Where is the best trip you have ever taken alone?
I used to go driving a lot in the States, while I was in graduate school. One weekend, I decided to take my tent and sleeping bag, threw them along with some clothes in a rucksack into the trunk, and see where I ended up. I had all my Bruce CD's with me. His music was my companion. Filled up my little blue Toyota Corolla at the corner gas station opposite the hospital out on Rt. 9. It was an indian summer weekend the radio man predicted. A early October Friday afternoon for me -- no classes, no studying, no research to write up, and no data to produce for Monday morning meetings. After about four or five miles of driving at first towards Boston, I took a wrong turn somewhere. I just kept going. The map was probably still be sitting on the hairy carpeted floor in my apartment.
I stopped by a flea market in a small town that I'd never been to, that I don't remember the name of, to see what was on. A nice guy who was selling LP's and covers, tried to ask me out on a date. I was seriously looking at a vintage LP cover of Bruce Springsteen from 1975 "Born to Run". I didn't give the guy anything, I just walked away.
Back on the road, I found a pretty area where there was a wedding in progress. It was by the Codman House, that's all I remember. Everything was still so green, the lawn, the trees. A small stream followed the walkway to the house, disappearing somewhere behind it. Bubbling in harmony with a small group of violinists playing near the house and catering area, the stream seemed happy to be part of the festivities.
Eventually I drove out again in a completely different direction and ended up at a camping site, that in my 5 years of college and my 4 years of grad school, I never knew about. On the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the camping site had a lake, a kid's playground, and caravans that could hook up for electric and water. I found the park office and got a camping spot for the night. I went back out to get some sandwiches from a nearby small town deli, I didn't want to eat dinner alone in total darkness.
I didn't realize how late is was getting. At eight o'clock in the evening, I set up my tent and sleeping bag. Nightfall was peaceful, still as the lake, as there were not too many tourists at this time of year in such an off-the-beaten-path camp site. I felt a bit chilly as I hunkered down to sleep, twitching and startling at every little noise. An owl hooted nearby in the dusk.
