Day 1: The Launch

Original Post: Published on: May 2, 2013 at orangedragonflyblog.com/day-1-the-launch

I woke up at 4am to finish packing for The Trip. I had gone to bed at 1am – to say I was exhausted was an understatement. In the last 72 hours if something could go wrong, it did. The stress to get on the road was immense. I was living hour by hour and trying to get everything done. I thought 6 weeks was enough time to organize the adventure of a lifetime. Let me tell you, it was not. If it wasn’t for some amazing friends and family, I might not have been able to leave on May 1st. One thing I have to say – the people I let in, and I mean really let in, have amazing beautiful souls and I am a better woman for their friendship and support.

I had hoped to be on the road by 6am, but it took me a tad bit longer to pack up the car and make sure everything was settled in my house. As I finished packing up the car, I gave my roommate’s dog Herby one last hug. He had been begging to be carried around like a baby all morning. It took all the willpower I had not to bring him with me. I love that dog more than I can say. I miss him already.

At 9am, I went and grabbed my favorite Dirty Chai from Elevate Coffee and headed over to say goodbye to my dad. He lent me his battery charger that can not only charge all my electronics, but has a compressor and jumper cables attached. I downloaded Google Latitude so he could track my GPS wherever I went and got him set up on Google+ so we can do family Hangouts. When it was time to go, I couldn’t get enough of his hugs. He reminded me this was the best time in my life to do this adventure and to not be afraid, to experience all that life had to give. He raised a very independent intelligent daughter – but I still cried as I drove away.

As I drove down the highway, I mentally said goodbye to Phoenix for now and said thank you for the last 13 years. It was a bittersweet moment and I let all the emotions wash over me. I then took a deep breathe and thanked The Universe for this opportunity to go and see the world. I asked to be kept safe and to help guide me. To be completely honest, I was an emotional hot mess. What I am doing isn’t considered normal, not many people understand what or why I am doing it, and the stress of organizing it all just washed over me. And I let it. I needed to feel all the myriad of emotions so I could let them go. Then something amazing happened – I felt free, I felt light, I felt alive. I am the master of my Universe, and only I can make decisions in my life, and I choose to live.

I then started making calls to family – which I am going to do every time I am going to a new city. I haven’t been the best about keeping in touch, and I vowed to change that. I didn’t get through all my calls, wanted to save some for Friday. It has been a long time since I had talked to my Nona and I knew she was worried about me – it felt good to talk to her and I realized just how much I missed our closeness. Even though I will be far away, I hope to be better connected to all of my family.

As I approached the California border, I pulled over when I saw the Welcome sign. I hope to catch these in every state I pass through!

I had a meeting with Road Runner Sports and was super excited to see the corporate offices of the company that changed my world. They have a large flagship store, clearance center, and their offices on this beautiful property. I love the company culture and am ecstatic to be a part of the RRS family. Can’t wait to run in their Adventure Runs in Laguna Hills, Campbell, and Seattle in the next 6 weeks!

Right before that meeting I jetted over to Mission Beach and ran over to the beach, took some photos, and ran back to my car. A whole 0.25 miles! Even though it wasn’t far, my body enjoyed the movement after the torture I had put it through the last few days including that long car ride.

I headed up to Long Beach to stay with my buddy Rich, whom I had meant a few weeks prior at a good friend’s wedding. He took me out to see 2nd Street and it was so good to have that Simmzy’s Hefeweissen and fresh fish tacos. Headed over to Dogz and enjoyed an Angry Orchard Cider. He was a doll and had an air mattress and new sheets all ready for me. I think I might have passed out while he was talking to me. That tired. I slept like a rock!

Traveled: 505 Miles