June 2017 – Mosh Glass

Well we overnighted in Lincoln, NE. Nothing real special there. There was a fast food joint next to where we stopped that has three full size gorillas on its front lawn and one on the roof. Called King Kongs. Go figure.

Spent the next five and a half hours of my life trying to get through Iowa. Very boring. See my previous post about Nebraska. Almost identical with absolutely nothing of interest. Note to self: flyover next time.

A moment ago we crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois. Things are looking up. And I have connectivity!!! Maybe I can do live updates.

We are making good time today with the usual stops for gas and to water the dogs. We are at 400 miles for the day right now at 230 central time. We want 400 more before the day is out. The only thing that will stop us is boredom or gassy dogs. We are listening to The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest. So that stops boredom. Don’t think I can stop the dogs.

June 28, 2017July 3, 2017

Why Drive to Maine?

My daughter has recommended I add some remarks or details that explain why we are crazy enough to drive from coast to coast and back again this summer. Well, reread that last bit and focus on he word “crazy”. Seriously, we had a plan. Had.

Our family owns a cottage in Madison, Maine. It is on Lake Wessurunsett. Madison is about ten miles outside of Skowhegan in Central Maine. We go there every summer but usually fly and rent a car.

First, I mention we have three old dogs. Very old. Geriatric. When planning to go to Maine this became a huge deal. One of our dogs, Jaxon, a cocker became wery ill. Lot$ of visits to the vet. He ended up in a medicine chest full of drugs 3 times a day. Plus confinement and he needed care. My wife, Emily, decided it would be a good idea to drive across country instead of flying because we could never find the care that Jaxon needs while we were gone. And I thought this sounded like a good idea too. Normally our judgment is not this bad. Really.

Too make things easier (yes, we really thought so) we decided to camp our way across the country. I researched small trailers and we decided on the teardrop you see on our home page. Fortunately, American Teardrops makes these in Auburn, CA. That’s only 45 miles from where we live. I was able to go visit the factory and spoke to Bud Hausman, the owner. He is also the entire production staff. I ordered a teardrop that day for delivery a month and a half later in late June. We decided to leave for Maine when the trailer was done. And we did.

After three days on the road, lots of junk food, stopping at a lot of truck stops for people and dog breaks, I realize this is a lot of work. We are enjoying the trip, and except maybe the driving. It’s not so bad being locked in the car with three gassy dogs and theee cranky people. I admit I like it more than airplane travel. We do drive where we want and stop when we feel like it. Many people on the road check out our rig and many laugh at the little car and little trailer. They’re just jealous. We look uber cool.

For the future we are already planning some camping trips. Though for now, just local to our home in California. But we may do the long “road trip” again. We did a 3500+ mile trip around the Western US each of the last two summers. No dogs. Two people. Same little car. I think these trips could have been improved with the trailer accommodations.

So if you see us on the road please smile and wave. Laughing is ok but remember, we will laugh back at you.

June 28, 2017June 28, 2017

Nebraska State of Mind

Yikes. Don’t ever..ever go to Nebraska. We drove west to east on highway 80. Its a green moonscape only not that interesting. Drove out of Wyoming and first gas station or rest stop or building of any kind was 106 miles into the state. You will need steel bladders and large gas tanks to get through. Next gas opportunity 83 more miles. Why, you ask, do I keep track of this? There is absolutely nothing else to do. And as I mentioned in my last post, no cell signal. Sure you can find cell service around large towns, oh, wait, no large towns. We did manage to download a books on tape (why its still called that is a mystery). Had to have a wi fi signal to do it so we used my cell as a hotspot and the site accepted that and downloaded! Anyhow, covered 700 miles and made it to Lincoln, NE. Could not find a suitable campground so camping in a pet friendly hotel. Up at 5:30am is the plan. And we call this vacation. Since thats 5 hours away I am signing off. And really pleased this works. I gotta beat on the rest of the family to join in and post something of note. Posts that are Pithy. Erudite. Exciting. Like mine.

June 27, 2017July 2, 2017

First Blog Post. Finally

The adventure begins. An adventure in driving cross country and attempting to create this blog at the same f***ing time. Just a note, there is no wi fi, 3G, 4G, LTE, wireless, carrier pigeon signal between the California/Nevada border and here, where I now sit, 2 days later in Cheyenne, Wyoming. We are lunching at Shari’s (just for the pie shake).. I ordered the key lime pie, pie shake, which I recommend. Key lime whipped cream on top too. And it’s non fat calorie free. Really. Would I lie?

Let me regress. On the road in Dixon on Sunday at the break of dawn, which would be 10:30am. Got 1/4 mile down the road and did my first (successful) U turn with the trailer because I forgot my office keys. Important because I had left the Pliny the Elder (thanks Jeremy) in the office fridge.

First stop office, 30 miles later. Grabbed Pliny. Off the to Reno. Stopped to gas up and eat lunch. We went to a paleo food cafe, pretty good even got dinner to go. The place allowed (encouraged) our three dogs to join us on the patio. Short lunch, with the add-on of a floor show which was a car accident right in front of us on the road. Good times.

We made Winnemucca, NV, round dinner time. Decided to camp at the KOA by the interstate. Owner Dave has an incredibly beautiful ’71 Dodge in the parking lot. He bought it from a car museum, all original. I offered to trade him the three dogs but he insisted I keep them. Went to dinner at Pigs BBQ & Pub. Great BBQ. Excellent. Not really in a great part of town, but it was damn fine as were all the sides.

Want to say that Dave’s KOA is a nice place to stay. Lots of amenities and friendly staff.

Up early Monday am, and then left at 10:30. No wonder we are making lousy time. Anyhow, spent the day on hiway 80 driving through Nevada. Would love to tell you about that – nothing to see, nothing to stop for(except gas and food). We ate lunch in Elko, NV. Ate shawarma and falafel at a new Mediterranean place. Food was good, but had to take half with us.

Stopped at a rest stop in Utah, hiked up a trail, and had a picnic of the rest of the Greek food. Lots of fat prairies dogs running round. Fed our leftovers to them which is why they are fat. Oh well. I should mention, the guy in the car next to us came down the trail with a dead rattlesnake. He got it about 8 feet off the trail. Glad I do not let my dogs run.

Kept driving far into Utah. Stopped at 10:30PM, making up time, and stayed at a dog friendly hotel. No camps to find that late.

Up early (5:30 Yay) again, Tuesday, and off. Emily is driving so we are making excellent time. You know. Made 300 miles before lunch here at Shari’s (and my key lime pie shake). The landscape here in Wyoming is reasonably bleak but we are enjoying the trip. About to hop back on the road with me driving (Emily drives at same time).

I should clarify a little. When we make a stop, one of us always stays in the car with the dogs. It’s not that we don’t trust them. Wait, we don’t trust them. But, we left emily in the car this lstvstop. She said we took too long in the restroom. So, to entertain herself she took a selfie, and a few pics of Gumby and Pokey (in various poses) and of the dogs. She really needs a hobby.