First Jedediah Smith Trail 1822 — 1824

Day 40: September 24th, 2009 Pittsburgh (Mine)

Eventually, I fall asleep again. But I wake up at a quarter to eight totally wiped out. Around eight I get up and get myself ready for the day. Taking a shower will be today in the evening. For this morning, I skip it. I collect my stuff for the car. Then I get my stuff out of the cooler.

Highway 68, PA

Highway 68, PA

Highway 68, Chicora, PA

Highway 68, Chicora, PA

Highway 68, PA

Highway 68, PA

Cove Run Rd, PA

Around ten I am ready to roll. Outside it is comfortably cool with around 70 degrees. There is still fog in some places. Yesterday, I put another four gallons in my gas tank. This should also be enough for the drive back home without being over the limit on my arrival at the mine. All in all, you are only allowed to half the gas tank half full.

This calculation just works out. It would have been almost too much gas. But there is a surprise when calculating the bill. There are still $418 as deposit in the computer. I tell them, that this is too much. But there is nothing they can do. So, I am only paying the difference of $140 until September.

Mine Entrance, Bradys Bend Underground Storage, PA

Then, the same employee arrives who also got the truck out with me on my arrival. This time, I park again at a different spot. When I want to disconnect my batteries, I realize, that I have the wrong wrench prepared. I have no clue, where my 5/16 is laying around. He also has no one handy, only vise–grips. I am able to disconnect the main battery with this tool, but not my backup battery. Therefore I start my search for the correct wrench. But I am only able to find a metric one. With an 8mm it also works.

88 S10 Blazer, Mine, PA

Then I close the door, take a good–bye picture and, of course, forget to take a picture of my odometer reading. But it should be around 150920 miles. On my drive to the mine, I just went over the 150900. But it was still a couple of miles to go.

I get into Helen’s car and we drive back home. She invites John for lunch. But I am lacking the time for this. Therefore I only prepare a sandwich and hurry up to get my stuff packed. This time, I put my stuff in the luggage differently: In my trolley, I put a layer of five shirts at the bottom. On the outer side, as a buffer at the frame, I put some underwear and inside I put my CDs upright. Only the struts will be skipped and receive some foamed material as buffer. Between my line of CDs I put some bubble wrap. This way, I am able to get all my CDs in the trolley. On top, I put again a layer of five shirts as buffer.

It is just possible to close the trolley. But this should work out. Then I put the rest in my suitcase. The trolley only weighs around 25lbs. And my suitcase also has only a bit more than 35lbs. This should be enough buffer for the rest of my clothes and toiletries, deodorant etc. Then I must leave nothing behind.

After this, I collect all my electronic stuff and charge my mobile phone. Finally, I write my diary of the last couple of days. Around five in the afternoon I have finished this task. Next is taking a shower. Then I try to start writing my picture postcards. Around half past six I have also finished this task and I am able to show Helen some pictures of the Badlands. Then we must leave. All in all, we have an appointment with David at 7pm at the LongHorn Steakhouse.

Exactly on time we arrive there. As every time, David and Lisa are already there way before. The dinner is great again. I have ordered a Peppercorn Steak, which is absolutely fantastic. There haven’t been too many fillets this good on my trail. For drinking, I have ordered a Samuel Adams, the first alcohol after six weeks! You can really feel it, but it tastes great. And you are able to have a great chat with David. He is really interested in what I am doing and all my travels, not only superficial. It is great to have real friends.

Around a quarter to nine I pay and we drive back home. On our way back we stop at a mailbox in Cranberry and I get rid of my ten picture postcards. Now they are also on their way. Let’s see if all of them will arrive.

Back home, I finish writing my diary. Then I get myself ready for going to bed. Tomorrow will be a very long day. Around ten in the evening, I am laying in bed. This is now my last night for this year in the United States of America…