Beginning in the spring of 2008, in preparation of my upcoming retirement, I began an extensive down-sizing of all of my personal possessions and during or shortly after this time, I developed the concept of the Journey of a Thousand Days. Too, because methought much about the eventuality of all of mankind, it was during this same time when I was to I begin several countdowns, calling them the "Days Remaining to 70 years of age (DR70)" and the "Days Remaining to 80 years of age (DR80)." Furthermore, I began another one, which countdown I called my "Day Remaining Before Retirement (BR)" Thus, these countdowns subsequently began to adorn the header material in the new online journal that I created and began to write upon within the pages

which During the fall of 2009, because as I was getting older and it had become hard for me to manage winter in the Pacific Northwest Coastal region, I decided to drive to Texas to spend the winter months of December, January and February, where I staying in the Pacific Northwest was getting after which, I would return to Washington state, arriving in the spring so that I . have left my previous year-round home which

This route is the one most often traveled as it is the shortest roadpath route between my summer sojourn each year on Whidbey Island, Washington and the bottom of Texas, which distance is only 2,500 miles each direction.

Leaving Whidbey Island, I travel north on SR 20 to Sharps Corner, the east on SR 20 to Burlington where I enter the southbound entrance to IH 5 and drive south to North Seattle and then take exit 182, south on IH 405 (to Bellevue-Renton). I travel south on IH 405 to exit 11 and take the eastbound entrance onto IH 90 (Spokane) and drive east on IH 90 to Ellensburg where I take exit 110 to southbound IH84 (to Yakima), drive through Yakima and continue south on IH 82 and cross the Columbia River to Umatilla, Oregon (there is a short cut here but it is just easier for me to drive the interstate highway).

After crossing into Oregon, I drive south on IH 82 until it tees into IH 84 at which point, I take the eastbound (left exit) onto IH 84 (to Pendleton) and drive in a southeast direction towards Idaho state. When I cross into Idaho, I will drive through Boise, then Twin Falls and then continue southeast on IH 84 into Utah.

Driving into Utah on IH 84, I go through Tremonton, at which time, the interstate changes to IH 15 an continues through Odgen, Salt Lake City, Provo and just after Provo, I arrive in Spanish Fork where I take exit 257, US Highway 6 (Spanish Fork Main Street-Price. This connects me with eastbound US highway 6 which goes through Spanish Fork and then through Soldier Summit. After passing over this summit, I continue east on US 6 and drive through Helper, Price, Wellington, and then south to Green River at IH 70. US highway 6 tees into IH 70-US 50 where I cross over the interstate highway, follow the curve to the left, keep to the right and then take the eastbound entrance onto IH 70.

I follow IH 70 east for about 30 miles to exit 182, take the right exit and turn right at the intersection onto US 191 southbound (towards Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands). I continue southbound on US 191 to Monticello where upon arriving at the traffic light at Center Street in town, I turn left onto US 491 and drive east out of Montecello, Utah. In about ten miles, I cross the state line into Colorado and continue eastbound on US 491.

I continue on US 491, southeast through Cortez, Colorado, then turn to the south and drive across the state line into New Mexico. I continue south on US 491 until I arrive in Shiprock, New Mexico to where US arrives at the junction with US 64. (US 491 turns to the right.) I then turn east onto US 64 and leave Shiprock to the east and drive to Farmington, New Mexico, continue on US 64 eat to Bloomfield, New Mexico where I come to a traffic signal at South Bloomfield Blvd. Here I turn right onto this road, which is also US highway 550. I drive south on US 559 to Nageeze, NM, and continue south on US 550 to Albuquerque, NM where I use interstate highway entrance numb 226a to connect to eastbound IH 40 (towards Santa Rosa) and drive about ten miles east on IH 40 to exit 218 for US Highway 285 (towards Vaughn-Santa Fe).

I then drive south on US 285 to Roswell, NM and in town at East Second Street, I turn left onto US Highway 380 (E. 2nd St.) and drive east out of Roswell, NM and in about 100 miles, I cross the state line into Texas and in less than 50 miles arrive in Brownfield, Texas where there is located a Limited-Free Campsite.

Each year now for seventeen years, I have been traveling back and forth between the south of Texas and Oak Harbor, Washington, a route which I now refer to as my Annual Migration Route, a route that actually has several different variations.

Of all the several routes that I have traversed, there are only four which I have most often traveled. Of those four, the most often traversed is the Direct Route. Below is my new map that I have created to show the four most often traveled. However, even these four routes also have variations.

Also, the Direct Route, when creating this new map, was routed primarily upon the interstate highways between the two terminus ends and that is the route in the above Description. But in actual driving, I most often choose the non-interstate highways to drive upon. So, this year, on my 2026 southbound annual migration, I will see how it is actually routed.

This Annual Migration Route "Map" is new as I have only completed the map earlier this year. However, neither the Annual Migration nor the several Routes are new, but have all been regular roadpaths I have driven now a full seventeen annual migrations ever since leaving Oak Harbor, Washington on Wednesday, 02 September 2009 to drive to to Texas in order to spend the upcoming winter. Then, by the autumnal equinox on 22 September 2026, I had left my summer home in Washington and begun my eighteenth annual migration.

