Across America

My living and building situation in Eugene did not work out so I decided to head back to Traverse City, MI to build. The barn at my fathers house will provide a perfect place to build the house and I can save a ton of money using the tools he already owns.

My temporary roomate Nick Johnson working on his micro home, soon to be rented out in Eugene by a a rental agency. I packed my life onto my trailer, threw my mattress on top, strapped and wrapped it up as well as I could and said goodbye to my beloved college town. I stopped in Bend for the next day to register my trailer at the DMV before I left the state.

With all of my possessions only strapped to a flatbed I was weary to leave the trailer for any amount of time. This meant getting used to living tiny in the back of my Yukon, i think it was quite luxurious. The picture above was from my second night on the road in Burley, Idaho. Things were going well, the rain and wind hadn't started yet. 

After Idaho the weather took quite a turn. Beginning to head through my first mountain pass in Utah it started down pouring. It was the first test of how the trailer could handle inclement weather at highway speeds. The flatbed towed great, but the decking did not fair so well, luckily it is being removed as soon as I finish the trip.

After a light trailer advisory because of 80 mph winds across Wyoming the sun finally showed itself and the wind let up. Smooth sailing commenced all the way to my fist hotel of the trip in Fort Collins, CO. 

The trip took an abrupt turn after my relaxing evening in Fort Collins, I broke down on an off ramp of the highway on my way out of town. After impersonating my father to get AAA to come help a cop car pushed the trailer car across the intersection to a safe parking place. Luckily a repair shop was nearby so I abandoned the trailer and had the car towed in. Thanks to the guys at Grease Monkey Windsor a new alternator, battery and few hours later I was back on the road. 

The trip continued flawlessly until the Illinois border where my sunroof got stuck in the up position and I entered a monsoon. I could stop and soak the interior of my car or continue with flashers on at about 40 mph which I did for a few hours until I was low on gas and found a large covered station to fill up and shove clothes wrapped in grocery bags into the crack. I stopped for the night persuaded by flash floods, and the relentless rainfall. Continuing on the next morning for the last leg of the trip and my sunroof to miraculously fix itself.

Home at last...