So frustrating just when you were getting going again. You never seemed to me to do demoralized for long. I’m glad you’re taking a pause to take care of yourself. Hopefully Genny is right and that it’s nothing that will keep you from continuing. Sending brain waves of tech support too.

Hi Genny,

Thanks so much! I think that makes the most sense but I am going to have an eye doctor look at it Monday. Better safe than sorry. Plus that way I wont be thinking about and worrying. 👍

Karen

Hi Karen,
I am enjoying your journal. Your eye symptoms sound exactly like something I experienced a year or two ago and my better half experienced about a year before that. The eye doc said it was tearing of the vitreous humor (the gelatinous substance that fills the posterior of the eye) away from the retina and that it was common in older folks and the symptoms go away over time (like over a couple years in my case.) It is not dangerous. Probably a good idea to have it checked to be sure but likely it is not something to worry about too much. Safe travels!

Hi Keith,

Thanks. I will do my best! ☺️

Hi Karen

Sorry to read you are struggling so soon. Hope you can get past it quickly.

The support and encouragement shown to me in my moments of doubt have been a real buoy and help, so I'm hoping this will have the same benefit for you.

Besides, I have a vested interest in seeing you succeed: I need those advance scouting reports.

All kidding aside, do take care of yourself and be mindful of the messages your body is trying to give. Hope the extra rest day does the trick.

Take care Karen. ❤️🥳

Hope you took it a little easier today. This is supposed to be a REST from your job!

Tailwinds!

I'll be about 23 days behind you and will be eagerly following your ride to see what I can learn.

Great to see you back on the road! Looking forward to your journal!

Hi john,

Sounds good. I will keep an eye out for you!

Karen

I’m currently on the TransAm in eastern Kansas heads to Canon City to rendezvous with two friends who are doing exactly what you are, finishing what they started.

I’ll be passing through Pueblo, of course. I’m posting my progress on my blog, Rootchopper.com, because that’s where my family expects to see updates. I’ll make the posts into a journal once I’m done.

I’m about two weeks from Canon City so keep an eye out for me.

Hi Keith,

Hopefully the weather cooperates but this time I am pushing forward no matter what.

If I am honest I think about 5% of last year's decision was that I was feeling bad about leaving the dog last year. It wasn't an ideal situation for her and it was tugging on me a bit. This year my brother will have her so I don't have that little nagging in the back of my mind. The heat was the main thing but the dog sort of swayed me over the top...

Anyway I am leave earlier in June and I am super excited.

We will both have a great trip!

I hope the weather this year is a bit less extreme, as I will be covering this same route- and staying in some of the very same places- starting in early July.

I'm relatively heat-tolerant, up to a point, but it's not ideal and as you pointed out can be outright life-threatening if not carefully managed. So I hope to have the weather gods simply make it a non-issue for me.

And for you too, as you'll be a week or two ahead of me...

You were in Terrebonne, and this is your photo?? Where is Smith Rock??? 😑