Pictures of Montana at Long last

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I Have Never Liked Green People

Home at last and still alive, but I would not like to drive back to Montana or Micanopy, not for a while. Tomorrow I am going to write about how much I dislike water restricters in hotel shower heads and my bias toward people with green skin. Well tomorrow came and went and as usual, I procrastinated. Man I wish I could spell or that this blog had spell check. Political correctness is the plague of this country. We are caught up in so many lies told by charlatans as well as some well meaning do-gooders that I hesitate to ever tell anyone the truth. Is that stupid or what? But, who wants to be thought of as small minded, or heaven forbid, a bigot. Bull! I can differ politically without being a fire breathing hate filled redneck and if you don't think so, well that's fine, no problem, just allow me to do the same. If you are reading this, don't lose heart, I will post more everyday. well, almost everyday.

"Poorboys and Pilgrims with Families

And we are going to Graceland." Paul Simon lyrics to "Graceland" Always liked that song don't know why, catchy South African rhythm with eclectic lyrics that mean whatever you think they do. Want more proof? try these words: "And she said losing love, is like a window in your heart, everybody knows you're blown apart, everybody sees the wind blow." Paul Simon is one more talented guy. But back to me. I have been to Graceland three or four times, no I had quite enough the first time but there is always someone with me that just has to see the house that Elvis bought for his Mama. You know me, I'm always accomodating, well almost always. I won't be going this trip and doubt I shall ever see his "Jungle Room" again. But I grew up with the sounds of the boy from Tupelo and he will always be the greatest entertainer of my lifetime. No one else is even close. Today was a day of road work and accidents, thankfully we were't involed in the accidents, other than sitting in traffic for three hours. We ended up having to detour over half of Arkansas trying to rejoin I-40 and find Memphis. The morning did not start well, breakfast was a disaster. I do not know if the owner was from India or Pakistan, but he was not from anywhere hospitality or culinary skills were taught. First they ran out of coffee, scrambled eggs amd sausage with two hours left in the breakfast period. Then they put out what he claimed was sausage gravy and biscuits, the gravy resembled nothing more than khaki colored water and the biscuits were servicable only as hockey pucks, all completely inedible. Beautiful hotel, poor service, and even worse judgement on how to save a few dollars. It was a fairly quick drive from Wichita to Oklahoma and on into Arkansas. But from the get go we encountered delays due to road construction, repeatedly we drove for 25 to 30 miles in one lane of traffic where the orange cones were placed by workers in training for a demolition derby. I do not know how semi-tractor trailer trucks negotiated the slalom courses that was laid out. About 30 miles east of Little Rock we saw a sign indicating an accident ahead. Traffic came to a stand still and after not moving more than 100 feet in an hour and a half, I turned onto the shoulder of the road, backtracked until I found a place to cross over the median, went back to the last exit and began exploring the untamed regions of the land of Razorbacks. There were trucks bumper to bemper for miles passing thru small country towns, the vehicles were all seeking to rejoin the Interstate. We passed two different junctions with I-40 where the police had the on-ramps blocked. Traffic was backed up in both directions for forty miles. Finally we made it to Memphis, but three hours behind our scheduled time. You will recall how excited I was yesterday about going to the Rendezvous for BBQ ribs. To do so, I would have had to go another twenty miles into the city and then back out to the hotel. I just couldn't face more time in the car. So we opted for another of the reknown "Big Three" rib places in Memphis. Neeley's Bar-B-Que. If you watch the Food Channel you know who the Neeleys are, if not suffice it to say they have been in the restaraunt business in Memphis for over 60 years. They are a delightful African-American couple who specialize in real, southern, down home cooking. I stopped in with high expectaions. But, I must have caught them on a bad night. As much as I wanted to like it, I just wasn't impressed. The BBQ sauce was too sweet, Jeannnie described it as "cloying' and I think that is a good description. Anyhow, all in all a tough day, I stopped in ravenous with hunger and ready for some good chow, didn't happen. Maybe next time, but it'll be a long time. Finally the GPS went nuts and dropped us off at the wrong end of a long road to the hotel. Instead of pulling right into the parking lot we had an eight mile drive across town through traffic and red lights. We were on the right road but at the wrong place. Just wasn't our day for driving. However, we have driven about 5,600 miles so far, and we are safe, that is really all that matters. One day left, if the good Lord is willing, we will be in Gaineville sometime tomorrow night. It has been fun, I would not have missed the trip but I am looking forward to home. I have decided to keep writing on the blog, but no more travel news. I think I am going to write about how I see the world. Just my thoughts, and no moderation at all. Fair warning, I am an alien on this planet. But for now how about another Paul Simon song. "You just slip out the back Jack, Make a new plan Stan, you don't need to be coy Roy, Just Get yourself free."

Wednesday, July 18, 2012, Caught Up (I think)

