Toledo, OH

Although I wanted to drive as far as Lorain, OH (Cleveland) this afternoon, I waited until the biggest part of commute traffic was gone this morning, and got a later start than usual. It was nice though, because my niece came over and she, my s-i-l and I had a nice time to talk. My brother went to work earlier. Also, I moved into the eastern time zone so I lost an hour. So here I am at the same motel I stopped in last year on my way to NY.

The weather has been pretty good - once in a while a few rain drops, but mostly clear and windy. I could barely make it from my car to the motel entrance because of the wind, and I will have to go out again with Lady and to get a few more items from the car. The wind is causing high pollen counts and I can sure tell it!

Lady finally ate supper last night after refusing to eat for 3 days. She has a really difficult time getting up and down as well, and the first thing I will have to do when I get to NY is to get her something for achy old doggie joints! I was getting a little concerned about her not eating.

I am SO glad I got the I Pass, and can't believe how many toll booths there are along the way; I had to stop at all of them last year and it is so nice to just drive on through.

I'm almost too tired to write down all the daily trip info, but I don't want to let it get away from me as I've kept up with it so far. I'm so thankful I made it around Chicago, and hope Cleveland will be relatively easy. That should be the last large city I'll have to deal with this segment of the trip.

Coming through Northern Indiana I get a little pang of nostalgia when I see the RV manufacturers along the highway, but not much (nostalgia, that is). Every time I think about it and wonder what it might be like to try it again, I realize it is not for me. I sure am glad I tried it for a couple of years, although I'd like to have the money it cost me - even just the depreciation amount. I hope all the RVers out there have some great trips this summer.

I don't know if I'll be in PA or NY tomorrow evening, as I'm still making up my mind which route to take. At any rate, I hope to be at my NY destination on Wednesday. I know one thing - I'm buying a pillow to sit on for the trip back!

Milwaukee, WI

I left Altoona, IA in a terrible rain, before daylight on Friday. There was very little traffic and in fact I drove for long periods of time without seeing another vehicle in either direction. I am so glad I went through the midwest without delay because I see that the weather there has turned from bad to worse. The light traffic lasted until I got into Illinois and then it was tense driving the rest of the way.

I stopped at the Illinois Welcome Center and almost wished I hadn't! It was a full mile back to the rest area, around winding roads through the woods. I finally got there and found a very modern wooden building that perfectly fit in with the surroundings, but it was unmanned and I didn't meet a soul there. Since it had been raining heavily when we left the hotel and it was very early morning, I just put Lady right into the car. When we stopped at this lovely rest area I finally let her wander around and sniff the grass for a while, and then it was back on the road for a tense couple of hours drive.

I took a couple of photos of the Mississippi River from the rest area, but since it was raining I didn't walk down to any closer views.




I am enjoying the visit with family, and the drive to Chicago yesterday where we visited my Aunt in the rehab center, and then on to my cousin's house in Bensenville. My aunt is 85 and has just had a leg removed because of a blood clot. They are trying to get her strong enough to be able to use a prosthetic leg, but I heard from my cousin that the doctors think the other leg doesn't look good, so I think she is in for a difficult time.

It's great to relax in the evenings and just catch up on what has been happening in our lives. When my brother and s-i-l return from church this morning we will meet my niece and her family for a breakfast at a local restaurant, and then I will need to get prepared to leave tomorrow for NY. I think I will run into more rain tomorrow, but I'll just deal with what comes.

Yesterday while we were still in Illinois we found a place that sells the iPass, and I bought one since it can also be used on toll roads in Ohio, Indiana and NY. That will avoid all the toll booth stops, and I can top it up online or by phone if I need to. Any remaining amount doesn't expire and can be used on my next trip.

East Des Moines (Altoona) Iowa

I have been driving in rain almost all day, much of it torrential. Fortunately there wasn't any traffic on the road until I got to Lincoln & Omaha, NE, and most of the way through Iowa. I am so tired I think I will close the curtain and fall asleep before it even gets dark outside!

