Family Time

Greetings from Farwell, Michigan! I’ve been here since late Saturday afternoon but haven’t found the time for an update. It has been so nice spending time with family, including two grand-nephews and a grand-niece whom I had never met. And that’s how I expect the rest of my stay to go – lots of low-key family time with a good measure of getting to know this part of central Michigan thrown in.

Before I let myself completely relax into my stay here though, I want to give a brief recap of the last couple of days. My time on the road Saturday had three distinct parts: the expressway drive through metro Toronto (which seemed like it would never end but in actuality was only about an hour), a few hours driving through Canadian farmland (lots of great barns), and a couple more hours driving through Michigan farmland after crossing the Blue Water Bridge into the U.S.

I felt such a huge sense of relief once I passed U.S. Customs, that I called my sister to tell her the whole story of my border crossing into Canada and got so distracted that I missed my freeway exit. The GPS kept prompting me to turn around, but I was too engrossed in my phone conversation to notice. When I finally caught on to what happened I had driven eight miles in the wrong direction. I think that was the first time I goofed so badly on this drive. Oh well.

Speaking of the border crossing, I’d like to explain why I was so unsettled while I drove through Canada that first day. I wrote about admitting I had mace and having to surrender it. What I didn’t say was that I only surrendered one of the TWO cans of Mace that I had. I don’t know why I chose to keep one. Maybe it was the fear I felt at the Toledo Motel 6. Maybe it was the stubborn streak I possess. Whatever my motivation, I was a nervous wreck driving through Canada having a can of Mace hidden in my car after being told that it would get me into a lot of trouble if found. I was so paranoid about it that I didn’t even want to write about it while in Canada. So that’s the rest of the story. Kind of silly but extremely unsettling at the time. Otherwise, my brief detour through Canada was fine, even considering all the signs in French.

My entry into Michigan was pretty pain-free. The border official didn’t even ask about Toby, so the worry about having the proper papers was unfounded. (Although, I would lay money on it having been a problem had I not gone to the trouble to get the proof-of-vaccination form.) The worst part of the border crossing was the fifteen minute wait to get up to the booth, but crossing the Blue Water Bridge made up for that minor inconvenience. The water was the most amazing turquoise. It looked like how I imagine much of the Caribbean must look. I was dying for a photo, but even with my amazing high-speed photo-taking skills it was too risky.

Highlights of the last two days: Discovering the great music of the Bare Naked Ladies while driving through Canada on Saturday. The turquoise water of Lake Huron. Snapping photos of the border crossing station on principle (more discretely this time). Noticing that “MACDONALD-CAR” was finally gone from the GPS (must be a Canada thing). Being captivated by the reflection in a tanker truck. Passing the Birch Run Expo Center and seeing the sign for the Psychic Expo. Passing the turnoff for Zilwaukee. Waiting by the gate at White Birch Lakes and seeing my brother and Kendal drive up in the jeep. Riding in Joe’s two-seater 4x4 down dirt roads. The two barbeques at my nephew’s camping spot by Holiday Lake. Drinking Gallo wine straight from a tiny bottle at one BBQ. Waking up at 3:30AM to a fantastic thunderstorm. Laughing so hard I could barely breathe while watching Toby and Buddy the pug chase Quigley the cat. And typing this (very slowly!) while chatting about recipes with my sister-in-law Judy.

Now I get to look forward to several mellow days in the woods of central Michigan. I’ll let you know when I resume traveling west. Again, thanks for keeping an eye on me while I cover the miles!


Total mileage on Saturday: 410
Total time in the car: Six hours

Alive, well, exhausted, and bound for bed

Just a quick post to say that I'm safe and sound in Farwell, Michigan. It has been nonstop family time from the moment I arrived this afternoon until about ten minutes ago. Consequently, I am exhausted and headed for bed. Tomorrow, I'll finish the rest of the border crossing story.

America bound

I'm showered, packing up my stuff, and soon to be armed with the addresses of a couple of nearby Starbucks as well as a list of the Canadian musicians on my iPod. According to Google, I've got 380 miles to go. My fingers are crossed that it will be a good driving day and that I will discover there is internet access at my brother's house. If not, the next adventure will be looking for the wireless hot spots in and around Farwell, Michigan!

