Friday, September 9, 2011

Home again, home again.

Uncle Don dropped me off at 12:30.  It was a great trip, but it is always good to be home.  And I am sure Buster was happy to have his seat back.

We got started at 7:30 this morning.  Uncle Don drove until breakfast, and then I took over.

Breakfast was at Cracker Barrel; my first opportunity to have grilled catfish since our first morning.  The ride was cloudy, but we didn’t hit rain until we were close to my house.  When we got here, my neighbor Sylvia came out and took our picture to mark the end of the adventure.

So now it is laundry, shopping, and such.  I’ll take the weekend off, and Monday morning I will pick up my routine.  I am sure Uncle Don will start his again, too.  We will both have to start shaving again.

As for Buster, he was already riding shotgun before they left my house!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Last night was quiet and not quite as chilly.  And this morning before we left the camp grounds, we saw a flock of turkeys walking along.  Buster didn’t care.  Apparently rat terriers are not bird dogs!

We got some raunchy coffee and started out at 8am.  Breakfast was in Alda, another booming metropolis.  After a few miles of driving in Nebraska you have seen the entire state – except for the big cities.  By lunch time we were in Iowa, where the corn looks a little healthier.

We stopped in Grinnell, IA for supper and gas, and arrived just west of Iowa City at 7pm.  It looks like a nice place.  It is pretty full, but they put us in the back near the dog walk.  This should be quiet enough that Buster will get a good night’s sleep and so will we.  Fortunately, this place has TV stations and Internet service.  What more could you want?  Oh, yeah.  Showers.  They have those, too.

The mileage for today is 519, bringing our total to 1947.  We should be home tomorrow.  I think we are within 250 miles of my house, and 350 miles of Uncle Don’s.

Wish us luck!

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

We are at a camp ground in Maxwell, NE (just outside of North Platte) that has free wireless Internet.  Unfortunately for Uncle Don, once again there is no TV reception and he does not have any VHS tapes with him, so it will probably be an early night again tonight.  At least he found a radio station he likes.

We started out at 7:30 this morning with gas for the RV and coffee for us.  Buster slept most of the day today in spite of the fact that he had a pretty quiet night last night.  In fact we made him sleep in his own bed.  He was a little angry at first, but eventually gave in.

The drive today was beautiful.  For some reason, it looked prettier to me today.  Maybe last time we came through Wyoming and western Nebraska I was too anxious to get to Uncle Tony’s.

Uncle Don drove until breakfast, then I took over while he entertained me.  We ran into some construction and a little rain, but traffic was not bad.  After supper, he took over and we arrived at this camp ground at 7pm.  The office was closed, but there is a sign with the prices and instructions.  People sure are trusting out here!

My leg is doing OK.  It seems to hurt most first thing in the morning.  Crazy.  I’m not using the cane as much as I was.  There seems to be more room for the left foot on the driver’s side—especially since Buster always manages to get in the passenger foot space—so driving is not aggravating it.

Today’s mileage is 515, bringing the total to 1428.  So, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we should make it to my house by Friday evening, once you add in the old fart factor.  I suspect that no matter what time we make it to my house, Uncle Don will insist on dropping me off and going on to Milwaukee.  So, I am going to try to push into eastern Iowa tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Buster had a busy night last night.  He decided to guard the entire camp grounds, so he was up most of the night running from the front of the RV to the back, temporarily settling down on either Uncle Don’s bed or mine.  Once I had to push him down.  He was not pleased, but moved when I insisted.  If he does not sleep tonight, I think I will drug him.

This morning, Uncle Don had his picture taken in front of the Winnemucca RV Park.  Then, he bought each of us a Winnemucca t-shirt.  We got coffee and were off.

We drove all the way through Nevada and Utah today.  Lots of desert and mountains!  Breakfast was at a sorry little spot, and supper was at an old fashioned diner in Green River, Wyoming.  Yep, we are in shit-kicking country again.

Uncle Don was a little reluctant to let me drive, but I whined enough that he finally gave in.  My back and leg are better, and my driving foot is my good foot.  So we did fine.  (I’m even walking without the cane some.)

In fact, today we drove 520 miles.  Our total so far is 913.  Can you tell traffic has been really thin and construction has not been a problem!

Of course Green River does not have Internet or TV stations, so this will get posted later.

Monday, September 5, 2011

On the road again!  And traffic was light.

We left Uncle Tony’s at about 10am, right after Wayne took a group picture:  Uncle Tony, Uncle Don, Sherlee, Wayne, and their kids (men!), and me.

I had the GPS route us to avoid the toll bridge, so we ended up on a two-lane road for a while.  But, what the heck, it is an adventure.  We rode through Donner’s Pass into the mountains of Nevada.  We are probably about 7,000 feet up in Winnemucca, NV.  So we plan on avoiding frigid Salt Lake City.  Hope we don’t freeze tonight.

Today’s mileage:  393.  And my back is doing well.  That Sherlee really knows her drugs (well, her Advil dosages)!

Wednesday, August 31

Today we went touring through the area.  Wayne drove us through some redwood forests, for lunch in Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge, and through San Francisco.  We made a whole day of it!
Buster has taken possession of Uncle Tony's house, banning Lola to the back porch and back yard.
Our current plan is to leave Uncle Tony's on Monday, September 5.  By the end of the day on Labor Day we figure we should not run into too much traffic -- especially in the desert.
We don't have any specific plans, but stay tuned for the continuing saga once we are on the road.

Friday, August 19

We made it!  We got to Uncle Tony’s by about 2pm!
We got some coffee this morning and got going.  We passed through Reno and into California where the scenery was breath-taking.  We went right through Donner Pass.  It is full of rock formations and pine trees.  High peaks and deep ravines.  Fortunately, Uncle Don, the experienced truck driver, took us through there.  A 6 degree downhill incline doesn’t sound like much, but it is kind of like being on a rollercoaster.  You think you have everything under control, and then you aren’t sure.  Exciting!
Breakfast was kind of late; we had to wait until we were out of the national forest.  We found a great restaurant in a small town, and then got back under way.  Tom-Tom guided us along all the way to Uncle Tony’s house where he and Wayne were waiting.  Sherlee came in a few minutes later.
Buster seems to be doing okay, in spite of the fact that Uncle Tony has 3 dogs, Wayne and Shirlee have 2, and Nathan and Wayne each have 1.  (Hey, wait a minute.  I think the dogs have us outnumbered).  Buster was pretty ticked when Wayne and I got into the RV and took a short ride, but he adjusted his attitude when Wayne offered him a little food later.  Also, Uncle Tony has a cute little female, so Buster may be in love.
So we are getting settled in.  I am staying with Wayne and Sherlee; Uncle Don is staying with Uncle Tony.  Now, we will just play it by ear.  When I know more, I’ll post more.  Adios.