Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Lesson of the Night: Always stay healthy on the road

I intended to arrive in New Orleans tomorrow morning at 5:30, but circumstances changed.

It's interesting how sometimes our bodies don't tell us how tired they are until the last minute. There I was on the bus to Montgomery, Alabama, thinking about the Gulf Coast.

Then, whammo! Cold sweats. As I coaxed my body into making it to Montgomery, I realized I was incredibly dehydrated. It was a very gradual process. Whoops.

Lesson: Always eat well (check) and drink fluids (duly noted) on the road, or your body will get angry and demand rest immediately.

So: Staying in Montgomery at the cheapest Econolodge ever. They gave me the corporate rate, for whatever reason.

UPDATE: It's amazing what water does. Things should be rolling by morning.

12 comments:

Sheena said...

Oh no! Feel better, boyo.

Anonymous said...

Well, I just found out that you were blogging this trip. Way to let your successor (twice removed) know, man. Haha. Anyway, I hope you get better soon, and I'm off to read of your adventures in the continental United States.

Dmitry said...

I also just found out.

Stay healthy, Nick!

N.B. I once noticed while dehydrated that if you stare at a Greyhound seat pattern (houndstooth, often) long enough, it turns into a Magic Eye puzzle that's all 3d background and total absence of foreground.

After a few days trapped in a staring contest with an unblinking seat back, you can quite easily fill the foreground mentally with whatever image you like. I chose "bus".

annietv600 said...

Don't let your mother worry while you're on the road, Nick. Water, fruit, and lots of sleep is what you need!

Your fans are breathlessly awaiting your next installments, so you need to stay healthy, for us!

Padraic said...

I just found this blog, looks like you are having a great trip. You may enjoy my travelogue from when I did a 30-day rail pass in the Western US: http://postgeographic.wordpress.com/category/travel/

Unknown said...

Thank heavens it was dehydration. You make it sound like deng fever. CMS road tip number 1: get bottled water. When bottle empty, refill and freeze in motel minibar fridge. Put into backpack so you have cold, clear water.

Lin and Mike Tie the Knot! said...

Nicky,

Don't. Die.
No dieing. Never.
If you died out there I would hate you forever.

Drink. A lot.

of Water.


Dmitry,
I love you. We should all go greyhounding sometime, or box carring sometime. follow the hobo code to paradise and all that.

Unknown said...

That should teach you not to think about the Gulf Coast. Hope you're better by the time I'm posting this.

Dmitry said...

Kim! Fancy meeting you here!

I would love to try box carring, but Nick's doing the Greyhound thing right. It's much better his way, and way less life-threatening than box carring.

Keep moving, man! I'm on the bus again vicariously through you.

Nick said...

Thanks everyone. I think I exaggerated my "condition". All it took was a little H20.

Made it to New Orleans!

Anonymous said...

Glad you made it, dude!

Got charged the corporate rate? Hmmm...I guess you're a large step up from Econo's usual clientele.

Good to know you're having a great trip so far - truck...um, bus on!

- CC. said...

Glad you pulled through! Cold sweats are crazy.. never underestimate the power of water!

hugs,
Cel