Slammed in Canada (with a nod to Rameen)

Greetings from Whitby, Ontario! I made it as far as the east side of the Toronto metro area but no farther. Part of me feels like a wimp for not making it to London, but more of me is amazed I made it this far. In any case, I’ll be with family in Michigan by the end of tomorrow, so no complaints from this traveler.

My last post was somewhat tongue-in-cheek regarding my day of “foreign” travel, but it really has been just that. From the moment I crossed the border this morning until I ordered a side of poutine for dinner, this day has truly been foreign.

I left Burlington at nine this morning (latte in hand) and had a lovely and uneventful drive north through Vermont. I got pretty excited when I saw a sign indicating that Canada was only two miles away. But the excitement was short-lived, because I became a criminal-type as soon as I arrived at the border crossing. As I was awaiting my turn to drive up to the official’s window, I snapped a couple of pictures of the red/green light that tells you when you can move forward, thinking that the green light would mark my official entry into Canada. Bad idea. When I got up there, the first thing the guy said to me was that I would have to erase the photos I just took, since taking photographs was prohibited at a security site. He then started asking the standard questions while I struggled to figure out how to delete the photos, which I eventually managed to do. When he asked if I had any animals, I initially blurted out “no” but then realized that Toby, in fact, falls most definitely in the "animal" category. Then he asked for Toby’s "papers." I have no papers for Toby. I didn’t know I needed any papers. I quickly started planning how to reroute my trip, but the guy decided to give me a break (more on that later). He asked my reason for visiting Canada and also whether I was responsible for the wonderful weather they’ve been having out this way. I cheerfully took full credit for the sunshine, hoping to curry favor at this point with any and all of Canada. Then he asked me a question about guns, knives, mace, etc. I said that I had some mace. Possessing mace was my second illegal act in Canada. When he informed me of that fact, I responded with "I guess I should have lied." He said that if I did lie and then got caught, I would be in a lot of trouble. I was given a form, told where to park, and informed that I had to speak with a different official inside. From the inside official guy, I learned that I had to surrender my mace to "the Crown." (More on that tomorrow.) As that guy was filling out the appropriate mace-related paperwork, I jokingly said that I was glad I didn’t have a gun as well, because I would hate to have to surrender THAT to the Crown. The guy got serious and asked if I owned any guns. Is that a crime too? Owning a gun in another country? Fortunately, I do not own a gun (yet), so I didn’t have to find out if I was breaking yet another law. Finally, I was released to go on my not-quite-as-merry way. I decided to look for a restroom before I went any farther into Canada. All the signs were in French, and I don't speak even the tiniest bit of French. Fortunately, I am able tell the difference between the international signs for the men’s and women’s facilities. UNFORTUNATELY, I was so tired that I walked into the men’s room anyway. I was thinking it was strange that a women's room in Canada had urinals and then realized I was not in the women's room. So went my first fifteen minutes in Canada.

When I got back on the highway, I discovered I was pretty shaken by the border stuff. (Again, more on that tomorrow.) Then I noticed that every single sign I saw was in French. This stressed me out even more. I feared that maybe I was doing something else illegal – like driving in a dog-free lane or taking photos in another photographs-prohibited zone. The only thing I knew for sure was the speed limit, which I adhered to religiously. I’m usually one of the fastest cars on the road, but in Canada (at least until the last hour or so of today’s drive), I was one of the slowest.

Nothing much to report about the drive itself. Traffic got heavy as I approached Montreal but otherwise wasn’t too bad. I was thrilled when I crossed into Ontario, because then the traffic signs appeared in English as well. The only major issue I dealt with was fatigue. Five hours of sleep over two nights just isn’t enough. I thought today might be a tough driving day, and I was right.

One of the rules I established for myself when I crossed the border was that I could only play Canadian musicians while driving in Canada. I started off with Loreena McKennitt, but her mellow music somehow exacerbated my stressed-out state. So I switched to the New Pornographers, whose quirky music worked much better. Eventually, they also grated on my nerves. Neil Young followed, but after two albums I discovered that Neil can be a bit too soporific. Finally, I remembered that Nickleback is a Canadian band! I blasted their music until I made it here. I even discovered a great Nickleback song that I had never heard before.