I have spent a total of $6 for coffee so far this trip, but I have now run out of food. Since the motel is next to a Flying J, I decided to walk over and see what I might be able to find to bring back to my room. Nothing! Adjacent to Flying J is a Max's Diner. When I passed it on the way over I got an earache from the loud 70's/80's rock blaring through a loudspeaker. Since I couldn't get anything to eat at Flying J, I wandered into the diner and ordered a senior hamburger. I rarely buy a hamburger, preferring to know where the beef came from and what, if anything is in it, but about once a year I usually break down, especially on a long trip. (I sincerely hope there is no pink slime added.) While I was waiting for my order I was still subjected to the same rock that is playing outside, toned down a bit, but also TV screens in every direction. So the visual garbage on TV, plus the audio crap playing over the loudspeaker, made me glad I could just grab the food and go as soon as the order was ready. Sorry, but I don't like to see TV images in a restaurant (or even a bar, for that matter), and I don't really care for someone else picking their choice of music to blast out.

That rain today really has my nerves frazzled, so I won't take any more chances on saying something I shouldn't. The hamburger was pretty good, by the way.

North Platte, NE

I was glad to finally end the travel day and relax. The traffic was fairly light except for around cities. I ran into 30-40 miles of dense fog in eastern Wyoming, and visibility in much of the way was about 3 stripes in the middle of the roadway. I can't estimate length in feet or yards very well, especially when driving. Fortunately there were few vehicles to be seen until I got close to and drove through Cheyenne.

I've noticed from when I passed Reno that trucks were driving no faster than 65. It finally dawned on me by Wyoming that they were slowing down to maximize fuel efficiency. I have been driving most of the way at 67, and hope my gas mileage is good overall. My last tankful got me 28 mpg, for which I'm grateful.

After 3 days on the road I've figured out why I'm not very enthused so far - I have traveled across country many times completely on interstates, but during the past 3 years or so I've driven on US and state routes where possible. The interstate scenery is so bland compared to the local roads, and I hope to return to the two-lane highways for much of my return trip.

Passing all the wonderful rock formations in the west I wish I had taken a geology course or two. I was going to do that when still in Asheville, but when I went on the road it became an impossibility. I would never take an online course because I know myself well enough to realize I need the interaction with teacher and other students to do well in and enjoy learning. Maybe someday.

The Motel6 in Wells, NV had free wifi that was fast and consistent. The motel at Rock Springs wanted $4 for wifi, so I used my mi-fi which could barely do the job. Tonight I'm using my mi-fi and it looks like it will do well. I will probably have good connections from now on - they are generally better in the east than in some mountain regions of the west.

This motel has indoor corridors which I dislike, but the desk clerk put me in a room near an outside door and I am parked close to the door. I made several trips to and from the car, but as soon as I get my shower I will start taking some things back so I don't have such a hassle in the morning.

Regarding the radio, I got Wyoming NPR all the way through the state, and Nebraska public radio in this state. With the exception of a political segment of about 15 minutes when I turned it off, I've had interesting commentary and music most of the travel day. I will look for some CD's when I get to NY, but for now I think I will stick with the radio from time to time. I couldn't stand constant music or talk for the entire trip, but once in a while it's nice to have something to listen to for a little while.

Rock Springs, WY

Yesterday I would have bet $100 dollars that this would be my last cross country trip. This evening, at the motel room, I have maps laid out over both beds in the room, so I can see possible routes. I was thinking about altering my route somewhat, but I see that it is actually the most direct and best way to travel, this time. But while I was at it, I've found a route I will try to take "next time". I hope there will be many more times.

Last time I was in Rock Springs was during a storm when I-80 was closed down. I think Rock Springs looked better under a cover of snow. There is a town somewhere in Wyoming along I-80 that I remember thinking was beautiful. Maybe it was Cheyenne?

