace”:”kCGColorSpaceDisplayP3″,”cameraType”:”Wide”,”macroEnabled”:false,”qualityMode”:2,”deviceTilt”:-0.022448792621891922,”customExposureMode”:0,”extendedExposure”:false,”whiteBalanceProgram”:0,”cameraPosition”:1,”focusMode”:0}

{“colorSpace”:”kCGColorSpaceDisplayP3″,”cameraType”:”Wide”,”macroEnabled”:false,”qualityMode”:2,”deviceTilt”:0.042938283440993708,”customExposureMode”:0,”extendedExposure”:false,”whiteBalanceProgram”:0,”cameraPosition”:1,”focusMode”:0}

{“colorSpace”:”kCGColorSpaceDisplayP3″,”cameraType”:”Wide”,”macroEnabled”:false,”qualityMode”:2,”deviceTilt”:0.083685978916268944,”customExposureMode”:0,”extendedExposure”:false,”whiteBalanceProgram”:0,”cameraPosition”:1,”focusMode”:0}

{“colorSpace”:”kCGColorSpaceDisplayP3″,”cameraType”:”Wide”,”macroEnabled”:false,”qualityMode”:2,”deviceTilt”:0.10601680466348018,”customExposureMode”:0,”extendedExposure”:false,”whiteBalanceProgram”:0,”cameraPosition”:1,”focusMode”:0}

{“colorSpace”:”kCGColorSpaceDisplayP3″,”cameraType”:”Wide”,”macroEnabled”:false,”qualityMode”:2,”deviceTilt”:0.011137221991067481,”customExposureMode”:0,”extendedExposure”:false,”whiteBalanceProgram”:0,”cameraPosition”:1,”focusMode”:0}

My auto mechanic installed a back-up camera for me, and I have a dash cam as well.  The dash cam can record sound as well as picture. This is an added safety feature, so that if I am stopped for any reason, or have an encounter  with someone who makes me uncomfortable, I have a means to capture the moment. I also have a loud keychain alarm, a gift from my friend Helene.  Last week, as I was shopping, there was a loud noise, and people all around me—including me!—were looking around for the source.  After a moment of confusion, I realized *I* was the source—I had accidentally pulled the pin on the alarm in my pocket! So I know it works.

All of my medical appointments are completed.  The pets’ appointments are on Thursday.  They will be brought up-to-date on shots and checked for health. Along with pages of my own medical issues, immunizations and medications, I will have copies of their licenses, rabies cerificates, and health certificates. This way, I can document their immunizations and health, and, should they need to go into a kennel for any reason, they’ll be protected.

The house is nearly ready as well.  I have people scheduled to check it out, a place for mail forwarding, and security installed. I am worried about the sumps in the basement. They are a constant source of aggravation, and I have determined that nothing horrible will happen if they fail; the cement floor will be wet and yucky, but nothing that can’t be fixed when I get home. Never having been away from home for such a long timeframe, I can’t quite wrap my mind around not sleeping in my own bed, or being out of familiar territory for so long.

Planning where I will go and stay is still fluid.  I have maps of all the states and Canadian provinces and territories, a road atlas, various books about different regions, and a few articles that intrigued me. I am making reservations as I go along, somewhat risky business, as I may not always be able to find campgrounds with last minute, short-term spaces. I am leery of staying in Walmart parking lots, though during last year’s travels I saw a number of RVs parked in the lots.  In 1993, Ifound several manned rest stops where I felt safe enough to take a quick nap if I was too tired to keep driving.  Having the pets means I will be making frequent stops so they can stretch their legs and relieve themselves, as well as stretch my own legs and take a break from the open road.  In my experience, RVers and campers are a friendly, helpful group.  Traveling solo sparks people’s curiosity, and garners the good kind of attention. There is always someone around with advice or help to fix a problem, and often I am invited to join someone for a meal or come to their campfire.  On my last trip, I invited people to join me.  We are still in touch, and, in fact, I hope to meet up with them during my travels.This is one of the best things about camping: the opportunity to meet new people and hear their stories!