I arrived in Whitby around 4:00PM, checked into yet another Motel 6 (by far the most expensive of the trip), then wandered across the parking lot to search for dinner. I ended up at Harvey’s, a Canadian hamburger chain. It wasn’t my first choice, but it was the only place I could sit outside with Toby. I had a salad (healthy choice) and the afore-mentioned poutine. Knights Canadian Info Collection says this about poutine: “Poutine is Acadian slang for mushy mess and is best described as a heart attack in a bowl.” It consists of french fries smothered in gravy with a whole bunch of cheese thrown in for good measure. According to the Harvey’s website, the single bowl I ordered (which I consumed in its entirety!) contained 43 grams of fat (15 grams of which was saturated) and 92% of my daily sodium allowance. And I thought I was being virtuous by not having any cheesecake today!

So I survived the drive, survived my dinner (or so I hope), and decided to sit down to write for a bit. I did a quick online search to see what I could find out about border crossings, clicked on a link, and found the information about needing a dog's “papers." Then I saw that I will need those same papers to cross back into the U.S. tomorrow. But I don't have any papers! Panic ensued. Maybe the guy at the border crossing wasn’t being nice to me at all. Maybe he let me in knowing that Toby would have to spend the rest of his life subject to the Queen's whims. So expensive phone calls were made - first to my vet in Auburn (who didn’t have the actual proof of the rabies vaccine) and then to Karla at the vet’s office in Lake Oswego. Karla is a saint and deserves a happy afterlife. I think she heard the panic in my voice. She was able to find Toby’s records in the office archives and then faxed the appropriate paperwork to the motel's front desk. Now my fingers are crossed that this particular bit of paperwork will get us safely into Michigan. But then again, I might run into other problems when I try to cross the border, which I will explain if I do so successfully. So stay tuned for that particular installment.

Toby was a mellow traveler today. Yesterday, he was pretty tense and spent much of the trip standing or moving from front to back to front again and again. I’m glad he is getting back in the traveling groove.

Highlights of this somewhat stressful day: Being wished a very earnest “safe journey” by a nice older couple from Florida as I was leaving the motel this morning. Passing a sign indicating that I was “Midway between the Equator and the North Pole”. Seeing Lake Champlain, the Saint Lawrence River, and Lake Ontario at various points throughout the day. Seeing bright red and reddish orange metal roofs here and there in Canada as well as the silver spires of several churches in Quebec. A hang-glider I saw soaring over a farm field. The signs (in Ontario) that helpfully indicate the fines associated with various too-fast speeds. Hearing Nickleback’s Someone that You’re With for the first time. And discovering poutine. (As you might imagine, all that fat and salt makes for a tasty dish!)

Less-than-favorite parts of the day: The border crossing snafu. Getting to a Service Area desperate for food and realizing that I didn’t have any coins I could put in the snack machine. My panic about Toby's "papers." And discovering the nutritional content of poutine.

Confusing part of the day: Besides the many signs I couldn’t read, I also couldn’t figure out why my GPS always said “MACDONALD-CAR” below the list of upcoming freeway exits. Even after looking online, I can’t figure out what that means!

Best part of the day: Arriving here safe and sound!!!



Total mileage for the day: 405
Total time in the car: Seven hours
Destination tomorrow: My brother’s house in Farwell, Michigan!

Foreign travel

Hallelujah! I slept really well, just not enough. I had the "bright" idea of leaving the curtains open so that the sunlight would awaken me. I just didn't figure it would be at 5:30! Nor did I think I would keep myself up until after midnight last night. But I will take my blessings where I find them and count myself fortunate to have had any amount of deep sleep.

After I get myself in the car, it's backtracking a few miles to Burlington for a latte, and then Toby and I head into Canada for the day (and night). My passport is in my purse (along with a chocolate truffle or two), so I am set for any exotic adventures that come my way!

On the road again

Greetings from Burlington, Vermont! This will be short, because lack of sleep is making me feel rather feeble-minded right now.

It was another beautiful day today. Following the routine we established this past week, Rameen, Leslie and I began the day by walking the dogs to The Udder Place for our morning lattes. After some last minute photos and many, many hugs, I headed out to Standish to say goodbye to my friend Antoinette. The rest of the day I drove – a short bit in Maine and then through the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont. I took backroads whenever possible. The Kancamagus Highway, which winds its way through the White Mountains, was particularly stunning. But honestly, every bit of the drive was beautiful.

