Last night I had a visit from the police, which was not the first time.  This guy however woke me up by knocking on my window.  I told him my story and gave him my ID.  After he checked that I wasn’t wanted anywhere and that my car (with expired registration) wasn’t stolen he wished me a goodnight and left me alone.  He had given me the speach that I was on private property, but as long as no one complains he has no problems.  No complains, no crimes, I am welcome to stay where I am at in the cops eyes.  Considering the problems I read about in the paper I think he is more interested in drug dealers and gangs, than Army vets sleeping in cars while looking for work.

Then this morning I slept in a little as I was up later than I wanted waiting for a download to finish before I could move the car into my parking space.  I recieved a second knock on my window.  Some elderly man who claims to walk by every day noticed that my car was parked in the same spot for the last couple days, and also noticed someone was sleeping in it.  Supposedly after a conversation with some other people in the nearby grocery store he decided to introduce himself and hear my story.

I told him I am homeless, and get unemployment which is enough too survive, just not enough to get an apartment.  I ensured him that I have everything I need, told him about my gym membership for a shower, and that I am here cause it is safer then told him my story about my break in.  I left out the part with my wife and tried to keep it simple.  A guy that comes knocking on a strangers window out of concern seems like he will easily fill an empty hand extending whatever he can.  I don’t want charity, and am well aware that by applying for wel-fare in the state of California they won’t give much money, but they will give an apartment, which is all I need.

The man was very sincere and at one point I felt like he wanted to give me a hug as I could hear the compasion and concern in his voice.  I assured him I have everything, my car is a 2007 Chevy and is in good condition.  He commented back that it was a nice car, and we made a joke about owning such a new car, but being homeless.

Sad as it sounds to say that I am homeless, I am not a bum.  I have enough money for food and gas, a gym membership to take a shower, shave, and brush my teeth.  A laptop, which I can use to get on the internet at Starbucks, and an AC converter for the car which lets me charge my cell phone and laptop.  I have everything, just no place to call home.  As long as no one complains about my presence then I am ok.

I think because I do portray myself as a homeless vet who is eager and shows the ability to work it is giving me a little more leaninacy towards living like I am.  I am polite and don’t put my hand out trying to get sympathy.  I’m not panhandling I am sitting in the corner and showing my independance.  My story might have its sad points, but I don’t let it get me down and I don’t use it too my advantage.  I look on the bright side and people see that, which is possibly the reason that I am able to park my car in the back corner of the parking lot near homes and no complaints.  At least that is what I am hoping.  I like this place as it is tested, and I believe it too be safe.  I should be looking for an alternative parking space in the event I am told to leave, but I think if I just leave the present police juristiction being told to move a second time won’t be portrayed as a second time.

In an attempt to save money I have acquired camp grounds for a couple days. I have been staying at Mount Diablo State Park which costs $20 a day. This might possibly be worth it if they had showers and it wasn’t a 20 minute, 7 mile drive up the windy road which could easily be mistaken as a contour line and not a road on a map.

I paid $60 for three days and it has been more of an inconvenience than it is worth. The park closes its gates at sunset which lately has been about 8:30 here. Which if I am not in the gates by that time I’m not getting in. The first night I stayed out until 10 with my wife so I couldn’t even spend the night that first night. However I was able to clean everything out of the car so I had lots of room for sprawling out. Something I haven’t been able to do on the road.

I was planning on spending more time here but I don’t see the point. I pay $20 a night for a curfew and a place to pop a tent? I don’t really even need the tent. I wanted a place to cook food and take a shower, but can’t do either. I even explored the more fancy campgrounds and they don’t have any showers either. Then with California being as dry as it is fires aren’t allowed. So I am back to pondering…, what’s the point?

My wife has found one place that I can rent which is about $600 a month. It’s basically someone’s spare room that they have in the house, but at $20 a day this camp ground is the same price with none of the features an apartment would have.

Here shortly I will pull up camp and go looking for a gym membership so I can take a shower.

I made it, can’t believe I made it!

Total of 3,137.7 mi
Today 380.1
Econ 31.4
Avg spd 50
Odometer 24,654

After seeing the Rockies yesterday it was kind of hard to match that today. It was still a good day though. I got to feed prairie dogs in Wyoming and got to explore the Great Salt Lake in Salt Lake city, UT.

In Utah I thought I was looking at clean white sand that was the start of the desert, but later learned that it’s white because it’s not sand. It’s salt. I wasn’t looking at the desert I was looking at the Utah salt flats.

I am beginning to think that whoever decided where to create the boundaries for the states did so in a way that all the states look different. I have noticed this from going Iowa to Nebraska, to Colorado, and to Wyoming. However I think going from Utah to Nevada I think is the most obvious. The second I crossed the border the salt flats disappeared and the desert began.

Another thing I should have done before I left was to update the registration on my car. However since I don’t like in Tennessee anymore I need to change states and I didn’t want to change to NYS due to a speeding ticket. So since April I have been driving with expired tags. Today I had the pleasure of having an officer stop me and tell me this. It was pretty obvious that I was telling the truth about moving since he came up to the passenger window and I had to push stuff out of the way to roll down the window (I don’t have automatic windows). I assured him that I will register my car in California and he easily let me go.

OMG!!!!

I started my day off with more corn. After an hour I would have put a bullet in my head if someone gave me a gun. There is no change of scenery, nothing.

After a quick look at the map I noticed that I 80 comes really close to Colorado, but it doesn’t actually enter the state. In much need of a scene change I gave in and turned south…,

The best way I can explain today would be like having my mother explain to me the pain and agony she went through to give birth to me. It doesn’t matter how many stories I hear, how many hands I hold, or how high of an education I receive in child birth. I will never understand what it’s like.

You will never understand the experience of being in the Rocky Mountains until you experience it yourself.

My father was in the Air Force and stationed in Colorado for two years before I was born. So for my entire live I have heard about him trying to explain what the Colorado Rockies were like, but never actually been there myself. I stopped at an information center in Fort Collins and they showed be about route 14 that goes into the Rockies and to a town called Walden. From there I went north to Walcott, WY and got back on I 80.

The highest point I reached was over 10,000 feet, and saw deer, elk (I think) and lots of other wildlife. As well as seeing mountains and waterfalls, the whole experience was mind numbing. The vast amount of pictures I took doesn’t begin to give any amount of the justice that they deserve.

Logged 525mi (gained maybe 100 mi closer to CA)