As it turns out, we’ll be braving a pothole-infested road after all—and the very same that I posted a picture of in the last update.

The tremors in the ground have been sporadic all throughout our time driving today. Perhaps a machine left such potholes, though? They seem too clean to be anything but manmade. Sloan said we’re in “cryptid territory”. I’m not sure if that was supposed to be a joke at this point. I’m not sure what to believe about anything lately.

Regardless of the holes’ origins, they’ve forced Sloan and me to a definite point of no return. Now, the road behind us seems just as ridden with holes as the way ahead.

We’ve experienced the strangest optical illusion, too. Sloan and I finally decided to leave our Mystery Mobile and take a closer look at all of gaping pits obstructing the road.

From afar, they clearly look too large for the van to traverse on either side. But as Sloan and I got closer… we realized they’re traversable after all.

One of the holes in the road, but up close. Picture courtesy of Sloan.

We can straddle these with my van’s wheels if we’re diligent enough.

In other news, Sloan brought a pet snake along for this trip. It does disturb me that I didn’t notice sooner.

When Sloan was in the back of the van, I happened to notice the white snake poke his head out of one of his equipment boxes and do the tongue thing all snakes do. He’s quite cute, and I’ve nothing against most animals.

Sloan seemed surprised that I didn’t mind. I wonder if that’s why he hid him in the first place.

I’ve been alternating between calling the snake Fettuccine and Alfredo, but I think he likes Fettuccine better. Sloan refused to tell me what other name he’d been given before this, but he’s had the snake ever since he (the snake) was a baby.

Just as well, I have no idea what Fettuccine eats. Sloan just cryptically says he’s got the food situation “handled” and asks “What’s life without a little mystery?” when I question him further.

I’ll admit that’s a sketchy answer. So sketchy, in fact, that I’ll sketch Sloan when he starts his turn to drive soon.

However, I am fairly certain Fettuccine isn’t poisonous. As long as he respects my space, he can keep his secrets.

This is a short post, but a necessary one. May the next post be Sloan and I finally at our destination.