Well, we made it to fabulous Kearney, Nebraska, at 1:30 AM. Fourteen hours and 756 miles from SLC to the luxurious Kearney Ramada Inn.
The only stop along the way was in Sidney, NE, where we stopped at a chain restaurant (Taco Bell) because in the middle of nowhere it was all we could find. Here’s a tip: Don’t eat a Burrito Supremes in a moving vehicle. Without going into too much detail, let me just say that I have a shirt and pair of shorts that will never be the same. And, let me add that throwing half of a Burrito Supreme out the window at 85 mph can be dangerous – and messy - as well.
On the other hand, a cool thing about this stretch was the fierce thunderstorm to the south. It just kept going and going and going. No matter how fast or how far we drove, it was still there. Kind of like The Terminator, it just kept coming. Yeesh!
But now it’s time to sleep. We’re hoping beyond hope that we can make it to Chicago tomorrow in time for the White Sox game at 7:00 PM!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Day 3: Little America to Cheyenne
Around 1:45 we stopped for gas and lunch at Little America. A 70+ year old truck stop in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming (State Motto: “More Fireworks Stands Than Starbuck’s”). We also played our second hole of Frisbee Golf (Jake won by a stroke AGAIN!
Then it was on to Cheyenne. We drove 296 miles straight through. Not much to report except that we made it in less than 4 hours. We filled the tank, looked for a place to eat but couldn’t find anything that wasn’t a chain. So, we ended up spending a few minutes at the Cheyenne Depot Square – right in front of a sweet looking train station – where we snagged WiFi access. We also played another hole of Frisbee Golf. I’d rather not talk about the results.
Our problem now is that by 7:00 PM we’d only gone 450 miles or so. If we press on to Kearney, Nebraska, we’ll be back on track and might be able to make it to Chicago tomorrow in time for a White Sox game. It’s 8:30 PM and we just passed the “Welcome to Nebraska” sign so wish us luck!
Then it was on to Cheyenne. We drove 296 miles straight through. Not much to report except that we made it in less than 4 hours. We filled the tank, looked for a place to eat but couldn’t find anything that wasn’t a chain. So, we ended up spending a few minutes at the Cheyenne Depot Square – right in front of a sweet looking train station – where we snagged WiFi access. We also played another hole of Frisbee Golf. I’d rather not talk about the results.
Our problem now is that by 7:00 PM we’d only gone 450 miles or so. If we press on to Kearney, Nebraska, we’ll be back on track and might be able to make it to Chicago tomorrow in time for a White Sox game. It’s 8:30 PM and we just passed the “Welcome to Nebraska” sign so wish us luck!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Day 3: Salt Lake City to Little America
After sleeping in until 9:00 AM, we said our good-byes to my Mom, and Aunts Eleanor and Irene, we hit the road about 10:30 AM. We hit Grounds for Coffee and headed to Park City.
We got to Park City shortly after 11:00 AM and wandered around for about a half hour. I’ve been there a few times before but this was Jake’s first visit. It’s a cool town – where the residents are richer than snot – and a fun spot to hang out in for a while. We stopped at the Wasatch Brewing Company, cuz, well, we like Brew Pubs and this is the home of the famous Polygamy Porter. Jake bought a Wasatch t-shirt and I got a Polygamy Porter pint glass.
We were back on the road a bit before 11:30 AM and headed toward Wyoming. When we hit Evanston – just across the border from Utah – it was time for a break. Mostly so I could relieve myself of the coffee and Polygamy Porter I had rented earlier in the day.
While we were at the Bear River State Park Rest Stop we played the first of our 18-hole Frisbee Golf Course. Jake beat me by one stroke; a pattern that will likely be continued throughout the remainder of the trip. Our next hole will probably come at the Little America Truck Stop or in Rock Springs. We’ll see . . .
We got to Park City shortly after 11:00 AM and wandered around for about a half hour. I’ve been there a few times before but this was Jake’s first visit. It’s a cool town – where the residents are richer than snot – and a fun spot to hang out in for a while. We stopped at the Wasatch Brewing Company, cuz, well, we like Brew Pubs and this is the home of the famous Polygamy Porter. Jake bought a Wasatch t-shirt and I got a Polygamy Porter pint glass.
We were back on the road a bit before 11:30 AM and headed toward Wyoming. When we hit Evanston – just across the border from Utah – it was time for a break. Mostly so I could relieve myself of the coffee and Polygamy Porter I had rented earlier in the day.
While we were at the Bear River State Park Rest Stop we played the first of our 18-hole Frisbee Golf Course. Jake beat me by one stroke; a pattern that will likely be continued throughout the remainder of the trip. Our next hole will probably come at the Little America Truck Stop or in Rock Springs. We’ll see . . .
We slept like old ladies, and now the saga continues...
