6/1/13

D minus zero

 

Today is the day……. departure day.  My internal clock wakes me around 5 AM…..

After making the coffee I spend an hour surfing the Weather Channel and getting forecasts for the cities on our path.  Due to promising the family that we will be careful, I assess today’s risk of traveling northwest. Tornadoes are vicious creatures, landing on our intended route last evening.  After getting the forecast for our area, it appears that today is the best travel day; we just need to get past the approaching front shown on the radar with scary looking yellows and reds.

Feeling a little numb, no excitement nor dread.  Just left brain, this chore, next chore and we are pulling out of the driveway at 9:30 AM.  The excitement is beginning to sink in!  Are we really going to Alaska?

It’s beautiful, the sun is shining in an almost cloudless sky.  I look at our city from the perspective of a tourist.  Beautiful mountains, gorgeous river, and lovely shades of green everywhere.  No hint of the impending bad weather that’s rolling southeast.

It’s hot!  We decide against the air conditioning, too early in the day.  Clouds started pouring in and it’s no longer too warm.  I am wishing that we are on the other side of the storms.  The Nashville skyline greets us, the batwings so familiar from the TV show.  It’s terribly muggy and my clothes are damp.  We must be getting closer to the front.

The rain pelts us as we cross the Kentucky line.  David is driving, orange construction cones everywhere.  Immediately a truck stop sign appears and we gratefully exit. 

Nestled between a line of 18-wheelers, we decide to nap.  The wind is not fierce, there’s no hail nor circulating clouds.  Just buckets of rain.  David opts for sleeping in the front seat; I brave the rain and run back to the Casita.  While listening to the pounding rain, I doze off.

The temperature drops, the sun returns and beautiful clouds appear to the east.

We decide that Mexican sounds good for dinner and a sign for Tequilas Restaurant shows on the road.  Fajitas and Mexican coffee make me smile. 

Time for gas and bed, and my new android app, Big Truck Stops, indicate a Pilot just ahead.  We are about 50 miles east of St Louis on I-64. 

Skipping the pictures…..everyone has seen truck stops anyway. Good night!

 

 

16 comments:

  1. Congrats on your first day! As you get close to Prince George, keep an eye on your options - the Cassiar is currently closed near Dease Lake. We'll keep the light on.

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    1. Thanks, John, the Cassiar has been on the agenda.

      Enjoying all of your posts!

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  2. Hey,hey,hey! You're on your way. Looking forward to all your posts.

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    1. Love it!

      Stay safe down there.....saw lots of storms.

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  3. If you come through Jefferson City Mo tomorrow, give us a shout!

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    1. Glad to hear from you! Do you also have a 16 ft?

      We will send good thoughts your way as we go through.

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  4. How exciting! Safe travels & glad that horrible weather moved past you. Think making a stop in CO during your trip.

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  5. Always great to hear from you!

    Poudre River is on the agenda! Return trip.

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  6. Yippie-ki-ya....or something like that....glad you dodged the "Midwest storm bullet" ...looking forward to your great adventure and photos....is there any way you can give coordinates at those places you stay or find interesting in Canada and Alaska.....Safe Journey...as I said before...I'm envious!!! Horst sends

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    1. I will be glad to share info.....must learn how coordinates work though.

      It feels great to have you and the others along! Feels like you all are in my pocket!

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  7. And they're off!!!! WAHOO!!! As many time as I've driven the KY to Nashville route...the rain always gets us at Land Between The Lakes. Glad you had a landing spot to sneak a nap! Hope the skies are clearing...if so, send us some sunshine! Travel safe...this is going to be a fun follow and all the way to Alaska!! I'm so excited!

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    1. Sunshine peaking through the overcast skies just outside of KC.......sending it your way!
      Praying your area gets no more rain for awhile....flooding everywhere.
      Have a great week!

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  8. WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The adventure begins!!!

    Wishing you smooth sailing and lots of serendipitous joy along the way.

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  9. Thanks, Sharon. At McDonalds, I 29, for breakfast after a pleasant night at Walmart.

    So glad that you are coming along.......As your support means so much.

    528 miles to Rapid City!

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  10. I just picked up your blog again to follow your Alaska adventure. So cool that you got to do that. BTW, I for one, can never get enough truck stop photos! LOL!

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  11. Glad to have you peaking into the past. This was the trip of all trips!

    If I remember correctly, you were about a week or so in front of us as we traipsed across South Dakota and your posts were helpful. We visited Wall Drug this time due to your posts.

    Hope we get a chance to meet you sometime soon.

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