After nearly an entire day pounding keys in the Oak Harbor, Washington at the uptown w-mart, I finally pack out to the Jammer, start the engine. However, there are several tasks that must need be done before I can even begin the drive north out of Oak Harbor.

Once all of those tasks are behind me, I feel that I can finally begin this 2026 annual southbound migration, and in only a few minutes, I cross over Deception Pass Bridge.

Immediately past the Deception Pass Bridge, I make my first stop north of town is the Bowman Bay campground for one last free hot shower before my southbound roadpath journey begins.

Then, driving north and then east on SH 20; a very familiar roadpath, I arrive at the first major intersection, which is Interstate Highway 5 (IH5), and turn south. Continuing on this first leg of my southbound annual migration will add another 250 miles in distance and which requires about four hours of driving to achieve. The drive through Everett, Seattle, Renton and Tacoma is nice, and I am able to drive most all of this stretch at or just below the speed limit.

However, somewhere after Tacoma, I arrive at a stretch of IH 5 that has all but one lane closed for repairs and that short two mile long repair has me driving at a turtle-pace for most nearly all of one hour before the interstate opens wide again and I am able to travel again at the speed limit.

Thus, it is nearly eight this evening when I arrive at the hf-mart in Vancouver, Washington, drive into its parking lot and find a space in th,e outer area to overnight. parking lot.

I must needs say, by camping here at Lake Owyhee during the fly season, I have become more cognizant of what it was like for the Egyptians when Jehovah sent the plaque of gadflies to invade their homes and everywhere in their life. I am just glad that I had a fly swatter and now really wish I had an electronic bug zapper.

The Drive to Caldwell, Idaho: 54 miles

Because I did not want to drive the entire 375 miles in one long drive, I decided that, instead, I will break it up into a couple of shorter trips. Thus, upon leaving Lake Owyhee state park, I decided to make my first stop in Caldwell, Idaho which has both a location to overnight as well as a cafe in which I can sit indoors and sip on a cup of hot whilst I pound keys.

After overnighting here for two nights, I then leave out and continue further east along IH 84 until I arrive in Twin Falls, Idaho, stopping at a d-mart shortly after the sun sets and parking not to far away from one of the entrances.

The Drive to Twin Falls, Idaho: 146 miles

After the first night, I then drive to the next w-mart for coffee, com and computer and again stay at this location until after the sun sets. Not wanting to drive back to where I stayed the night before, I instead overnight in the parking lot adjacent to the w-mart.

Upon arrive in this town, I drive to and overnight at the d-mart, however, the next morning, after locating the w-mart determine that the nearby mall parking lot is so much more convenient to overnight at.

So during the remaining overnights in Twin Falls, Idaho, my parking location was only walking distance to the cafe. Thus, this waystop proves to be quite a nice place to stay, thus, I remain in Twin Falls, Idaho for a total of four overnights.

The Drive to Logan, Utah: 175 miles

2 hours and 45 minutes

Arriving yesterday late in the afternoon, I do a drive-about along the main north-south boulevard in town, US Highway 91 (US 91) and see that this way-stop has most all the shops that I frequent, pretty much every thing I could ever need. Too, since the recent clyclone Rachel, which peaked on 01 October 2026 as a category 3 major hurricane, reaching as far north inland as Las Vegas, Nevada, has now dissipated, however, that storm has left a large mass of rain clouds throughout the western United States bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and coastal flooding.

At the same time during the life of cyclone, another massive cold front has been pushing down from Alaska which when combining with the now diminishing cyclone Rachel, has been dumping quite a large amount of snow throughout the middle and northern Rocky Mountains in the states of Idaho, Montana, Colorado and Wyoming as well as throughout the Basin and Range Region in the states of Nevada, Idaho and Utah.

Further, all through the start of this major weather event, while I was in Twin Falls, Idaho, I was located dead center within the storm′s path. However, after driving to Logan, Utah, I was able to position myself nearer to the easternmost reaches of this storm. However, as this cyclonic storm moves further inland, it continues to drop heavy amounts of snow further eastward into a much larger area. Now, looking out from my current location here in Logan, Utah, the cloud cover is dark, thick and hanging low to the ground.

Needless to say, I remain inside the w-mart all day hoping for a break in this weather, especially the rain, which is currently stalled over north-central Utah with 100 percent chance of rain.

However, this w-mart is an older cafe build, built in the early days of the Coffee Cafe Boom, which was a time prior to the invasion by the multitude of coffee aficionados who now come to these cafes to work on their electronic devices, which nearly always need to be charged. Due to the fact that this cafe is a much older build, it lacks the proliferation of electrical receptacles that the newer builds are now having installed.

The Drive to Moab, Utah: 317 miles

5 hours and 7 minutes

The Drive to Farmington, New Mexico: 183 miles

3 hours and 10 minutes

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