Beginning of the end? Finances and other woes.

Today marks the first day on my trip where I actually see the end coming. Up until now everything has been held together by high doses of the blind optimism that goes with a free wheeling, happy-go-lucky attitude (an essential mindset for any serious traveler) and the willingness to ignore the odds that seem to spell out nothing more than doom and push forward nonetheless. For 11 (and still, for now, counting) very fast paced weeks this has not only worked out well for me but has, in fact, helped make my trip the amazing journey that it’s become.
Yesterday my camera finally took its last picture. I’ve called around – there’s little hope in seeing it work again without at least $150 and 2+ weeks in turn around time. The problem (a “E18″ error) is commonly associated with Canon S500 cameras that get a lot of use (NOW i know!). So, for now, no more good pictures. I have a backup that takes miserable pics and is about to fall apart itself. We’ll see what I can do. This is my most immediate pressing problem. Documenting my trip through photos is my favorite hobby. Plus, I don’t buy souvenirs. I collect, until now, only photos.
Next, Gracie, my motorcycle, needs new tires. A new set, including mounting, runs somewhere in the neighborhood of $250. Ouch.
Here’s where I stand monetarily. I have approximately $580 left in my coffers. I have a $86 ticket in Virginia for “non-functioning equipment” or something like that for a speedometer that didn’t work. I was pulled over for speeding so I got “lucky” that I only got this ticket. That puts my total to $494. New tires cuts that figure below half to a distressing $244.
I won’t leave this part of the country until I make it to Maine. I’ve abandoned the idea of hitting the northeastern corner of the continental US in Madawaska, ME because it would add about $40 to my fuel costs alone but I will at least set foot in the state, preferably in Portland for a night or two. After that it’s looking like I’ll make my way down through the mid-west back to Texas. It’s not something I