Sorry for not posting in a while, it has been a crazy Fall. New school, loving Buckingham, Browne and Nichols, preparing applications, coaching girls varsity soccer, reading, reading, reading, and tutoring. I have managed some nice Autumn rides making the most of beautiful New England, but unfortunately it will soon be time to wrap up the season and I will have to find a winter stable for Rocinante.

I can’t wait to finish my essay, have the transcripts and GREs sent out, and have my applications all done. Then the long wait…

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to coaching fencing for the winter, going home for the holidays, and reading, reading, reading.

It has been a month since I finished my trip, and it is time to analyze the trip after some time.

From a personal, espiritual,  and emotional viewpoint the trip gave me much needed time and perspective. It allowed me to ponder my present, my past and my future, my life. A month later I feel comfortable with my PhD route, in fact I am very excited about this project, nay, I am thrilled. I loved all the universities I visited and would be happy at any one that would have me.

The trip also introduced me to parts of this country that I did not know and allowed me to revisit areas that I already knew and loved. I loved discovering towns, regions and states that I did not know. It was great to see old friends and meet new ones.

But maybe the most important part of the trip happened inside me, it tested my commitment to a new life, to my PhD ambitions. It is not too late, it is never too late to pursue one’s dreams. I will find the right school for me, and the right school will find me.

Sorry about the silence, getting started on my new job has taken a lot of energy and time. I am happily installed at Buckingham Browne and Nichols in Cambridge, across the street from Harvard. I have also been recruited to be on the coaching staff for the Girls Varsity Soccer team – GO KNIGHTS! and to start a Spanish Exchange program with a Spanish school. So as you can see I have a very good excuse for my silence.

Here is the link introducing me (and my cohort) to the school: http://www.bbns.org/link/aug-2011/talented-new-faculty-and-staff-join-bbn-community

Enjoy!

Rocinante finally got washed. Fortunately I have a hose outside my building, so it was great, but also a little sad to get over 5000 miles worth of road grime off of her. She even got waxed. Not the most thorough waxing job, but better than nothing. Rocinante is adjusting to a 5 mile commute from home to school after her epic trip, but it’s better than not riding. We are also making the most of enjoying the New England golden autumn days, before going into hibernation.

It has been two weeks since my trip concluded and yes I had to start school right away, but I have also spent this time reflecting on and digesting my trip.

There are several aspects to the trip that I might have to break down into different posts: the trip itself, the university visits, the spiritual trip, etc.

The trip itself was mind blowing. Sitting in our cozy, provincial little corner in New England we don’t know or we forget how great, literally this country is. I was constantly in awe of the endless fields, the huge rivers, one after the other, the interminable trains, the thousands of eighteen wheelers, the miles and miles and miles of roads. The singular beauty of each state. The fact that I could visit eleven universities that offer a PhD in Spanish Literature is awesome.

But that is mostly geographic. More importantly was all the people I met. Everybody was genuinely nice, polite and friendly. Even people that might have been a little defensive or insecure quickly warmed up when I told them of my trip. One of the better examples was in Texas when I walked into a lunch place. I asked if I could have lunch and if we were on such and such road. A couple of tough cowboys in the back of the room asked where I was headin’. When I answered Arkansas, hundreds of miles away, their tone quickly changed and they became very helpful. Later that night at a bar near Texarkana another tough old cowboy asked threateningly “You ain’t from ’round here are you?” Minutes later he was buying me drinks!

That is not to say I did not have any bad encounters. Unfortunately both in Nashville (if I had to listen to bad country music all the time I might turn into a sourpuss too). One with a rude parking valet at a hotel and the other one with a rude (he might have been stoned, or drunk, or both), motel receptionist.

But those two were the exceptions, I had great conversations, and met interesting people pretty much everywhere I stopped and met someone: gas stations, welcome centers, universities, hotels, motels, shops, everywhere. Those people are the real find of the trip.

Altercations: 1 with a parking valet at a Nashville hotel.
Animals: See full report on flora and fauna.
Gas tank fills: 32
Total miles: 4.745
Average Miles per Gallon: 59 (max 68, min 43)
Longest one day ride: 500 (Texarkana to Nashville)
Shortest one day ride: 15 (Durham to Chapel Hill)
Average daily ride: 279 miles
Average price per fill up: $10
Cheapest gas (premium, I pamper Rocinante): $3.43, in Boston.
Most expensive gas: Westport CT, $4.99
Total money spent on gas: $325
Total fuel gallons used: 83.89
Tickets (parking): 2 University of Alabama – they forgive the first one. NYC, for street cleaning.
Tickets (speeding): 0 thanks Rocinante
States visited: CT, NY, NJ, Del, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, MI, LA, TX, Ark, Tenn, 15
Air filters: 2 Mississippi, Massachusetts
Oil change: 1 Houston
Lost: 3 bandanas (Houston), 1 toothbrush (New Orleans)

After another great breakfast with Mark, this time at the Popover Café, it was time for my departure. Not without first realizing that it was street cleaning day and that I had a $65 ticket waiting for me. I guess one ticket in 5000 miles is ok, I should not complain.

It was a beautiful day, so I enjoyed driving up Riverside drive up to the Bronx. From there the pleasant Merritt parkway all the way to New Haven. Once in Massachusetts it was back roads all the way home. A little bit like Dory in Finding Nemo, I was surprised every time I saw a Massachusetts license plate! In Framingham, at Paramount HD I stopped to say hi and for a final air filter change. The guys were great and after buying the filter, they replaced it for free. Thanks guys!

Finally after a mere four hours, 209 miles from NY I was home.