Wednesday, 1:47 am
I am sitting in the parking lot of a WAWA convenient store in between Aquia and Stafford Virginia. I wanted to make it to Washington, DC, but I am about 45 miles south. I have driven about 375 miles since 8:00. I am going to sleep here in their parking lot and hope that they don’t say anything. I would like to get a start in the morning early and keep driving.

Good night.

Wednesday, 8:00 am
I am now in Baltimore, MD. I didn’t sleep long last night, but I really didn’t want to. I just experienced my first truck stop shower. It was 6.00; that’s not really bad. I am sitting in the Buck Horn Family restaurant. Better yet, I am now one of the people that I have always made fun of for coming into the restaurant with a laptop. But surely this is different since I am in a lonely truck stop, right? I wonder if people regularly do this or if I am the black sheep. I look forward to seeing NYC. So long for now.

Wednesday, 2:30 pm
I have just entered CT. It is very ugly. The welcome center is a McDonald’s. You know how I feel about that. I was hungry. But I simply popped a few diet pills to resist any sudden urge to support McD’s. Anyhow. I don’t want to write too much right now, because I want to get to a prettier place in CT. I have heard that it is really beautiful. I am so happy that I have discovered six states in just one day. And I still have more to go! Till later.

Thursday, 11:30 am
Maine is absolutely beautiful. I am only to the second exit so far. The breeze is awesome and the pine trees are a nice switch. I spent some time in Rhode Island yesterday. I didn’t realize how much liquor they poured into an alcoholic mixed drink! MY GOD! I was drunk. So needless to say, I couldn’t continue to drive with that much alcohol in my system. So I slept in a parking lot in downtown Providence, OH. I did go to the Aquarium in Mystic, CT. I got to encounter my first live penguin. The African Black footed penguin. It was so amazing! I enjoyed the experience at the aquarium, as it was educating. It wasn’t directed only at kids. I was able to see live ctenophores, which I have never seen before. Well, I am four hours from Bar Harbor, so I can’t wait to board the ferry to take me to Nova Scotia! On we go…

Friday, 2:00 am
I have ended up in a quaint little town by the name of Hampton. I just visited Saint John, New Brunswick. I wasn’t too impressed. But I was unimpressed because the only stop that I made was a gay bar, Club Montreal. There were about 10 people there. Canada really is great. I WANT to keep driving and driving, but I will not want to drive all the way back when it is time. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I missed the ferry for today, so I decided to go ahead and drive in to Canada and attack Nova Scotia from the west, rather than the south. I should devote more time to journaling. I have been so encased with traveling and getting from point A to point B. I met a nice lesbian couple today at Atlantic Brewery Company (not affiliated with ABC of Charlotte). I had a couple SOBs (Straight Old Bitters).

I cannot believe how quiet it is here. I am in Hampton right now, and can’t hear a noise, only nature. This has certainly been a unique and discovering journey. I want to keep going, harder and harder, but I know that I will not anticipate the drive back with as much rigor. It is late/early. Tonight’s accommodation is the Hampton Mall, which entails one restaurant, a bank, and an Atlantic “Save Easy.”

Thirty minutes still...
I have been thinking…

Not one car has passed, not one sound was made-only the ones I am making and the one oriental jogger in blue jeans.

Saturday, 3:00 pm
I have never had such an incredible vacation. I just got home from Reflections Cabaret. It was much like a rave bar. But supposedly, that’s all Halifax has. I met a couple nice girls who live in Sydney (where I am headed tomorrow to try to catch the ferry to Newfoundland). Oh, by the way, I am staying at Dalhousie University. They are doing a thing similar to hostel housing. So I am staying for about 15.00 a night, although this is the only night that I am staying.

Wow, I just fell asleep sitting here. I went to a play tonight called “I love you, you’re perfect, now changed.”

I am very sleepy, g’night.

Saturday, ?
I am at the battlefield campground in St Peters Nova Scotia. And I have to pee. It has been a stressful day. I am feeling rushed, probably because I have traveled too far, and I am concerned about getting back to Charlotte in time. And I am running really low on funds. I have not quite grasped the US/Canadian exchange yet. Anyhow, I am very close to the northern most part of Nova Scotia, and the easternmost point of the entire North America. I have almost decided not to take the ferry tomorrow to Newfoundland, but maybe. I need to call the bank and figure out my account. I wish I had the money my aunt promised me. She said she would deposit it by Friday, and it hasn’t been done yet. That would allow me to do so much more, like taking the ferry to the US, instead of driving that eight-hour drive around New Brunswick.

