After an entire week of steady driving and putting out logistical fires, I finally have a chance to post. We have already driven close to 4,000 miles in our faithful 12-passenger van so graciously donated by DCA. Steinbeck begins his travelogue by dubbing his three-quarter-ton pick-up truck “Rocinante” after Don Quixote’s horse, so searching for a name that would accurately describe our vehicle seemed appropriate, but quickly became problematic. The van is definitely the work horse for our trip, providing both a mode of transportation as well as a means to carry all our luggage. It has been well “loved” by the corps of cadets that came before us, so prior to leaving last Sunday, our band of travelers set about industriously cleaning the interior to make it habitable for the trip. What the cadets found inside ranged from loose change to a petrified frog that immediately spawned several legends in its own right, thus establishing a uniquely odd character for our trusty steed that would be difficult to capture. Our initial thoughts were to think along the lines of Steinbeck and discover a literary connection that would capture the essence of our mount, but after exploring several names from Melville’s Pequod to various mythological horses, the van sloughed off the suggestions with a disinterested shrug until it dawned on us that a van from West Point laden with cadets and baggage could carry no other name more appropriate than “The Mule.” It seems to fit rather well, and the van has hummed along contentedly ever since.
It’s about time to load the Mule and hit the road again on our way to the Redwood Forest. The first week has been amazing, and I will post more about our travels and travails at the earliest opportunity.
~ Shawn Neely
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