The Best Laid Plans...

My goal was to leave for Cary, NC on Wednesday the 9th at 1130am in order to get there between 730 - 830pm.  That was the plan and as the adage goes "the best laid plans...", umm, ahh well I don't actually know how the saying goes, so suffice it to say they typically get frakked up.  (Just Googled this saying and it reads:  "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry," (H, I know you are proud of me looking that up, me and my non web savvy self.))

It started the night before.  Didn't plan on getting home as late as I did.  Didn't plan on packing taking so long, considering I had already laid out the clothing that I was taking.  Didn't plan on it looking like I was going away for 55 years with all the bags that I have.  Didn't plan on the luggage for the motorcycle only holding 3 pairs of jeans, 6 pairs of shorts, 10 tee shirts, a thin blankets, couple of long sleeve tees and that's it.  Seriously if I wasn't 6'3" and if my clothing did use so much material I could have packed a ton more.   No I'm serious. Didn't plan on going to bed at 4am.  Didn't plan on my mom calling me at 840am asking me if I'm up and "I thought you were leaving at 1130am why are you still asleep."  (Love you mom!) Didn't plan on family and friends calling to wish me well on my adventure.  Didn't plan on having to call my motorcycle shop 4 times to see if the new helmet I ordered came in as they promised it would on Tuesday.  (No, it wasn't in.)  Didn't plan on the 6'3" clothing in the luggage being so heavy and having to carry it all in one shot because there was no was I was leaving some stuff with the bike while I went back upstairs to get the rest.  Didn't plan on the bungee cord snapping and almost taking my finger off.  Didn't plan on the loading of the bike taking so long.  Didn't plan on answering all the questions from passers-by  in my neighborhood.  Didn't plan on having to stop so often to adjust my knapsack that appears destined to slide off of the really cheap Aero bed duffle bag that it's resting on.  At last count I stopped 15 times (I exaggerate more like 30) to adjust the stupid bad before it finally got it right.  Didn't plan for rush hour traffic in the Maryland, DC area.  Yuck, ycuk, ycku.  Didn't plan on only going 200 miles in 5 hours.  What the hell is that about?  Was going to try and do the remaining 300+ miles to Cary, NC but stopped after only going 100 more.  Hunger and tiredness reigned supreme.  So I got a hotel room.  

Didn't plan for any of these things but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Rule number one whilst vagabonding:  be flexible.  

Had I made plans to fly American to Cary, NC today I would be extremely ticked off.  (If you are reading this after the fact American canceled over 1000+ flights today.)

I've taken a picture of the motorcycle and will update it when I get to Cary, NC.  

- Wil