I found an NPR radio station this afternoon that came in pretty clear, but the topics got me aggravated enough to want to call in or email the program. One was about teachers and how one has been disciplined for having a picture on Facebook having a glass of wine at a dinner. I can't believe it - it IS legal to drink a glass of wine with dinner as far as I know. I never did know much about using FB when I cancelled my account, but it seems that a friend (or anyone) can post a picture of you. I think it has gone way too far, and I'm glad I'm not part of social media (except if you call blogging "social media"). But that doesn't even mean that someone couldn't post pictures of me if they decided to. One teacher interviewed said he had to use FB because he doesn't hold class every day, and his students don't talk on the phone nor do they email - they text and use FB. Well, if they wanted to pass my class they would just have to get over it and get an email account!

The other thing that irritated me - and I care very little about sports - was the recent deal with the suspension of the Marlins' manager for a remark he made. The Cuban revolution happened over 50 years ago, and I think the Cubans in Miami should try to get over it! If they are citizens here then they need to recognize the constitutional right of free speech.

Maybe I need to go find some CD's, because radio, when it works, isn't working for me! It's a long trip, you know, but I suppose getting aggravated is better than straying over the rumble strip in the side of the highway.

I did get one photo from a rest stop in eastern Utah



The motel in Wells was really nice. Even though it faced the interstate, I couldn't hear a thing once I closed the door - from highway or local traffic. The one I'm in tonight is comfortable and even has Pergo floors which I really prefer to carpet, especially in commercial lodging, but I can hear road noise. It's not interstate, but just town traffic. I will no doubt sleep well tonight - the drive during the day makes that likely. Tomorrow will be about 100 miles longer, so I'll go to bed early.

Tune in tomorrow!

Wells, NV

I left home at 7:15 am and arrived here in Wells at 3:00 pm. It was a tiring day for some reason - I-80 to Reno was aggravating because of a few drivers on that roadway, but the road surface was better than I've ever seen it. The aggravation came when I was driving in the right lane and cars approach in the left lane - most go past me and there is no problem. If I am coming up behind a vehicle that is going slower than I am then I need to pass, but inevitably one of the guys in the left lane hovers too close for me to cut in, and long enough for me to have to hit my brakes. It happened several times and I wonder if it is a deliberate thing. I shouted a lot of 4-letter words in that 100+ miles.

Reno and Sparks, NV are always a bother to get through, but once you leave Sparks behind there is very little traffic on I-80 through the rest of Nevada. I made a couple of rest area stops as well as to get fuel. For some reason Nevada hasn't held the enchantment for me that the last several trips through it have had.

For several days before I travel I notice that I become very unsettled, unfocused, and distant. I should say that I do this when I travel alone, which is mostly how I travel. This time the pre-trip jitters were probably worse than normal, but I thought once I got on the road things would be as always. I wonder if I'm just tired of traveling alone. I really don't want to be bound to compromises with anyone, so it's always best when I'm alone, but I am tired of it. The thing is that I HAVE to travel. When the song of the open road plays over and over in your mind, there is only one help for it, and that is to pack up whatever vehicle you travel in, put it in gear, and take off.

Whatever it is I hope I wake up with a different attitude tomorrow. I will be driving through Salt Lake City, an ok city but one that I have never liked to drive through. I think it is a combination of traffic and the signage that has always bothered me. Oddly, about the only city I have always enjoyed driving through no matter what the traffic is like, is Albuquerque. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that SLC will be a breeze to get through.

I had breakfast at son Joe's yesterday morning, and dinner at daughter Jeannie's house. Having had brunch on Saturday with Steve and his family, I have had a chance to be with all 3 of my California kids before my trip.

I didn't take any photos today as the light just wasn't the best. The Sierras were a big disappointment - not a heavy snow cover in the mountains - and Nevada has been in a haze the whole way through. Scenes that used to perk me up looked like they were behind a fog curtain, so there is no reason to waste the time to try to take pictures. I have three cameras with me and hope I get to use them. Maybe Utah will deliver! (But not SLC - I just want to get in and outta there.)

Maybe I'll cheer up before I post tomorrow. Music today would have helped but I forgot CD's and cassette tapes I intended to bring along. I scanned the radio several times, and usually only two stations came in clear - both of them preachers. I'd rather listen to the silence!

Bluegrass Brunch, 2nd post 4/7

The brunch was good, the bluegrass was good, and Liam was a good boy. Well, until he started throwing the crayons, but other than that he was great!