The end was almost here. Yesterday, I drove approximately 500 miles and today I needed to cover another 500 miles, making the final descent into Houston, Texas. This was way too much driving, which makes it a pure roadtrip because litterally the time was spent on the road. Looking back, I should have asked for 3 weeks off instead of 2 because this would allow me to spend a day each in each of the southern states, not that I wanted terribly to stay in certain states. At this point, I already missed over half a week of work.
The morning started in the worst possible manner. About an hour before the sun rose, my tummy started aching indicating oncoming diarhea, but I tried to fall back asleep, but couldn't. I knew that it would probably feel worst if I waited too long. Since this was a parking area, and not a rest stop, there were no bathrooms. So instead of sleeing, I headed down the interstate trying to find a bathroom. Then a sign for a KOA camp area was ahead, and that's where I headed. By the time I got there, it was still dark, and no one seemed to be up except for the truck that followed me in. I parked at the entrance and went looking for the restrooms. The pain got so bad, I contemplated running into the bushes before finding the restroom. Finally, I found the restroom way in the back of the campsite just in time. It was very clean. That KOA saved my life. After I finished, I headed back to headquarters, and checked the camping prices, and they were shockingly high- almost $20 to set up a tent. That's not much cheaper than a low budget motel.
During the whole road trip, this was the only case of diarhea. After using the bathroom at KOA, I didn't get it again. I still suspect it's the Potomac water or a very, very slight chance the food from Food Rama in West Virginia. Now I'm worried the Katadyn filter may not be doing it's job, because ever since I started drinking the filtered water, my stomach has been on the edge, and didn't fall over until this morning. What a terrible way to start the last day of the roadtrip.
I stopped at a picnic area inside a very small town to sleep a few more hours.
The day was hot and long as I eventually made it into Lousiana. As I entered Lousiana, there were prisoners cutting grass and wearing shirts which labeled them as inmates. Of course they were supervised. It's good to see things like that since it makes them work, and gives them some experience (albeit nothing difficult), and keeps them occupied. This was problably a low security prison since the inmates all looked young.
I didn't want to stop at Harrah's casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but I had a couple of $2.5 chips from a while back I wanted to cash in. And that's all I did, as well as stopped at a couple of blackjack tables to practice counting.
Unfortunately, I accidentally set off the car alarm, and it took me about 30 minutes to play with it before getting the engine to start. I was kind of worried I would be stuck here for hours, just like on the first night of this road trip.
Another 2 hours of driving and I arrived back in Houston late in the evening. Tired and beat. The roadtrip came to and end as I drove into the driveway and unloaded my camping gear. My skin is a lot darker, and my hair is a lot greasier. Either later this year, or early next year, I will be off on another roadtrip, but this time it will be at least 3 weeks. Or possibly go backpacking and camping somewhere in Hawaii.
Every roadtrip is a priceless experience. I always learn something new about myself and about the society. I'll never meet most of the people I've seen again, but that's the wonder of wandering- the experience of the journey. It's not where we are going, it's how we find out destinations and how we get there. Some people will take the path most travelled, while others will throw in the safeguards, and take risks, travelling the little known roads. Life is what we make of it.