Hierdie winter se valse bravade was eintlik maar net 'n eyeblind
jou sakke was gepak, jou paspoort het gebrand in jou jeans
die rustelose straate van Elvis, het geskitter in die verte

It is funny how we always want a defining moment. Like a drama with Thom Hanks involved, we are always looking for that single salute, the split second that the hero realizes everything, all the pieces fit together in the jig saw puzzle.

I call these 'Lassie moments'. And I do not like them. At the same time, you do think back at a single moment many times, you start to define a moment. A single thought that symbolizes a whole experience. And for me, on this trip, it seemed to be getting on the bus. The Greyhound. Listening to Valiant Swart.

Every time I got on the bus, I listened to 'Deur die donker valley'. André remarked 'How depressing'. But I do not think so. I did not go anywhere to stay. Everything is always ending. That is how new beginnings start. Every time I left, I was not thinking about the place I had just been, but about where I was going next.

But I do want to get deep or depressing on you. For this trip had no reason; there was nothing that needed to be found. Like the story of Boggom and Voertsek, there is nothing more to say, and nothing more to be gained from it. I did not look for the pieces. And, frankly, Elvis bores me.

So. This is nothing more than a remembrance of a few days riding across the US of A. It was not very long, and I did not get to see that many places. If you get bored, look at the pictures. If they bore you even more still, the stats: I travelled 5030 miles, or 8050 km, and I spent about 127 hours, or about 5 days 7 hours on the bus or in bus stops. And if the stats bore you, the Internet is a huge place. Go explore.

Ja, jy het vanaand net vir 'n change jou hemp ingesteek,
jou hare vir oulaas gekam in die spieel,
jou mense gegroet, en jou sleutels gekry,
en 'n lange gegooi, en toe is dit alles vir altyd verby
Valiant Swart, 'Deur die donker vallei'