Yup. This solo photo and tiny post is for two main reasons.
#1 – For the friends and family that don’t have facebook or consistent contact with me. Here’s an idea of how the end of each travel stretch usually looks like.
#2 – For me. In years to come, I’d like to look back and recall the way I felt standing there. So many emotions.
You may be able to recognize the exhaustion behind my eyes. This comes from weeks of walking, drinking, laughing and minimal sleep that I barely acquired on floors, buses, trains and other random surfaces. You might also see the excitement in my smile to be heading west towards the friends and family who I miss dearly. I’m sure you also saw the random trash can behind me. Just stating the obvious.
The necklace I have on was made by a kiwi that had moved to Santa Catalina Panama to sell her jewelry at Cafe La Buena Vida. The jacket was given to me by Denise in Amsterdam, I bought the shoes in New York City and snagged the scarf in The Netherlands (my original scarf and boots were taken off of a friends porch, hopefully by someone in greater need). The elephant bag in my hand is the replacement for the original one seen in Sisterhood of the traveling bag. It dubs as a grocery sac, airplane carry-on and my purse.
What you don’t see in the photo below is what’s in the bag on my back. There’s a used dirndl that I rolled up in cling wrap to make it as small as possible, a torn plastic bag stuffed with dirty socks and a pair of jeans that smelt like currywurst and beer. Of course it also contains my toiletries, more clothes, a first aid kit and invisible bricks that make this thing feel like a bag of rocks at times.
Wouldn’t trade any of it.
Next stop in sunny(ish) California! I’ll be there for a quick visit with some incredible friends as I repack “Big Blue” (appropriately named by one of my favorite blog followers). You’ll notice my posts will be fewer in the upcoming weeks as my focus has turned towards preparing for the next glorious chapter.
To be continued…
Her Happy Trails 
Looking forward to our next adventures with you. If you get a chance while you’re in the area, go to one of the two Track 7 beer tasting rooms. We just tried out the one in Natomas yesterday (Christmas gift surprise for a younger family member). Big warehouse in suite100 (no sign on the door). An $11 tasting flight (successive tastes in the same take-home glass) of four + one freebie (pays to be chatty and friendly, but I’m not telling you anything here) scored 5 out of 5 excellent choices. Even my hubbie, more of a wine drinker, thought they were all great. They also have food trucks from 4:30-8 weekdays and 12-8 weekends. We’ll be going back soon!