Just one, long, Penske rental truck
hitched to low-slung, car-loaded trailer
heading west to California's growing fields
three abreast on cab's bench seat
driver, rider with sleeping canine between
fixated on advancing asphalt strip
the sky's the same
for these cross-country travelers
as for those before with pioneering courage
difficult to lose the trail now
with dashboard navigator
rooms, food, diesel fuel easily tracked down
still an odyssey of sorts
with daunting, traffic challenges
if no surprise Indian attacks and possible starvation
a different, settling future beckons
another young, optimistic family
attracted to wished-for promises of the Golden State.