Even with the COVID-19 issues this summer, I felt I needed to take some of Susan’s ashes to her parent’s graves in Shell Lake, Wisconsin. I also had some of her personal items to distribute to family members. (Besides, road trips are always better than staying at home to contemplate which chores are best ignored.) I planned to connect to I-80 Eastbound and come back on I-90 to give myself a little driving venue variety, expecting 3-4 weeks on the road. My only regret for the timing of this trip was that the six Forever Susan lilies I’d gotten were apparently going to start blooming after I left home (and would probably be just stems by the time I returned).I decided the first night would be spent in Bend, since it was a relatively short drive (and I knew I’d be late starting). I also wanted to do a bit of walking around Diamond Lake on the way to appreciate the sheer majesty of the area. Amazingly, one of the lilies opened up the morning I was leaving...really made me happy and I took it as a sign that Susan was endorsing the trip. As I expected, I did get a late start but it was a beautiful sunny afternoon and with the “picture” of the Forever Susan lily happily stored both digitally and in my memory, I soaked in the sights walking the lake trail.
Cold, limited breakfast service the next day in Bend, which I had expected...so I had a loaf of my Apricot-Whole Wheat + a big jar of peanut butter ready in the travel cooler. Needless to say, my stomach was not growling as I headed for Jerome, Idaho. My Google Maps route indicated this would be my longest driving day at +8 hrs...but the scenery along Hwy 20 & I-84 through Eastern Oregon & Idaho was true eye candy at times.
Speed limits in Idaho were 75, so even with some construction zones, the drive went pretty well. The Comfort Inn where I stayed in Jerome was a very nice facility...it just had the feel of being dropped into a field with a couple other businesses. I especially found the intermittent sidewalks (or lack thereof) somewhat entertaining...reminded me a little of a Christo art project or a Stephen King novel...I walked briskly, looking behind me frequently...and didn’t stop too long in any one spot to take a picture.
The next morning I completed a good portion of my daily steps before heading for Rock Springs, Wyoming (via I-80 & the Wasatch Mountain range pass of Utah). Rock Springs was pretty nice, but I really enjoyed the painted/decorated plywood cows displayed throughout the city. Turned out, the Boy Scouts of Troop 4 distribute and install between 150-160 plywood cows to advertise/promote the National High School Finals Rodeo held in mid-July at Rock Springs. The scouts set up the cows in front of participating local businesses (for a donation) and then the businesses decorate them however they’d like.
Proceeds from the businesses are used to support camping, equipment, and summer camp for the scouts. Certainly spurred me on my walking “just a little bit farther” to see how the next wooden bovine had been gussied up.
Leaving Wyoming, I headed for Ogallala, Nebraska (as I have discovered, I just love writing/typing or just attempting to say Ogallala...come on, we all have our little quirks). The weather forecast for Ogallala that day was for no rain...however, that forecast DID NOT include the drive TO Ogallala. I went through a very intense Thunderstorm with an awesome lightning display that was mostly hidden by the incredibly heavy downpour...wow! I don’t miss those kind of storms at all. Amazing to me that some people apparently can see clearly in zero visibility...at least I'm pretty sure I was being passed occasionally by other vehicles (and trucks)...I couldn't see them well enough as they passed me by at 75 mph. 😲 Weather cleared for the last half of the drive, but I spent the rest of the day looking over my shoulder for another storm front. Arriving in Ogallala, I realized that I’d stayed here before on a previous trip to Wisconsin with Susan. Somehow it’s always a little comforting to recognize the place where you’re spending the night. And, oh crap, looked like another thunder head headed towardtown Ogallala...OK, six times for typing Ogallala in one paragraph is enough--wait, that's seven!
The next morning I missed the hot breakfast, cooked to order...(apparently, 9 am in Nebraska means 8:30...must be a local time thing). But I still had plenty of bread & peanut butter to go with my coffee and carton of milk (and the thunder head missed Ogallala) so I had plenty of energy to get in my morning walk. Lots of freight train traffic heading west that day (and I suspect, most days). As I was walking across the screened bridge over tracks, I noticed several big dragonflies that were pacing me a couple feet away. I know it was because of the screening, but while I walked with “my friends”, I thought of the little sign my niece Kari had given me after Susan passed away.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve cried while remembering Susan, but that moment brought the tears back, but along with lots of good memories...I have been a very lucky man.
