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.