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Gilroy, CA

It's close to midnight by the time I get my 55th picture taken with a supercharger.  Like the majority of those I've been to outside of California, there is no one here.  I still have a hour of pavement ahead, so I pick up just enough joules to coast through Silicon Valley and into my driveway.   Although this will be my last supercharger of the trip, I leave Gilroy, not with a sadness of an ending, but with an eagerness that comes with a beginning.

My metamorphosis has been in the making for quite some time and if truth be told, I'm done with the days of waiting for "tomorrows", "somedays" and "if things were a little different".  That (and fall colors) is what got me packing and heading cross country in the first place.  It was during many a red carpeted stretch of asphalt, that the chrysalis cracked open even further.  A very simple yet poignant revelation started to emerge.

14,991 miles!

We've all heard Einstein's definition of insanity:  Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.  Sound familiar?

Change is a catalyst, an energetic accelerant needed when the chemistry has been stagnant for too long.  Its formula isn't complicated, elemental in fact and I found my answer in the periodic table under the symbol No.

Say "No" less

 "No" shuts the door, ends conversations and inhibits irons from being introduced to the fire.  Conversely, leaving my comfort zone, making room for people, events, situations and places previously not entertained, stretching boundaries, and trying something new, have triggered unexpected chain reactions.  New irons are now in the fire because of this trip and as soon as I'm unpacked, flames will be fanned and conditions primed to see what can be forged.  I'm beyond excited and (we all) deserve "no less".

Say "No" more

Perceived obligatory expectations, you know, the ones that little voice inside is telling you to stay away from.  Yet, you allow yourself to be sucked in.  Wasted time, wasted energy and wasted opportunities that could have yielded oh so much more had they been protected from intrusion.  So, no more putting myself on the back burner, no more thinking I'm not ready, no more overlooking the beauty in small moments,  and no more wasting time explaining myself to others.  No more.

I feel very grateful to have had this experience (which keeps giving even though it's technically over).  I want to extend my thanks to YOU for finding value in my blog, accessing it and following my daily progress.  Although I have no idea who you are, your name, or any other personal information, I can see what country you're from and I am profoundly grateful to the many thousands who have accessed my site from:

• The United States
• Canada
• Sweden
• New Zealand
• Russia
• France
• India
• Germany
• Mexico
• Ukraine
• Egypt
• Spain
• Romania
• Taiwan
• Switzerland
• Ireland
• United Kingdon
• Australia
• Malaysia
• Panama

Many a night have I spent with you and Kitt.  I looked forward to our evenings together.  Seeing that "New Zealand" checked in or that someone from Romania found me, was a highlight.  I found pleasure in this ritual and am thankful for your company, more than you may know.

Although there is quite a geographical spread,  I am in contact with Tesla regarding a "reunion" of sorts.  Perhaps you may be able to attend?  I will post details on my blog as they become available.  Should you like to be notified via email and have not already done so, please sign up for "Follow by email" in the blue box to the right.  Blogger will send you notification of any posts I make  (there's just one more I imagine) and you can cancel at any time.

Trip Stats

14,991 miles traveled

32 states

18 weeks on the road for Be-jouled

5 months on the road for Kitt

96 chargers visited

63 superchargers visited

55 pics with superchargers

4,376.2+ kWh used
292 Wh/mi used

no traffic tickets, yea!

one warning...errr

and...One heck of a good time!

Smiles and Hugs, 

Be-jouled

Although I wasn't able to capture all that I saw, 

there were still plenty of unexpected

"Moments that bring a smile to your face".

(last installment)

Break area outside a medical supply company.
(click to enlarge)

By the time I get back on the road again, it's dark.  I've traveled this route so many times though that it's second nature to me.  I pass flatbed, after flatbed carrying stacks of beehives, no doubt brought in to pollinate the large number of almond orchards we have here.

California has 800,000 acres of almonds and it's our #1 valued nut crop with cash receipts nearing $4 billion.  Typically in February, over 1.5 million hives are trucked in to pollinate the almond blossoms.  The majority of these hives travel long distances as only 1/3 are from California. 

Perhaps you have heard that bee colonies have been under tremendous stress as of late with some estimates citing 10 million hives having been wiped out.  I've seen it publicized that it now takes 60% of the country's supply of bees to pollinate just California's almond crop.  I'm uncertain as to the validity of those numbers, but coming from a bee hobbyist family, it is an absolute certainty that the bees require more intervention than they ever did before.

A number of issues are at play. The drought has plagued many areas of the country decreasing wildflower populations.  Pollen supplies are thus reduced leading to bee malnutrition and starvation.   The second reason for bee shortages is the varroa mite.   The mite is a reddish brown parasite which feeds on immature as well as adult bees.  It bores in, sucking the circulatory system fluid from the bee's body causing death.  There are many other reasons but bee keepers site these as the top two.

3

Buellton, CA

2

Atascadero, CA

Boy am I getting tired.  It's tempting to make camp right here at the supercharger but I'm not that far from home, so I unplug and keep plugging along...