My tent is set up. I have some nice KD Lang setting the mood. What mood? I am in the forest, alone, listening to drunken kids from Quebec one site down! No, this mood, although melancholy, is quite desirable. It is giving me so much time to contemplate life, people, and myself. I really didn’t want to go out last night. That kind of spoiled the trip, since I wanted to spend all of my time in the rural parts of Nova Scotia. That’s okay; it’s only something else I have learned and experienced.

Now is the part where I want to stop rushing from one place to another, and just relax every night! I don’t want to write small passages like I have a business meeting to catch. I want to sit down like I am doing right now, enjoying everything around me, “sucking the marrow,” and taking it all in.

God...where am I? This earth is so voluminous, so perfect, and no mistakes (unlike my writing). I just don’t understand life. Why? The concrete infinite question. Is it answered the instant we die? Or do we just rot like the rest of the plants and animals on the planet. Is it truly fair for only us to have souls? Wouldn’t all plants and animals have to have souls, and an afterlife? Almost makes you think that reincarnation is definite. So many species, so many times to live. Wouldn’t it then be an immortal life? Only if we could know that we were who we are being, and who we were. Or is it possible that we all just cycle our various lives, never knowing what we have lived, or will live, through. Wow...I don’t write much. I think it scares me when I put my thoughts onto paper.

The temperature is dropping quickly, and I didn’t want to admit that I only brought one blanket!

Hey, why does the north not know what goody powders are? I thought they were a revolution that everyone was aware of. No one knows what they are. Thank God I have my stash.

Peace!

Sunday, 11:59 pm
I just went up to a nice place called Kelly’s Mountain. I drove about 15 miles down an unpaved road and sat out on a small beach. I am started to get exhausted from driving. I am having a great time, but I would like to just sleep all day. But I promised myself the one thing I would do is the Cabot Trail. I am going to go do that tomorrow. There is a play called “The Spirit of the Island” that I would like to see also. Then I think I will head back home. Wow, what I long drive I have. I wonder how quickly I can get it done? Well, there is nobody in this small town. I am staying at the University College of Cape Breton. I think there is one other girl staying in this entire dormitory. Anyhow. I guess that’s all for now. Nothing like last night!

Monday. 10:30 am
Wow, the stores are open again. EVERYTHING is closed on Sunday. The Nova Scotia law states that all businesses are required to close on Sunday to give thanks to the Lord. However, any store selling liquor, beer, gasoline, or prepared food are allowed to open. Seems like they have their priorities in order. I am going to take my chance on the Cabot Trail. It is raining… wouldn’t you know it… The one-day I have waited for, and it is the first day of rain in a month! I am still going to try to see some of the sites. I want to make it to Chetticamp, where John Cabot did most of his work. I need to go by Wal-Mart (I can’t believe that they have invaded our whole world) and pick up a camera. Till then…

Tuesday 11:00 pm
I have pulled off of the small highway in the middle of Maine onto what I think is an old logging road. It’s not gravel; it’s pretty much miles of sticks. Anyhow. I don’t think anyone will see me down here. If they do, I will be sure to let you know. Well, to report for yesterday: The Cabot Trail was so fascinating! The most brilliant views I have ever seen. The trail took about five hours and a tank of gas! The hills were so steep, I am sure that is where most of my gas went. I went to see a play last night called “Spirit of the Island,” an interesting folk presentation of the history behind Cape Breton Island. It was very good, including an INCREDIBLE fiddle player. The playhouse that it was in was near the Louisburg fortress where King Louis battled England (he lost). This particular playhouse was used in a Walt Disney movie called “Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale.” I stayed at a cottage at the base of Kelley’s Island last night. I didn’t realize how tired I really was until I got back from the play. Well, I left this morning, and drove most of the day. I guess I am about one hour north of Bangor, Maine. I am going to sleep in the car tonight and not set up the tent, mainly because I have noticed MANY notices for moose, and I don’t want to have them visit my tent!