A Fool's Progress: Anchors Aweigh

Well it is finally here. Launch day. The big moment. And I feel vaguely
shitty.

It is my own fault. I was jumpy as hell last night as I expected I would
be. After getting as much of my gear ready as possible, I was far too
wired for sleep. So I went down into town and had a couple beers. Then I
came home and had more beers.

This morning as the sun chases the mist from the yard, I come to the
realization that the world is glad I didnt become a doctor; I
overmedicated by quite a bit last night. The prospect of riding into the
rising sun with a hangover is rather daunting. So it is time to suck it
up mister tough guy biker.

I am about as prepared as I can be. One minor detail still nags me. When
I put the green goose together the first time years back, it was an
assemblage of parts. I dutifully got it inspected and registered. But no
title. In this state you can do that but the title remains "in doubt"
for three years. If no issue arises regarding ownership in that time,
you can then get a legal title. This is year 4. I neglected to apply for
the title. My registration notes that there is no title. That could
cause a problem. It is not a difficult task to deal with. I just have to
stop by a Motor Vehicle License franchise and pay a few dollars. I tried
to do it yesterday but I was caught without enough cash, no checkbook
and they dont take plastic. So I am faced with three options: Wait until
the local office opens at 10AM. The gnomes in hobnailed boots scuffing
around my brain pan are encouraging me to take that option. But that
means a late start and fewer miles. I can stop in at a larger town on my
way and try to find an office. That has to happen by 2PM as that is when
most offices close up on a Saturday. There is a good chance I wont find
one or will miss the window. Finally, I can just ignore it and hope for
the best.

Well it is now 7:30 AM. I'm burning daylight. I've had my coffee. The
aspirin seems to be calming the jackbooted thugs beating on my bruised
brain. The dryer buzzer went off indicating my clothes are ready for
packing. Time to cast off and head out. Compared to other folks who go
around the world on a motorcycle or some other great challenge, this
doesnt seem like much. I am just riding an old bike around the US. It
isnt like I have to deal with border guards and bandits speaking foreign
tongues; or wastelands like the Road of Bones. But to me this is a great
adventure. I have the same sweaty palms and nervous stomach that the
great adventurers have when the Launch Day finally arrives.

As a final note: I will post here when I can. The blog accepts email
posts; which is good because with a cruddy or expensive connection,
email will work faster and better than web. But pictures, if any, will
be few. Those will have to wait until I return home.

I can be reached via email: zerhackermannATasphaltsea.com (AT = @)