Five States in a Day

I get up early to gas up across the street with two pairs of socks and my running shoes instead of the Crocs. We then take off, in the middle of a construction constriction on the street I just crossed for gas. Luckily we were at the front end of the ½ mile long backup, and get going in only 10 minutes out of the Motel 6 parking lot and the adjacent light. Woo Hoo.

Back onto the toll-way and on to Toledo. We see many national headquarters. I can’t remember which were where, but we saw a Jeep factory, Brasswinds and Woodwinds, Tire Rack, Cabelas, and Michaels headquarters. Really neat.

BTW, tool roads do not mean “smooth pavement”, “no construction” and “low traffic” roads. We ran into all of the above. Eventually we moved into Indiana, after paying a toll. We skimmed across the north end of Indiana, by South Bend and Gary, and then ran into the south of Chicago traffic jam and construction. What a mess. I had this strong urge to turn right to Chicago to spawn. But I overcame.

We trudge on through the state of my birth until we reach the twin cities: Moline, Il, and Davenport, IA. We keep on truckin’ through Iowa, until a huge thunderstorm appears in the west. Wind, rain, hail all try to get us off the road. We slow to 40 and put on flashers. We do survive; the big part of the storm is to the South. We limp into Des Moines, soaked, looking for a real meal: Pizza Hut. We see one pass an exit, take the next exit and drive past Adventureland Park. Just across the street from Pizza Hut. It is there that I found the “Organ Trail” sign half ripped from the side of the truck. I remove the remains and stash it. We order the meal for two, and Patty gets her “salad”. Woo Hoo! Wen get back on the road and motor in the dark through Omaha, NE, right past the College World Series, in progress right by I-80. Cool. We start calling Super 8 and Motel 6 throughout Nebraska and decide on the Lincoln Airport “Resort” 6. It is luckily located right next to the erotic lingerie store. Double cool. We pay and sleep, for an early start tomorrow. Ankles not as swollen, but noticeable.

15 ½ hours, 910 miles and 5 states today. Good. About 250 more of the 500 songs. They are getting worse by the mile. Randomizing doesn’t help any either.