Are You Sure They Did It This Away?

It was raining when we left Kearney and the weather channel was predicting thunder storms along our route. Fortunately we only ran into some light rain within the first 40 miles and then a sprinkle or two near Cheyenne.  I had a couple of cups of coffee, a glass of orange juice and a bowl of cereal with milk before leaving the motel.  After about an hour highway construction caused the road to feel like a washboard and every bumpty, bump, bump reminded my bladder of every ounce of liquid I had drank.  In the west rest areas are not just a few miles apart, they are separated by a 100 miles or so.  By the time we stopped I was throwing old ladies and children aside in my mad dash for the bathroom. Oh yeah, I was ready to get out of that car.

We passed a pony express station and read a plaque about the men that rode from St. Joseph, Missouri to San Francisco.  I cannot imagine how they did it. And then you see the wagons that were pulled over a thousand miles by oxen.  No seats on most of the freight wagons, the men walked beside the animals with whips.  Depending on the load carried, it took from two to twenty oxen to pull the wagons, some carrying up to six thousand pounds. Here I am complaining about a rough highway, sitting in air conditioning and these guys walked from St. Louis to Oregon. Amazing, just amazing. 

Today we saw the Rocky Mountains on the horizion, 14,000 feet of granite, snow and ice.  I can hear the pioneers asking "Did the walk across the prarie tire you? OK here are the mountains, you have to get the wagons, animals and children over them to reach California." No wonder so many said, on second thought, I think Denver would be a great place to live.

Tomorrow we start the final leg to Flathead Lake.  We are near the Montana/Wyoming border and will cross into "Big Sky Country" early in the day.  I plan on stopping at Pompeii's Peak near Billings.  History records that William Clark (Lewis and Clark Expedition) carved his initials into the rock there.  The Yellowstone River flows by the site and if I drink too much liquid again tomorrow,,,,well you get the idea.

We hope to arrive at the house on Flathead Lake in late afternoon.  Our friends, Dr. Dave Sikes and Janine should arrive around the same time.  They are flying into Spokane, renting a SUV and driving over.  I think it is a mere 300 miles.  We will have been 2,650 miles when we pull in the driveway.  I am sure Dave will tell me how tough his drive has been. As for me, I intend to sound as if I have walked by those oxen and wagons all the way fronm Gainesville.

Buffalo in my Sights

Leaving in ten minutes for Buffalo, Wyoming.  I am planning to have dinner at Winchester Steak House tonight.  It will be the first meal in a commercial establishment on the entire trip.  Some different from the previous trek highlighted by eating and reviewing the food Channel's Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."  This time it has been hotel continental breakfasts, peanut butter and jelly for lunch and the a bowl of soup, rice and turkey sandwiches in the evening. Barebones budgets call for less than fine dining.

It is about a 550 mile trip to Buffalo, Wyoming.  Weather is moving in, first time to see rain on the entire journey. I hope the antelop stay off the road, here is the deal for Andy Antelope, I don't eat your grazing pastures and you don't damage my car. OK? OK!

Here's a Tip: This Ain't No Easy Trip

Left Paducah and crossed into Illinois, right away got nervous about my gun being in the car. Illinois has some draconian laws concerning weapons in automobiles. Why is it that every state with the highest crime rates, and large numbers of criminals preying on their citizens, all have the toughest gun laws? It also seems they have the highest gas prices and taxes. I guess the state needs the extra money to provide the many services offered by cities such as Chicago. It enables them to maintain model city and county governments. Why if they had to make do with less money it might result in governmental corruption. Perish the thought!

OK. get off the soapbox podner. Let me tell ya, in this part of the world corn fields are everywhere, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. Thousands upon thousands of acres, I have never seen so much corn, waves and waves of the stuff. But if this heat doesn't break, the entire mid-west is going to look like a giant popcorn machime. It was 109 degrees in St. Louis, Lincoln, Nebraska was 104 at six in the evening. Getting out of the car is literally like stepping into the Mojave desert, the highways all shimmer in heat waves. In Illinois, a portion of the road buckled from the heat. I think a mechanical breakdown could have drastic consequences. So far the old Honda has been good as gold and I sure don't want to jinx it. Keep your fingers crossed.

I saw several highway signs saying "authentic Mexican restaurant" Just once I would like to see a sign saying "fake Mexican cafe" only gringoes work here and all of our food is flash frozen. Tomorrow we will start to see the signs proclaiming genuine Indians weaving genuine blankets. Pay no attention to the "made in China labels." I am glad we in Florida do not exploit tourists.

We drove 750 miles and made it to Kearney, Nebraska. It is too far to drive in one day by about a hundred or more miles, just too taxing. When I was young it was a walk in the park, often drove 900 or more miles but no more. Taking fifteen minutes to stand up straight is a hint that you might be over doing it just a bit. At my age, more than just a bit. I am going to cut back, look I ain't on no schedule, the trip will take whatever time it takes.
Although everyone talks about global warming, I'm pretty confident Glacier Park will still be there when I get there, give or take a day or two.

Someone said I tend to ramble when I write, really? Nothing like when I talk. huh?

William Clark bought Paducah for $5.00

Seems there was an Indian Chief living on the banks of the Ohio River in what is now Paducah, Kentucky. The old chief and his family had been there for generations. One day a white guy shows up with a deed and says "hit the road Chief, I just bought the whole damned place." However, he was an equal opportunity evictor, he also threw out the few white families living there.  The Chief was a member of the Chickasaw tribe, he was called Chief Paduke.  The deed was issued by nothing less than the United States Supreme Court and cost William Clark, leader of the historic Lewis & Clark Expedition, the princely sum of five dollars.  After running everybody off, Clark laid out the grid for the city and named it Paducah in honor of the old chief.Not wanting their to be any ill feelings, (say what?) he sent his boat to bring the old chief back to see what he had built. Unfortunately the chief died on the trip upriver. You now know everything I know about the founding of this fair city. Seven hundred and eleven miles the first day, Gainesville to Paducah. The weather was great and even the traffic around Atlanta was favorable. I have been in the room for three hours and it feels like I am still moving. Long drives are getting tougher on this old man. The river walk here is well done. There is a mural depicting the founding on the City, numerous benches along the river where you can sit and watch the river roll by. There was a stern wheeler tied up that is a combination casino and hotel. Unlike most gambling boats, this one steams up and down the river. The Ohio and Tennessee River join here, rolling south to blend with the mighty Mississippi. Tomorrow, it is another 700 mile plus trek to Kearney, Nebraska. Cross the River at St. Louis, then on to Kansas City and a little BBQ, then on to Nebraska. More from the Cornhusker state tomorrow.

Ride Along

Tough time deciding whether to start a new blog or just to stay on this one what do you think?

Hemmingway Version of "The Imposter Syndrome"

Did you ever buy a car or a house only to lie awake nights wondering how you were going to pay for it? Or talk yourself into a situation and then immediately look for a way out? So have I.