November 10: It’s Snowing

As I write this, it’s 26 degrees and snowing. There is an ice cycle hanging off my air conditioner that is growing longer. My friends made snowballs. 

I had extended my stay and was leaving today, but instead I will stay bundled up and hunkered down until Wednesday when this freezing weather is supposed to end. The diesel heater can’t keep all of Karmalita warm, so I either sit on the ottoman with my toes two feet from the hot air and my shoulders cold, or I curl up in the hammock with a down comforter, a fleece blanket, and the sheepskin. I don’t own a pair of boots or a winter coat. A scarf, gloves and a down vest are packed away somewhere. 

My route has me spending three nights on the road, reaching the skoolie homestead in Georgia on Saturday. It’s longer, but it avoids crossing the Smoky and the Appalachian mountains – and hopefully scary bridges. From the homestead I am choosing to head to Florida. As much as I want to spend the winter in Arizona with friends, I have grown weary of the road and don’t want to drive the 2,000 miles to get there. Choices …