This time, leaving was tougher than usual. We dragged our feet, not quite ready to let go. It was one of those heavy-hearted days the kind that weighs on you even before the wheels start turning.
Just 2½ months on the road this time. Just us, the open highway, and a cab full of thoughts. Saying goodbye never gets easier, no matter how often we do it. It’s always that familiar mix: pride in what we do and worry about what we leave behind.
Leaving home is part of the job but that doesn’t mean it stops hurting. Our friends try to keep things light jokes, hugs, the usual “drive safe” send-off. But behind the smiles, I can feel it: they sense the distance coming, too.
I truly love what I do. It’s been a blessing seeing all 48 lower states, stopping at places most only dream of, feeling the freedom of the open road. There’s something grounding in the rhythm of the engine, the horizon constantly shifting. But still every mile puts space between us and the people we love. And that space never feels quite right.
Soon, this chapter will be just a memory. A new journey is waiting for us…a wedding, a home, getting back into the gym, riding bikes, building a new rhythm for daily life. No more guessing what tomorrow holds. Instead, we’ll build a schedule, something steady, something ours. A life with more presence and less pause.
As we load up the truck, we’re not just packing gear, we’re carrying the echoes of home. The sound of laughter in the kitchen, the smell of real food, the comfort of being surrounded by the ones who know us best. That’s what will carry me through until I return.
2½ months. It’ll fly by…or crawl. Either way, we’ll make it count.
Time to roll.
Big Wheels Keep On Turnin' 