Adjust the chair, check rear view mirror,ensure a proportion of the drivers door handle is seen in the bottom right hand Corner of the side mirror. Are just a few of the the things you must check before you begin your travels. And that is exactly what I did. Fastening the black fabric against my chest,pushing me flat against the seat, waiting for satisfying click of the buckle,before inserting the key into the ignition and pushing the clutch up and choosing my first gear. Then I set off into the concrete roads, avoiding the plentiful potholes that filled my path. I could not afford to fix my camper van,not yet,maybe not ever.
One thing I've never noticed until today is how fast the world moves, not the speed the earth spins at, which is 1000 miles per hour to make a complete spin on its axis in 24 hours. But how everyone has a place to go, somewhere they eventually have to end up, not me though;the wind will decide where I end up. Cars rush past me, like there racing against themselves, to get to the destination as quick as possible. It's as if they don't care about the journey, all that matters is destination. The roads were straight just like the Romans intended them to be, with thick yellow strip of paint down the middle, splitting the road in two, the people leaving and those who are arriving. I was arriving. For how long? I have no clue but as I mentioned before, the wind will take me on this ride along. Not literally of course, but I have no plans. I have no where to settle down nor do I have a place to return to.
Four, five,six Drive-thru's. All of which I have driven past in the last forty five minutes neither one have I stopped at. I have only driven 233miles, and if I'm going to get across the state borders before night fall, I won't be all able to stop, not even for dinner. Seven,eight,nine, maybe if I was quick I could still make it if I was really quick. No, I mustn't, not right now anyway.
367 miles to go before I have reached Nevada, before I am out of this place. Once I'm in Nevada I can stop and rest my eyes because already I have been driving for a dangerously long time but the highway has been quiet, and I cannot seem to pull myself to stop.
A man, no a teenage boy of around the height of 6ft walked the road side kicking up dust as he wearily lifts his feet off against the hard floor. I turn my head to take a quick glance at him, he was exhausted and so young,just like me. I look forward to see the border in my eye, but I stop. I wait for the boy, to catch up. I wined down my window and leant slightly out of the window and spoke to him.
"Wanna come on a ride along?"
