Day Log 06.30.05 Thursday

We started the day at 6:15 AM CDT, went to a local place for breakfast and was surprised that more people were not there, as the food was great, and the service came with a French accent as the older waitress was happy to tell about living in Silina, KA, while bossing the two younger waitress’s that were late for work. We took off from Silina at 8:30 and drove to Goodland KA, for gas at 11:45 CDT or as we found out the local time had changed a few miles back to 10:45 MDT. As we got ready to leave the gas station it was agreed that we would stop in about another hour for lunch so we didn’t have the grumps like we did the day before. As it turned out we drove on until reaching Limon, CO., or about a total of 335 miles between breakfast and lunch at 12:50 MDT. After having one of the best Chicken salads for Mary and Turkey for me, we headed out toward Pueblo, CO. another 105 miles away. Short day at 440 miles.

We had discussed as traveling through the high plains that being so close to Colorado Springs would mean paying a higher price for the two nights we were going to stay in the area. Being in Pueblo we could back track to see the Larson’s and some of the local attractions on Friday. We didn’t know it until later this afternoon that having a short lay over is going to help when we get to camp on Saturday. Seems coming from sea level to 4750 feet has affected the bodies more than we thought. As we ran to the local Wal-Mart tonight to pick up some cloths detergent, yogurt, and a few odds and ends we noticed that the hearts were beating faster and harder, the air seemed thin and in spite of the dry air we were tired. The time change of two hours and thin air have Mary asleep at 9:15 local time. We grabbed a light sandwich to eat here in the room tonight and just seem to be catching up from the speed trip across country.

It was so nice to drive all day with the windows down even when the temp got up to 83 or higher. At one pee stop just sitting on the warm rocks with the wind blowing around caused a chill as the light sheen of sweat dried on the skin. Nothing like yesterday and the days before when just standing still made you think you were in a shower with not a cloud in the sky. As we drove today the landscape changed from flat wheat fields, to rolling green hills that seemed to have cattle and horses scattered around, back to miles and miles of wheat farms this seemed to be the case from the Kansas border to the outskirts of Colorado Springs. I did wonder why on the East side of Colorado Springs out about 30 miles the bedroom towns were popping all over the place, yet on the trip down to Pueblo nothing seems to be filling in. Lots of land unused down here around Pueblo seems a waste. I saw some places in the area traveled today, where the homes were on a small rise and there was no way they could see their nearest neighbor. Mary said no I can’t live out that far from people.Well I am about done for the night but have one question that could be simply looked up on the web later. As we drove across these last few states the oil pumps standing in the fields just keep dipping their heads and lifting their back legs. So where does the oil go that is pumped on each rotation, and what keeps the rotation moving?

Well Good night.

Day Log 06.29.05

We had a quick bit in the room from our Apple, Cheese, Yogurt travel bag and were on the road at 7:45 AM EST leaving Cloverdale, Indiana with the sun trying to burn through the mist of the valley. It was already 74 degrees. We tried the car windows down for about 60 miles then decided that being dry and comfortable was worth a few miles per gallon. The car has been getting 38.5 MPG up to today on the fill ups. We have been able to figure out that the tank holds about 13.2 gallons, we can drive about six hours on a tank and put in about 10.5 gallons before I get worried about running out before finding the next station.

We stopped in Troy, Illinois for breakfast at about 10:45 AM at a Cracker Barrel, we also gassed up there as well. Then we stormed through Illinois, stopped long enough in Kansas City, Missouri to pay $2.00 for a bridge toll and into Kansas City, Kansas. Mom had reached her limit for waiting for something to eat, the car was out of gas, I had to Pee so we stopped in Junction City, Kansas for Supper in a Dennys. Waiting that long to feed mom is not a good thing and the salad she ordered was just clear the waitress’s hand before half was gone. Color came back, smile was better, and we were talking again, so decided Junction City was not a good place to stop for night. On up the road another 60 miles we went. We have stopped in Salina, Kansas for the night after about 12 hours on the road and it only being 6:30 local Central Time. A good stiff wind had been blowing across the left front fender since getting in to Kansas and it has along with the hills and valley’s dropped the MPG down to 35.5. The trees in this area are all leaning toward the north with the wind blowing up from the south. Seems to be a lot of land in parts of Kansas that is not being used for anything but grass feeding range cows. Looking at the 611 miles we traveled today it seems that the next two days will be later starting and earlier stopping as we should only have about 620 miles left to camp. Mom is thinking about see some friends for Logan that now live in Colorado Springs and will try calling them tomorrow to see if they are home. Other wise we will poke around Pueblo, Colorado on Friday and then drop down to Camp on Saturday.

This motel has no internet so I will try the 888 number to send this out tonight.

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I will quick see if I get any mail but may not answer it tonight.

Dad & Mom
Fed, Drink in hand and Hot shower happy.
06.29.05

Day Log 06.28.05

Up at 6:30 and after a little continental breakfast on the road at 7:30. Was able to travel through so very beautiful mountains (Hills), and valleys where green trees and fields went on for miles. It took $4.25 to be allowed to leave Penn., into WV, which it took about 13 minutes to drive through into Ohio where we were headed to see Mary’s old room mate in Old Washington. We stopped to see them at about 11:30 had a bite of lunch and left at 2:30 to see how many miles we could travel. A gas stop in Springfield Ohio and across into Indiana past Indianapolis about 30 miles to this small town called Cloverdale. We were able to travel 518 miles in the 12 hours. Had a nice supper in truck stop up the road, heard the news and headed to bed. It rained hard on parts of the trip with us being very glad we were headed West when we went through Indianapolis as the East bound side had a six wide, 10 mile backup which just shows that coming to a stop can happen just like the every 30 miles we seem to hit road work and cut back from two lanes to one. Truckers make it easy to go fast as you either follow close of get pushed from behind.

It is about 7 AM on Wednesday the 29th and we are getting up and moving for another day.

Hope all is well with you all.

Gettin' Started

We got started by getting up at 6:30 AM and making the last things fit into the car. More in the back seat than wanted but we got it all in and headed out the drive way at 8 AM. Had to gas the truck and then headed down RT 6 toward Hartford where we connected to I-84 and I followed Mom into NY onto I-684 and onto a number of side roads right past Junetta’s work place. Due to a “horse paddock” that only Junetta knew was there we had to call for directions and she had to come get us in the golf cart. We had a few bad minutes with the two adults being out of sorts and Junetta coming to the rescue with a water closet, a little fruit and directions back out to the highway and on our way by 11 AM.

We traveled back on I-684 to I-278 across the Tappen Zee Bridge to the NJ Garden State turnpike to where we caught I-80. The Garden State cost .70 Cents and to get into Delaware they wanted another .75 cents. We stayed on I-80 until we got to Rt-220 and down to I-99. We had lunch in Strousberg, Pa. , then we stopped after 455 miles in Altonna Pa., for the night at about 6:30 PM. The Day Inn had a phone connection that made it impossible to get on line, so we make notes tonight and see what tomorrow brings. Being disconnected for a day will be hard but when I get to the Camp it will be for a week so I guess I need to wean myself now for a happier five weeks.

Mom is watching Nanny 911 and learning how to get me to throw way my broken toys and clean my own room while being able to dress myself without her help. This may all have worked but soon getting my own buttons done again will be harder so she is studying up now.

Banner is ready.

Banner is in place and now the trek can begin. Well we need to pack cloths first and then off we go. Food ah yes a little in the back seat is needed. Almost out the door. One last look around to shut the windows and Monday at 7:30 AM we are off.