Date: Sun, 17 Aug 1997 20:27:34 -0700
From: Charlie Ford <cford@mindspring.com>
Subject: On This Sunday

When I left Detroit threee weeks ago and headed for Toronto, I not only
entered into a new country, Canada, but I also entered a new phase of the
łjourney" within the trip.  It seems that when I crossed that border into a
new country, I crossed into a new chapter of travel and attitude, that
would unfold itself in the by and by.  Maybe it was because now i was truly
back in the East.  The west states had brought me much good fortune, and a
feeling of having more room.

I eased toward Toronto trying to subconciously unravel the mysterious
feeling, mind you not a specific problem, but an uneasiness toward what the
future might be bringing.  I arrived at list member Ron Mightons home late
in the evening.  We had a very nice visit, some good beer and conversation,
and enjoyed the view of Lake Ontario from Ron's patio.

Over the next few days Ron and I would have many good conversations about
things that only folks that łthink˛ talk about.  We spoke about coyotes,
raccoons, peace, creating change, carpentry, non-profit program operations,
landscaping, Volkswagens, and a hundred other subjects that are most
important to making our lives go around.  Yes even a little bit of "love"
found itself being scrutinized by our great minds, or once łgreater˛
anyway, at least in one of us.

Each night I would vacate myself to my bus and tumble with my thoughts.
Questions mostly, a re-kindling of some of the same questions I was
pressured with in the beginning, when I started planning for the search.
That was roughly a year ago about now.  Yep, last August I was barely
beginning the planning stage of this trip.

I would awaken the next morning to the sounds of Lake Ontario, gulls
crying, and occasional motor boat speeding by.  Immediately, I would begin
to fight back the boredom by doing many things.  The most labor intensive
being the construction a split rail fence that had been torn down by a
large truck coming up Ronąs street.

It was something to do, yet still, with all of the occupation, reading, and
busy-work,  I was still well aware of the łheaviness˛ that was walking
around with me and waiting to pounce on me, at the damndest times, I might
add.  I started looking for an łisland of stability˛ in order dry dock for
a while.  thus the post, łA Humble Request˛.

I started this trip for a reason.   The main reason was to finish it and
going broke would not lend to success in that area.  Basically, I was
trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grow up.  I think many
search for that very thing in themselves too, only not too many of us want
to admit it.  I have nothing to lose by admitting it, so there ya go!

I had many folks from the list answer that ^ĚRequestą.  The generosity
offered me was incredible.  Some I could not believe.  This list truly is
łmy community˛.  I am very glad to still have one to call mine, after
14,600 miles of traveling around America in łSearch for the beginning of
wind˛.  I thank each of you, and if I ever have the chance I will thank you
personally.

Ted Finesman from Cincinatti, who I had met the week before in Milan,
answered my post rapidly with an invitation to come and camp in his
backyard.  All I really needed was a place to cool out and once again makes
some preparation to continue.  I accepted.

This is the season for startup in the AmeriCorps projects around the
country, so I have some contracts to perform over the next few weeks.  That
is the really fine thing about being a consutant and traveling with a
computer.  Every training job I have gotten so far has come via invitation
by E mail.

I left Ronąs four days after arriving there and headed southwest from
Toronto through Buffalo, then Cleveland, then Columbus.  I drove down
Interstate 71 so that I could make good time although I did sort of  take
my time getting there.  I alotted myself two days so that I could stop and
see Niagra Falls.  The Honeymoon Capital.

Niagra was nice.  I rode my bike around town for a while and watched all
the parents chase their children around trying to get them to mind.  What a
hoot!  Was I that bad when I was a kid?  I don't think so!  My butt would
have been mush after acting out only a couple times, my Ma didnąt fool
around at all.

I left there and drove on toward my destination.  There was Flying J
truckstop in Columbus that I would feel comfortable in, and I could make it
there with no problem.   From Toronto to Cincinatti is 500 miles, not much
of a distance compared to 14,000.  I kinda felt like the trip would be good
for me.

I arrived at the truckstop, got a meal and settled for the evening.  I left
myself only about 125 miles for the next morning.  Close enough for
comfort, far enough so that I would be well awake by the time I pulled into
town to find Tedąs place.

