wanderlust

Getting reactions

It's been fun telling people about my trip and seeing their responses. Often it's stunned silence. Often it's reflected excitement, even jealousy. Today I told a lot of people at church about my plans. I never seem to tire of sharing the details. As things are coming closer to an end and a beginning, I'm torn between sadness over leaving and excitement over going.

Some updated numbers:
• Work days remaining: 3.
• Days until departure: 10.
• Estimated days of travel: 90.
• Estimated miles: 10,500.
• Estimated destinations:

I'm excited that you're excited

I just want to say thanks to everyone who is e-mailing and commenting with suggestions, questions and healthy doses of jealousy. Sharing my excitement with friends and strangers is only making it grow; it's very big already, so in another three weeks I imagine it will be difficult to contain.

I'm not a math whiz, and the less I use it, the more I forget, but here are some fun numbers:
• Work days remaining: 11 and a half.
• Days until departure: 21.
• States and provinces to traverse: 37 (at least).
• Friends to visit and meet: as many as will have me.

And now I'm off to eat lunch and enjoy the rest of my 12th-to-last day at work.

Itinerary: First draft

23 (or 24) days until departure. Planning my route is the main thing on my mind of late. I'll be visiting friends along the way, but I'll also be visiting some places just for the heck of it or because I like the name or the idea of it.

It's looking like one big, crazy loop, with a few zig-zags and a lot of unknown detours. Here's what I have so far: