WriteAway

I’m currently at Thunder Bay Grille, in Davenport IA, eating a very delicious Black Angus burger. It’s early… just noon now. Gonna’ try to make it into (or close to) Nebraska before stopping for the night. That will put me at 800+ miles total, getting me close to the half-way mark. Marlene is tracking my progress on a map at the store!

Speaking of Marlene, she asked me last night if I brought any food with me besides the garlic powder and salt and pepper shakers. Told her I had my trip snacks and a few things from the pantry: a couple cans of tuna, odds & ends. Told her that after stops to get the check for the movers and signing the lease at the apartment, I’d be heading up to Trader Joe’s to take care of the empty pantry syndrome. Sometime during this exchange, she said something about not worrying about anything, that everything would be taken care of (or words to that effect), and that things were being taken care of… things I’d never even imagine.

Quite a mystery, huh?

Drove about 475 miles today: Joliet IL to Lincoln NE. Total is now 886 miles. The first half of Iowa (eastern half) overcast but mostly dry. But… through Des Moines to Lincoln NE, everything from light or moderate rain to downpours. The traffic through Des Moines, Council Bluffs, and Omaha – heavy (first weekend of college football season). Rain was heaviest in the heaviest traffic. Asked Marlene why… she sez “Becuz.”

I stopped about 20 miles east of Lincoln; almost fell down when I got out of the car! Light-headed!! Have stayed fairly relaxed mostly… conscious effort to not clench teeth, to keep face, shoulders, and arms relaxed, breathe deeply and evenly… efforts shot to hell in Iowa (speed limit 70 mph, including for trucks) and in Nebraska—through cities, 60-65; out of cities 75 mph. High speeds, pretty constant rain, my arms were frozen at 0400 & 0800, right leg frozen in place!

I stopped at Cubby’s (?), a fairly funky small truck stop. I wasn’t really hungry [too tired, I think, for my hunger to even register!], but ready for a break, a potty (past ready; desperate!), and a bit of energy. I had coffee and a bowl of ham & bean soup… which was decent and seems to have pumped my energy level up a bit… that and just moving around a little.

Back on the road for 10-15 miles to the east side of Lincoln and I was definigely ready to stop! I saw a “Lodging” sign with about a half dozen choices. Driving past them… all looked pretty decent. Pulled into the first one I could figure out how to get into BEFORE I passed it: Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn. A single suite: $75, including complementary buffet breakfast. Lovely room: nice little kitchen area with stove, fridge, dish washer, dishes, and utensils… full size coffee pot, lots of coffee, tea bags… oh yeah, and microwave. Clean. Pretty. And the last one I’ll see on this trip, unfortunately. They’ll opening a new one soon in Reno, but there are no others until N. CA. Oh, well… After today, I’m blissfully happy to have found this one.

Just watching the news and weather. Looks like storms overnight, rain all day tomorrow… in the Omaha area. Storms moving SW to NE. The radar looked like clearing to the west, including into Wyoming… which is about 400 miles away. Western Nebraska looks clear too.

To get into Fresno Thursday afternoon, I only need to make approximately 325 miles/day. Easy! Time to stop for photos and limited sightseeing, so it was worth the nearly 500 mile push today. I may sleep a bit later tomorrow, take my time, chill a bit. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and the eastern part of Iowa… pretty boring: corn, corn, everywhere, more flat and straight than anything. Western Iowa and so far in NE, hilly, curvy, “bucolic,” pretty (where I can see it through the rain!). The Best… Beautiful-est… lies ahead! Bed time! G’nite.

Posted in On The Road