I slept good at the Flying J.  I even figured out that you can hook up to
the net at a truckstop if you have a laptop and an 800 internet account.
All you do is go back into the area that is designated for truckers.  There
is a line of telphones in resteraunt style booths along the wall.  Remove
the handset line from the handset, leave it hooked in the base, then plug
the line into your modem and connect.

Because it is an 800 number, the only number the phone line at Flying Jąs
will accept, the line will let you maintain connection as long as needed.
Another thing about truckstop camping.  Always park in the lot where the
truckers park.  These guys love VW busses, especially when they are parked,
sitting still, and not in front of them when they are trying to make some
time, which is money to them.  When you pull in park in an out of the way
place.  You will be safe because, there is no thief in the world going to
want to get a bunch of truckers on his butt with tire irons.  As one put
it, we hate a theif more than we hate a murderer.

I arrived at Tedąs the next morning.  I called him from a convenience
store, and he came and collected me.  Since then we have spent much time
together.  We have experienced breakdowns, fix ups, gardening, and VW
shows.  We attended Milan together, We attended Columbus last week, and
this week we were at the Cincinatti show where I recieved some experience
by serving as łgoody bag stuffer˛ and łjudge˛.  Of the two I prefer
stuffing łgoody bags˛.

At the Columbus show, two weeks ago, I got to meet several list members.
So far, in the past two weeks, I have had the privelege to meet, Tony Moore
and his lovely wife Melanie, who together bring a sense of easy peace to
everyone around them, oh, and I must say that "Melanie has a sheen about
her"  hahahaha!. Others include: Mike Mott, Bob O'Shaunessy, Josh ????, Len
????, Mark Janello, Brett ????, and Eric OąBrien.  So many others, but I
swear it gets hard to remember all the names.

I also had the esteemed privelege to have met the famous Bill Bowman, the
President of NEATO and organizer Busses by the Arch.  Bill is a great guy,
but it's funny, he runs out of beer first then offers you one.  : ) I still
haven't figured out why anyone could be so vice versa.  hehehe

Everyone knows about Busses by the Arch.  I have always wanted to attend
this event, so since I am so near, I am.  May as well make this unexpected
detour a worthy one, not that it hasnąt been already, Ted and his wife Ann,
are great people to hang out with.  And Ann can cook like Van Gough could
paint.

I havenąt been able to see a lot of Cincinatti, at least not enough to be
able to say where I am, but that is fine.  You see one urban jungle, youąve
seen most of them.  Hot muggy and usually to busy for my blood these days.
Itąs like everyone in the city runs their lives in 2nd and 3rd gear, while
the rest of us cruise along in 4th.

Yesterday was hot and humid.  And I was a judge at the Cincinatti VW Meet,
which deserves a post all its own so look for it as time goes by.  The
Cincinatti VW Club has the potential of becoming a good club, but damn
there are some heavy politics at work.  The show car group against the
basic daily driver group.  Same ole story about money, power, and purity.

I have been here two weeks.  Life is good, I am supposed to get some money
this week, and it is coming just in time.  I am down to almost nothing.
God once again answers.  I have an AmeriCorps job in Kentucky the week
after BBTA, so more is on the way.  The Denver job will happen the end of
September and should provide enough to get me over the top........of Nova
Scotia that is.  It will be nice to be a little more financially secure
again.

Sunday is a good day for contemplation.  Sunday is the one day in the week
when we are more quiet than loud, more slow than fast, more easy than hard.
This day deserves some recognition, and thanks.  It deserves a look at the
spiritual side of life.  It deserves a picnic or gathering.  It deserves
the reverence of easy.

One thing I have learned since beginning this journey is that, God has
three answers to every question, yes, no, and wait.  The questions still
aren't answered and the "Search" continues even though I am sitting still.

Thanks for tolerating my ramblingąs.

Charlie Ford


"79" Transporter, dressed for the road
The Mothership

 The"Turning 40 Nostalgic VW Service Tour, and
Search for the Beginning of Wind".

http://www.armory.com/~y21cvb/charlie/charlie.html

"Wider still and wider.....shall thy bounds be set"