Just wanted to make a few points for new blog readers:
1.) Make sure to read from the bottom if this is your first time (the trip has to start somewhere)
2.) There are two of us writing here, my dad is the funniest person I know so why not get his insights!
3.) The post previous to this is a picture I took from my cell phone and found out I could automatically text it and post straight to the page. So there may be random pictures or one line texts...that is from our phones!
4.) The lists on the side bar will vary. Including: the songs we like, the towns that we drive through that look terribly awful to live in and that I am glad I am not teaching in next year, and probably a future posting on the number of car incidents or an homage to roadkill!
There you have it. I thought a little explanation might help things out now that the majority of you have the "correct" web address. Starting in the morning I will be driving further east than I've ever been...I hope to find some random entertainment through the midwest. Like the worlds largest buffalo turd or at least see the face of the virgin Mary in a waffle at a diner in the middle of Nebraska! And if you've ever driven through anywhere on our route...we would love advice for somewhere fun to stop!
1.) Make sure to read from the bottom if this is your first time (the trip has to start somewhere)
2.) There are two of us writing here, my dad is the funniest person I know so why not get his insights!
3.) The post previous to this is a picture I took from my cell phone and found out I could automatically text it and post straight to the page. So there may be random pictures or one line texts...that is from our phones!
4.) The lists on the side bar will vary. Including: the songs we like, the towns that we drive through that look terribly awful to live in and that I am glad I am not teaching in next year, and probably a future posting on the number of car incidents or an homage to roadkill!
There you have it. I thought a little explanation might help things out now that the majority of you have the "correct" web address. Starting in the morning I will be driving further east than I've ever been...I hope to find some random entertainment through the midwest. Like the worlds largest buffalo turd or at least see the face of the virgin Mary in a waffle at a diner in the middle of Nebraska! And if you've ever driven through anywhere on our route...we would love advice for somewhere fun to stop!
Monday, August 6, 2007
Day 2: Salt Lake City
After getting into Salt Lake City about 10:30 PM on Sunday night, we slept in on Monday morning. We took this day off from our road trip to hang out with my mother (Jake’s grandmother, of course) and my two aunts, Eleanor and Irene. Of all my relatives, I think Irene and Eleanor are my favorites – outside of my immediate family anyway. I hope they won’t be offended, but hanging out with three gray haired ladies is a blast! They are so much fun and I love just sitting and talking with them. So that’s what we did. Well, except for a brief afternoon excursion to America’s favorite buffet restaurant, Chuck-O-Rama, and sneaking out in the morning to go to one of my all time favorite coffee shops, Grounds for Coffee; where they not only have good coffee and a great staff but also WiFi!
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Day 1: From Bend to Salt Lake City
Jake apparently has his spatial crap together as a math teacher because somehow he was able to fit what seemed like 200 cubic feet of stuff in his CRV. It is packed to the rafters – literally! Every time I turned around, he brought out something else – another laundry basket, a stack of clothes on hangers, a goodie bag his mom had given him – it just kept coming!
We left Bend about 10:30 and made it to Millican about a half hour later. Millican is comprised of a long empty store. As I remember, one of the prior owners of the store (and town) was murdered a while back. Makes for a tough sell, I guess. We didn’t stop. You can never be too careful.
From there we made the thrilling trek east to beautiful Burns, Oregon. Home of the Highlanders. Named after Robert Burns of course. It looks NOTHING like Scotland there, by the way. In our quest to not eat at a chain restaurant from here to D.C. we stopped at RJs drive in. As greasy roadside burgers, fries and shakes go, it was okay. Nothing to write home about, but I just did.
From there it was on to Ontario, where we Stopped for a short break and then to Boise where we stopped for gas. By 4:15 we were back on the road. I called my Aunt Eleanor, to see if we could spend the night at her home in Salt Lake City, where my Mom just happens to be visiting!
As we crossed the Idaho border into Utah, we pulled over so I could take a picture of the “Entering Utah” sign. Unlike when we raced past the “Entering Idaho” sign which Jake took a picture of while we were racing by with my camera hanging out the window.
Now were just about to Ogden, where we’re going to stop for gas once again. Even still, we should make it to my aunt’s house by 10:00 PM (Mountain Time). Ten and a half hours from Bend to SLC. Not bad . . .
We left Bend about 10:30 and made it to Millican about a half hour later. Millican is comprised of a long empty store. As I remember, one of the prior owners of the store (and town) was murdered a while back. Makes for a tough sell, I guess. We didn’t stop. You can never be too careful.
From there we made the thrilling trek east to beautiful Burns, Oregon. Home of the Highlanders. Named after Robert Burns of course. It looks NOTHING like Scotland there, by the way. In our quest to not eat at a chain restaurant from here to D.C. we stopped at RJs drive in. As greasy roadside burgers, fries and shakes go, it was okay. Nothing to write home about, but I just did.
