So, to commiserate my joyous escape from reality,
I will tell the story through a blog series this week.
Here is the first post in that story...
12-29-10
Phase 1: Missouri
The first leg of our journey began bright and early.
Before the rooster crowed, we were in transit,
With iced-coffees in hand, three of us set off,
Prepared for the never-ending path of pavement that lied ahead.
Tired eyes overpowered my back seat position
As Dakota entertained Sonja through a familiar drive
Past Kansas City and into Mark Twain Country.
Sonja’s portion of driving ate up the morning,
But our hunger for journey was not satisfied.
My abbreviated nap came to a halt with Dakota’s Dodge Charger
As we refueled both “Zoe” and ourselves
In preparation of Phase 2 of our journey: Nebraska.
Phase 2: Nebraska
Now my turn to drive, it was my responsibility to navigate into Nebraska,
A task I was less than excited about.
When this trip began, Nebraska was my least favorite state.
(That I had spent time in).
Why?
As an accomplished college student and camp team member,
I spent one bug-filled, rainy week in Nebraska with a hundred Jr. Highers,
Only to drive across the entire God-forsaken state without cell-phone reception.
Flat, boring, treeless, windy. Nebraska.
But our car was less than capacity and we had more company to add: Jordan.
Her farm town was a welcomed sight after enduring the first 8 hours of our drive.
After a short break, and manipulating the luggage,
We hit the road again with Jordan at the wheel.
The addition of another driver and personality created
A fresh environment from the used stale air
From which conversation and laughter flowed.
With half of our distance expired, more cargo, an approaching state, and hours to go,
A new experience inched closer with every mile Jordan drove.
Phase 3: Wyoming
Jordan wrapped up her post-Christmas drive after entering Wyoming.
After a brief stop for dinner at the second-tier burrito shack Qdoba,
Endurance developed into the lasting theme of our night.
Wyoming is worse than Nebraska.
I had always heard how awful Wyoming was, but assumed it was hyperbole.
Then I encountered Wyoming first-hand.
And it lived up to the hype of awfulness.
Black ice camouflaged the road.
Wind gusts overturned Semi’s.
Snow performed its magic act, making the road disappear
As it blew from embankment to embankment.
Flashing lights illuminating the highway warned us weary travelers of the danger
With which we were already familiarized.
Realizing the inherent danger posed by the road,
Our search for a hotel began just past Rawlins, Wyoming.
With every room booked, including the “Sagebrush Motel” in Ramsutter,
We had no choice but to push through the accumulation,
Driving over 100 miles and 3 hours to the town of Rock Springs,
Where our night was spent at the Days Inn.
Needless to say, with lofty goals left unaccomplished,
We were disappointed to spend the night in Wyoming rather than Salt Lake City.
However, we were more than thrilled to be out of the inclement weather
And safely indoors, resting for the rest of our journey in the morning.
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