The first night, I made it to Harrisonville, Missouri which is just south of Kansas City. They promised fast internet but it was painfully slow and I was unable to even get my email. The AC worked great though so I cranked it all the way up. I guess it was more the humidity than the heat that was getting to me.
I walked over to one of those new (new to me anyway) fast-food places where they have Taco Bell, KFC and Burger King all in one place. The conflicting smells made me feel a bit woozy so I got my tacos to go.
One funny thing, there was a farmer in line next to me who was a dead ringer for the actor Robert Duvall! Even his mannerisms were pure Duvall. I could hardly keep a straight face and I'm sure he was wondering what the hell I was grinning about. I kept thinking it could have been Duvall doing some research for a part.
Back at the motel I checked the weather channel and saw tornados and thunderstorms moving through Nebraska and golf ball sized hail in North Dakota, but it looked like I could make it up to South Dakota and across on Interstate 90, so that was the plan.
The next day was a steady slog along the interstate through Missouri and Iowa, broken only by reststops, thunderstorms and lots of road construction.
It seems since that bridge collapsed in Minnesota, every bridge in the midwest is getting worked over.
I crossed into South Dakota and stopped at their "Welcome Center." The lady there gave me a bunch of tourist info along with the free state map and gave me the low down on all the tourist sites along I-90. If I had stopped to see everything, it would have taken days to get across the state.
Unfortunately, gas prices were rising every day and I was bucking a strong head wind which, coupled with pulling the trailer, was reducing my gas mileage. I was really wanting to just get back home.
When I got tired, I started looking for a motel or campground. I found a great motel in White Lake, SD. The owner was friendly, it was super-cheap and they even had a couple of wild cats roaming around the property. It was pretty much out in the boonies so all I had was cable TV.
I tried sitting out on the porch to watch the sunset but mosquitos drove me inside where I watched the RFD channel (Rural Free Delivery...an old addressing system the American post office used to utilize.)
And guess what was on? "Jolly Joe's Polka Hour!" From the look of the dancing couples, it looked like they may have been playing down at the old folk's sanitorium. There was one 40 year old blonde, dancing with the old guys, who was probably somebody's grand-daughter.
Even though I had no partner, I joined in, dancing in my underwear. It was a fine show and a good time was had by all.
I checked the weather and it looked like my luck was holding. I was dodging the tornados and most of the worst storms. All I had gone through were smaller rainstorms.
I sort of wished I could see a tornado but figured it would be better not to. I had seen the clouds roiling around and that was scary enough. I can't imagine what it would be like to see a funnel hit the ground and start heading your way.
...more follows...
I walked over to one of those new (new to me anyway) fast-food places where they have Taco Bell, KFC and Burger King all in one place. The conflicting smells made me feel a bit woozy so I got my tacos to go.
One funny thing, there was a farmer in line next to me who was a dead ringer for the actor Robert Duvall! Even his mannerisms were pure Duvall. I could hardly keep a straight face and I'm sure he was wondering what the hell I was grinning about. I kept thinking it could have been Duvall doing some research for a part.
Back at the motel I checked the weather channel and saw tornados and thunderstorms moving through Nebraska and golf ball sized hail in North Dakota, but it looked like I could make it up to South Dakota and across on Interstate 90, so that was the plan.
The next day was a steady slog along the interstate through Missouri and Iowa, broken only by reststops, thunderstorms and lots of road construction.
It seems since that bridge collapsed in Minnesota, every bridge in the midwest is getting worked over.
I crossed into South Dakota and stopped at their "Welcome Center." The lady there gave me a bunch of tourist info along with the free state map and gave me the low down on all the tourist sites along I-90. If I had stopped to see everything, it would have taken days to get across the state.
Unfortunately, gas prices were rising every day and I was bucking a strong head wind which, coupled with pulling the trailer, was reducing my gas mileage. I was really wanting to just get back home.
When I got tired, I started looking for a motel or campground. I found a great motel in White Lake, SD. The owner was friendly, it was super-cheap and they even had a couple of wild cats roaming around the property. It was pretty much out in the boonies so all I had was cable TV.
I tried sitting out on the porch to watch the sunset but mosquitos drove me inside where I watched the RFD channel (Rural Free Delivery...an old addressing system the American post office used to utilize.)
And guess what was on? "Jolly Joe's Polka Hour!" From the look of the dancing couples, it looked like they may have been playing down at the old folk's sanitorium. There was one 40 year old blonde, dancing with the old guys, who was probably somebody's grand-daughter.
Even though I had no partner, I joined in, dancing in my underwear. It was a fine show and a good time was had by all.
I checked the weather and it looked like my luck was holding. I was dodging the tornados and most of the worst storms. All I had gone through were smaller rainstorms.
I sort of wished I could see a tornado but figured it would be better not to. I had seen the clouds roiling around and that was scary enough. I can't imagine what it would be like to see a funnel hit the ground and start heading your way.
...more follows...
No comments:
Post a Comment