October 19, 2024 - October 22, 2024 - The Drive Out to California

 MY BLOG REFLECTION

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things.

Paulo Coelho

October 19, 2024 - Homer Still in the Shop - Driving to California

Homer is still in the transmission shop in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They promised to keep him inside the shop so the water lines don't freeze as colder weather approaches. After a transmission rebuild they have a transmission shifting issue to resolve and hope to have it fixed by next week.

The truck is packed with items we are taking out to the daughters and grandchildren in California. A 2,100 mile road trip each way. 

October 20, 2024

At 8:00 am we left Perryville. We had clear sailing on a Sunday. There was no traffic anywhere but lots of highway construction. Thank you Biden! We arrived at Grand Island, Nebraska, at 6:00 p.m. We got a nice room at the Hampton Inn. 593 miles from Perryville. We went to bed early.

October 21, 2024

After breakfast at the hotel in Grand Island we headed West at 7:00 a.m. It was dark until 8:00 a.m. Five miles down the road there were narrow lanes due to roadwork and pouring rain. The driving trifecta -dark, rain, and road construction. It rained for a couple of hours then cleared up. The speed limit in Wyoming is 80 but 75 was plenty fast for me. Several long stretches of the highway had flashing signs advising of wind gusts up to 40 mph. We could see the wind affecting the bed cover and I could tell the wind hurt our fuel economy. We stopped at a rest stop where this memorial statue was erected to commemorate the Lincoln Highway. The head is made out of clay. It was probably 40 feet tall.

The story:

At the rest area I took the opportunity to stretch the bed cover tight and press the Velcro edges down tight. It did help.

We arrived in Evanston, Wyoming, at 5:00 p.m. 706 miles. We gained an hour. After checking in at the hotel we went to eat at Jodie’s Diner. It was diner food. What can I say? We then filled the gas tank and headed to Walmart to get some antibiotic cream for an infected spot on my hand. Back at the hotel we jammied up to watch the football game.

October 22, 2024

We only made it until halftime of the football game last night. After a crappy breakfast at the hotel we hit the road at 7:30 a.m. It was a nice day for a drive across Utah and Nevada. Here is a picture of the Bonneville Salt Flats that stretch for many miles in Utah.

We also spotted this along the road. We have no idea what it is but looks like it may have antennae on top.

We gained another hour. We checked while driving and the prices of hotels in Reno were outrageous. We stopped in Sparks, Nevada, about five miles outside Reno at 3:30 p.m. We got a room at the Western Village Hotel and Casino for $65.00! We ate supper in one of their restaurants. We each ordered Mahi Mahi with rice, veggies, fresh baked bread, and ice cream. All of this was $12.95. Kelly had to do a little gambling so the cheap price was increased but $20.00. Not bad. LOL. We drove 580 miles today. 

We are only about 200 miles from Erin’s house so a leisurely drive there tomorrow. Kelly wants to stop and visit the Donner Pass Museum before we head to California.

A new blog after we arrive.