From there it was on to Ontario, where we Stopped for a short break and then to Boise where we stopped for gas. By 4:15 we were back on the road. I called my Aunt Eleanor, to see if we could spend the night at her home in Salt Lake City, where my Mom just happens to be visiting!
As we crossed the Idaho border into Utah, we pulled over so I could take a picture of the “Entering Utah” sign. Unlike when we raced past the “Entering Idaho” sign which Jake took a picture of while we were racing by with my camera hanging out the window.
Now were just about to Ogden, where we’re going to stop for gas once again. Even still, we should make it to my aunt’s house by 10:00 PM (Mountain Time). Ten and a half hours from Bend to SLC. Not bad . . .
The first GREAT lake
Not one of the official Great Lakes (h-o-m-e-s) but its at least the Great Salt Lake and I'm here visiting Grandma and her sisters (I think that means Great Aunts) but needless to say I'm being over-fed by old ladies for the next 24 hours. We're taking a whole day here and leaving in the morning, apparently both of us need to spend times with our mothers before we make it all the way across the country!
I'll let you know EXACTLY why I knew this was going to be a good trip. Because, about 20 minutes into the drive listening to my dad's playlist...JT starts jammin' out the speakers. I didn't even have to bust out the pairty mix! Its going to be great, and as long as I get used to ruining my body without sleep (oh wait I did that for a month at Wildhorse Canyon) then I'll be fine by the time I get there. I am used to a little more physical activity than sitting for 10 and 1/2 hours, but I'm sure we'll make time for a little frisbee or something.
Before I signout, I wanted to make one invitation: if you have a request for me to update you on something or if you want to know about Wildhorse Canyon...then post a comment or email me. I have all the time in the world when we are driving, to draft up a post. Alright, we'll try and get some pictures up too!
I'll let you know EXACTLY why I knew this was going to be a good trip. Because, about 20 minutes into the drive listening to my dad's playlist...JT starts jammin' out the speakers. I didn't even have to bust out the pairty mix! Its going to be great, and as long as I get used to ruining my body without sleep (oh wait I did that for a month at Wildhorse Canyon) then I'll be fine by the time I get there. I am used to a little more physical activity than sitting for 10 and 1/2 hours, but I'm sure we'll make time for a little frisbee or something.
Before I signout, I wanted to make one invitation: if you have a request for me to update you on something or if you want to know about Wildhorse Canyon...then post a comment or email me. I have all the time in the world when we are driving, to draft up a post. Alright, we'll try and get some pictures up too!
Maybe I should pack a few things first...
...but I think sleep is more important. At least we have a route (even though it will probably change). I am pretty frickin' excited, and I 'm hoping and praying that I don't break down and beg my Dad to turn around once we hit Kansas (I think that is the no turning back point...even though we aren't even driving through Kansas). But I know a lot of you out there were praying that I wouldn't get a job far away, so I hope you aren't mad at God. I really won't know what I'm getting myself into until I'm there...or at least out of Bend.
Anyways, there is no way that I will get sick of my Dad on this road trip, but if you want to interrupt our bonding time I'm sure there are a few of you out there who I forgot to call. So, this is the offer: I'll be enthralled by the road in front, my Dad to the side and the music blaring....so if you feeling changing all that with a phone call I would love to pick up. We'll be blogging as much as we can, and I'll check email too. We'd love requests or suggestions for places you know we should stop along this route. This won't be anything like "Road Trip" or "Feasting on Asphalt" actually it will probably be more like "Dumb and Dumber" because lets face it...most of this will only be entertaining to my Dad and I. But, I'm glad that I have my Dad with me, it will be the road trip of a lifetime. I just hope you all find something good about this blog, or else we'll just entertain ourselves!
Here's our final destination, Hine Jr. High School you can search for stuff on it, and I'll tell you more along the way. As soon as I have a place to live you'll all be the first to know! Hope you enjoy our trip!
Anyways, there is no way that I will get sick of my Dad on this road trip, but if you want to interrupt our bonding time I'm sure there are a few of you out there who I forgot to call. So, this is the offer: I'll be enthralled by the road in front, my Dad to the side and the music blaring....so if you feeling changing all that with a phone call I would love to pick up. We'll be blogging as much as we can, and I'll check email too. We'd love requests or suggestions for places you know we should stop along this route. This won't be anything like "Road Trip" or "Feasting on Asphalt" actually it will probably be more like "Dumb and Dumber" because lets face it...most of this will only be entertaining to my Dad and I. But, I'm glad that I have my Dad with me, it will be the road trip of a lifetime. I just hope you all find something good about this blog, or else we'll just entertain ourselves!
Here's our final destination, Hine Jr. High School you can search for stuff on it, and I'll tell you more along the way. As soon as I have a place to live you'll all be the first to know! Hope you enjoy our trip!
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