“How much did you spend on gas? How many miles did you drive? What did the campgrounds cost? Did you need mechanical work? How much did the van cost?”

We’re a practical bunch. We want facts and figures. None of this anecdotal crap. Just the facts. Well, some of my friends are scientists, statisticians, more focused on the details than the stories. Me, I’m more of an impressionist than realist, but this is for the rest of you. And no, I didn’t total and summarize any of it. That’s your job. I was too busy dipping fingers and toes in mountain lakes and paddling on ocean beaches.

Numbers of

• $ spent on mechanics: 716
• times I thought I’d lost the cat: 8
• scars on my left hand from grabbing cat and throwing him back in the van: 5
• times Harold had diarrhea in the van: 2
• miles driven on Interstates: 346
• times I spilt coffee in the van: 2
• weeks on the road: 10
• motel cost: 76
• campground fees: 236
• times I stepped in diarrhea in the van: 2
• cold plunges in alpine lakes: 6
• nights spent in a motel: 1
• books read: 47
• $ spent on laundry: 54
• walks per day with dogs and cat: 3
• walks per day with just the dogs: 3
• times I bought gas: 26
• miles driven: 7843
• times I was scared: 1
• $ spent on firewood: 15
• $ in the weekly envelope (budget): 150
• times I overspent my budget: 6
• weeks spent on the Oregon Coast: 3
• nights slept on the beach: 5
• times Rosie puked in the van: 2
• Gallons of gas used: 409
• $ spent on beer: too much
• $ spent on the road trip: enough

I’d do it again.