Off for Des Moines, I enjoyed the relatively few cars & trucks on the road for about the first five minutes...trucker coffee break? From then on, I experienced impressive streams of loaded trucks headed West on I-80. At one point (traffic confined to a single lane each way by construction), I counted 24 semi-trucks with a couple of cars literally squeezed in between them...no social distancing being practiced there at all! (Reminded me of the Jerry Reed song East Bound and Down (although it seemed mostly West Bound). I have been impressed with the Nebraska and Iowa rest areas on this trip. Fairly big, with nice walking paths around well maintained grassy areas. Certainly has helped to break up my driving day. I have also figured out how to use Google Maps on my cell phone (remember, I’m old...so to me, this was an impressive feat). Haven't really needed it yet, but I suspect going into Minnesota, it's going to be extremely handy without a navigator. I arrived in West Des Moines in the late afternoon to experience a somewhat unusual Sleep Inn location. It's really a nice motel, but the access is just awful. There is a tight, tree lined, 90 degree sharp turn coming into the parking lot that must be a challenge for even the most experienced truck drivers. Just to make it even more challenging, two trucks decided to park in the opposite approaches to the turn AND someone left their little white POS sedan (sans back wheel) at the corner...even in the Prius it seemed a formidable test of maneuverability. I wondered later if I’d accidentally wandered into some sort of competition that included a trucker’s obstacle course.
Tomorrow, I’ll place my navigational trust totally on my phone & Google Maps as I turn a bit North into Wisconsin to visit Susan’s brother Mark and his wife Lee Ann.
Leaving Wyoming, I headed for Ogallala, Nebraska (as I have discovered, I just love writing/typing or just attempting to say Ogallala...come on, we all have our little quirks). The weather forecast for Ogallala that day was for no rain...however, that forecast DID NOT include the drive TO Ogallala. I went through a very intense Thunderstorm with an awesome lightning display that was mostly hidden by the incredibly heavy downpour...wow! I don’t miss those kind of storms at all. Amazing to me that some people apparently can see clearly in zero visibility...at least I'm pretty sure I was being passed occasionally by other vehicles (and trucks)...I couldn't see them well enough as they passed me by at 75 mph. 😲 Weather cleared for the last half of the drive, but I spent the rest of the day looking over my shoulder for another storm front. Arriving in Ogallala, I realized that I’d stayed here before on a previous trip to Wisconsin with Susan. Somehow it’s always a little comforting to recognize the place where you’re spending the night. And, oh crap, looked like another thunder head headed toward
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| I added a couple of pictures along I-80 of the Nebraska landscape just so you could appreciate how flat a lot of the middle part of the USA really is... |
The next morning I missed the hot breakfast, cooked to order...(apparently, 9 am in Nebraska means 8:30...must be a local time thing). But I still had plenty of bread & peanut butter to go with my coffee and carton of milk (and the thunder head missed Ogallala) so I had plenty of energy to get in my morning walk. Lots of freight train traffic heading west that day (and I suspect, most days). As I was walking across the screened bridge over tracks, I noticed several big dragonflies that were pacing me a couple feet away. I know it was because of the screening, but while I walked with “my friends”, I thought of the little sign my niece Kari had given me after Susan passed away.
It’s been quite a while since I’ve cried while remembering Susan, but that moment brought the tears back, but along with lots of good memories...I have been a very lucky man.
Off for Des Moines, I enjoyed the relatively few cars & trucks on the road for about the first five minutes...trucker coffee break? From then on, I experienced impressive streams of loaded trucks headed West on I-80. At one point (traffic confined to a single lane each way by construction), I counted 24 semi-trucks with a couple of cars literally squeezed in between them...no social distancing being practiced there at all! (Reminded me of the Jerry Reed song East Bound and Down (although it seemed mostly West Bound). I have been impressed with the Nebraska and Iowa rest areas on this trip. Fairly big, with nice walking paths around well maintained grassy areas. Certainly has helped to break up my driving day. I have also figured out how to use Google Maps on my cell phone (remember, I’m old...so to me, this was an impressive feat). Haven't really needed it yet, but I suspect going into Minnesota, it's going to be extremely handy without a navigator. I arrived in West Des Moines in the late afternoon to experience a somewhat unusual Sleep Inn location. It's really a nice motel, but the access is just awful. There is a tight, tree lined, 90 degree sharp turn coming into the parking lot that must be a challenge for even the most experienced truck drivers. Just to make it even more challenging, two trucks decided to park in the opposite approaches to the turn AND someone left their little white POS sedan (sans back wheel) at the corner...even in the Prius it seemed a formidable test of maneuverability. I wondered later if I’d accidentally wandered into some sort of competition that included a trucker’s obstacle course.
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| Now, imagine a semi-truck parked at the curb on each approach to this corner ...a Smart Car or Mini Cooper would've been useful here. |
p.s. It would be nice if you've assumed I haven't posted for a while because I was traveling...but mostly I was just honing my procrastination skills (and quite well I might add!) 😎