We left Longmont around 7:45 AM this morning and pointed the car south. Driving through Denver is not the challenge it used to be. Now there is a beltway to the airport and it allows drivers to completely avoid the congested morning commuter traffic. When I lived in Boulder, driving to Denver meant facing the morning sun and it is blindingly bright. (just like Jeannie. *She made me say it) Anyway, we had none of that, just an easy drive around the metro area and we were Kansas bound. Let me tell you about Kansas. I have driven through the state several times. Each and every time, when I buy gas, I ask the clerk if, he or she, knows that the highway, Interstate-70, can lead them out of Kansas? If so why not get on the road and go some place else, anyplace else? Kansas is brown, flat, windy, hot and goes on forever and ever. Heat shimmers off the road, the wind blows the Honda from side to side and even with 75 MPH speed limits, the state never seems to end. Wanna see the tractor museum? A barbed wire museum? The biggest ball of twine in the world? It is all here for you. Right here in the Sunflower State. Oh yeah, now they have our old football coach, Charlie Weiss, I feel better already, Charlie is exiled to Kansas, how perfect is that? You gonna need to sit on that ice cooler big boy. After an eternity on I-70, we turned south to Wichita and our stop for the day. Wichita has the largest western wear store in the world, so if you are ever wondering where it is, now you know. Hey, I find something good about anyplace, well almost. There is also a large cowboy hat store called Hatman Jack's. They boast they can fit any head. Really? Wanna bet? Left him in tears. Always searching for a unique culinary experience we went to "Hog Wild Barbeque." It was unique, I'll give'em that. Out of brisket, ribs and pulled pork the best part of our meal was the side dish, and it was canned corn. Enough said about Hog Wild BBQ. Tomorrow the goal is Memphis. Now in Memphis there is a Bar-B-Que place and it named "Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous Charcoal Ribs." What Einstein was to math and Van Gogh to art, the Rendezvous is to ribs. Ask anyone that has ever eaten there. For you folks in Gainesville, ask our friend Jim Strawn. I have eaten there numerous times and it just keeps getting better. The house special is dry rub ribs. You don't need sauce, just an appetite. I am looking forward to it. The plan for tomorrow is to overnight a little south of Memphis and then see about a last, long day all the way in to Gainesville. We shall see how it goes.

Driving South, Days One and Two

We left the lake and were retracing our path from Finley Point, through Polson, and down through Livingston, Montana and on to Pocatello, Idaho. All through the mountains I had trouble breathing, particularly as we were coming into Northern Utah. The more I thought about continuing to Durango and Silverton, Colorado and their corresponding higher elevations the more I doubted the wisdom of the idea. Finally we decided to forego the train ride and to take a more direct route home. Our first night on the return trip was in Salt lake City. We had been there three years earlier and visited a place recommended by the Food Network's Guy Fieri on his program, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. The place was a Mexican taco joint called Lone Star Taqueria. The speciality of the house is a fish taco. The last time we were there neither of us had the fish taco and I have been hearing about it ever since. So, no matter what, one of us was having the fish and it wasn't going to be me. I had a chili verde taco and Jeannie finally had the object of her three year longing, a FISH TACO! Guess what, it was just so-so! I loved it, for three years I have heard about the taco, but it is in Salt Lake City! We live in Florida! Hello! it is fish! rather have it in Florida or Utah? Ohhh, how sweet it is. My chili verde was muy buena! The moral of the story? dont buy green chili in Florida and don't order a fish taco in Utah. The next day we were up bright and early and off to lower altitudes, can you say Denver? Actually a suburb a few miles north of Denver, Longmont, Colorado. On the trip coming out we made about 700 miles a day and completed the trip in four long days. We have decided to curtail the number of hours we drive each day and have opted for a five day return and about 500 miles or so each day. So far so good. In Longmont we found a local Mexican place called "Efrains III." We had a great meal, Jeannie had a Chimichanga (what else) and I had the best chicken enchilada I have ever eaten. Two Tecate Cervezas and a large bowl of salsa and we were set. I was eating a chili verde sauce that was so hot that I had one elbow on the table, tears rolling down my cheeks and yet kept dipping into the salsa again and again. Jeannie was laughing and said her dad used to do the same thing. Eating food so hot it brought tears to his eyes but tasted so good he couldn't stop. Man it was good. Later that night I recalled a saying by the late Lewis Grizzard, "Chili Dogs Howl At Night" Well Lewis, old boy they ain't the only thing.

Leaving the Lake of the Laughing Stars

On Monday we were up early and packing the car. Dave and Janine have been boon travel companions. Just love the word "boon" it is just so ostentatious, or is it pretentious? Either way, I like it a lot. We said our goodbyes and closed the car doors, all set? Not quite. You see the drive way leading down to the house is steep, as in very steep. The directions we received before coming had told us that if it rained, only a four wheel drive vehicle would be able to climb the drive. You will recall it had rained all day on Sunday. Now there was a small ditch washed out of the center of the drive, the remainder consisted of loose gravel. As I made my initial attempt, I made it about 10 feet then the tires started to smoke as they spun out. I mean smoking like a forest fire, filled the cab of the car. I backed up, Dave was outside and helped me to get as far back as possible. He encouraged me to get a running start and then keep it going. The car rocketed forward (as much as a Honda 4 cylinder can rocket, which ain't much) tires spun, gripped, spun some more and we were out of the drive and on our way. Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire! Home is 3,000 miles away. I have been to Montana several times and leaving is always hard. There is something about the place that is special. This time as I leave, I doubt I will ever see it again. I am so glad that I came back. I have lived in Alaska,Colorado and Florida, I love them all, but Montana is somehow different, it really is "The Last Best Place."

Some Posts May Appear to be Out of Sequence

If you are think I am posting some things out of sequence, you win the prize. You are 100% correct. For several days we did not have any cell phone or WI-FI capability. I would try to write everyday but could not publish onto the blog. When we did have service, some things went out, others did not. I do not know why. I hope to catch up today. (Better make that tonight) We have driven several thousand miles and it is taking it's toll on me. Tired of hearing me whine? Me to. While we were in Montana I mentioned to the group that on the fourth day of driving, I hit the metaphorical "wall." I attributed it to my age, weight, lack of physical condition and age. We had driven a bit over 2,700 miles in four days, the average temperature had been 105, and I was thoroughly whipped. Janine said, "Larry, I am forty seven years old, that's over twenty years younger than you and that drive would have kicked my butt, you have every reason to be exhausted." She kind of put it in perspective for me. I bet you thought I was serious about not whining anymore? It is 7:05 PM, the temperature is 106. The wind is 20 knots. More later, I promise.