So i'm sitting here in Nashville,
Tennessee, USA approximately 3/5th my planned route. Let
me give a short recap on the transit situation. Initially I had
pre-purchased my Megabus tickets for this itinerary route-
friend ride from Duluth to Minneapolis,
Minneapolis-Madison
Madison to Chicago
Chicago to Milwaukee
Milwaukee to Chicago
Chicago to Louisville
Louisville to Nashville
Nashville to Atlanta
Atlanta to New Orleans
All these had between 2 and 4 days at
each stop. It should have taken 18 days and cost a total of $65 with
service fees. What actually transpired is completely different as I
am about to illuminate.
From Madison, I realized that going to
Chicago before Milwaukee was not the brightest plan, so when I could
not find a host in Chicago through the largest HospEx site(not to be
mentioned due to the sale of volunteers labor), I bought ANOTHER bus
ticket on Badger Lines(bloody Wisconsonians) directly to my brothers
families house in Milwaukee. Add $15.
Then when I planned to leave Milwaukee
to Chicago, I mis-read the times and missed the bus.
Waste $12. OK, I can support the
USA's Rail infrastructure for another $24 dollars(opting for arrival
1hr faster at a $9 increase over the Greyhound lines).
After staying in Louisville for a few
extra days, I “finally” realized the ineffectiveness of planning
a trip. So shuffling the Megabus tickets around a little, I hitch
hike from Louisville(actually 1/3 the distance because my host Jeremy
drove me so far out the city), it was not a straight city-to-city
attempt. Save $25
Waiting a short time before getting a
ride directly into downtown Nashville(even when the driver lived 20
miles east, suburb), I am now relaxing in the cool AC of a busy
saloon.
I now have scheduled a Megabus route to
Memphis in 4 days time(due to the fact going to Atlanta is even
farther out of the way than the previous C-town>Milwaukee plan,
Duh). When I get to Memphis, I need to decide if putting a bicycle
together and pedaling along the Mississippi River/ Natchez Trace
Route is feasible given my poor physical stature and well-known
inability to finish any real project I start.
It has recently occurred to me that
regretting a decision after I cannot alter the fact is only
inhibiting my sense of well-being and not actually dragging down the
rest of the world. Given the fact my pre-purchased route cost less
then half a direct Greyhound ticket, I have still managed to spend
over budget while having a good time. The chance encounters I get
with hosts and friends more than makes up for it. Now what I really
need to consider is if throwing caution to the wind and going with
what comes my way is really the best way to travel.
With an open time-frame and imagination
running wild, i'll tip back a pint or 2 during this here happy hour
and consider what I should do.
Damn it's hot down here. Even after
trimming un-necessities from my backpack, I still know there is more
that needs to go. If I have to carry my house on my back, best to
make it a Studio Apt as opposed to a Mansion.