I found another rather plush Motel 6, dropped off my stuff, and then headed downtown with Toby for a shared steak dinner at a brew pub. Afterwards, we wandered down to the waterfront for a quick peek at Lake Champlain. When we got back to the room, I started to write a little something but then got hooked watching The Hangover. So now I'm stumbling over words while looking longingly at the bed.

Highlights of the day: Spending time with friends this morning. Stopping on a whim at a Goodwill while en route to Antoinette’s and scoring some great blue and white china. Finding coffee in West Ossipee, NH, when my need for caffeine was becoming desperate. Being wowed again and again (and again!) by the scenery. Spotting numerous “Brake for Moose – It could Save Your Life” signs (and happily, never needing to). Seeing “Unanswered questions are far less dangerous than unquestioned answers” in front of a church. Eating on the patio of the Vermont Pub and Brewery. Eating still more cheesecake on said patio (despite my morning resolution to eat healthier today!). Seeing several houses with amazing columns in front. And walking behind a pony-tailed guy wearing a long, heavy wool coat (with epaulets no less!) on an extremely warm evening.

Total mileage for the day: 214.8
Total time in the car: A little less than five hours
Destination tomorrow: London, Ontario

It figures

What IS it with sleep and me sometimes? I have been sleeping better here than I have in at least a year. Until last night, that is. Last night I went to bed sometime around midnight, lay awake thinking about being here, about hitting the road, about getting back home. About pretty much everything in fact, since I did not sleep AT ALL. This happens occasionally, and I know I will be perfectly functional driving today. But it is definitely not how I would have started my drive back west. Oh well. The best laid plans of mice and men ...

Leaving Maine

I’ve been in Maine a week and have finally decided to head homeward. This has been the most extraordinary week – absolutely amazing weather (record breaking warmth in fact), great times with old friends, and loads of revisiting old haunts. I am leaving tomorrow, not because I’m ready to go but because I fear that if I stay longer, I might not want to leave. Ever. But I guess that’s a wonderful way to end my visit, with all of my memories good ones.

Tomorrow I’m heading into New Hampshire, through the White Mountains, then across Vermont to Burlington. It’s not the fastest way to Michigan, but it IS wonderfully scenic. And since I’m totally in summer vacation mode, the detour seems appropriate.

And speaking of vacation mode, I played the tourist yesterday, driving up the Maine coast as far as Camden, visiting a great museum, popping into shops, splurging on some souvenirs, and eating very fresh haddock and chips with Maine blueberry cheesecake for dessert in a harbor-side restaurant. Yum! (Actually, I've managed to eat cheesecake every day for the last few days. I've been extremely extravagant in the dessert department lately. I guess it's all part of the being-on-vacation-self-indulgence thing.)


I also did the tourist thing in our old hometown of Cape Elizabeth, visiting lighthouses and beaches, as well as our old houses, the elementary school and library, and walking until Toby was absolutely worn out, which doesn't happen very often or very easily.


I’ve also continued to spend time in the Old Port in Portland. One of my favorite discoveries downtown was when I went into a Starbucks (and yes, I seem to be fixated on Starbucks), looked around and noticed it's strange interior shape (very very narrow), and went outside to discover that it is located in one of my all-time favorite buildings. That made me smile. I don't have a list of favorite Starbucks but if I did, this Starbucks would be in the number one slot.

The way life should be

I had forgotten how wonderful Maine is. After living here for ten years, I was really happy when we moved back to the west coast. But being here now is really bringing home how very special this place is. I have to admit that if there was a good reason, I could move back in a heartbeat. The winters would still get to me, but when the weather is beautiful and the black flies and mosquitoes are visiting someone else, there is no better place.

I am so happy to be here right now and tried to pack in quite a bit today. Rameen and I walked the dogs this morning, stopping at the Udder Place Coffee Company. Then Leslie and I wandered around the Old Port a bit (the old part of the city down by the waterfront - but perhaps you already figured that out by its name?) and then went to a great place for brunch (Bintliff's Cafe).

Next I headed out to Standish, where my good friends, Antoinette and Charlie, now live. I didn't want to leave. The place is fabulous - right on Watchic Lake. It is the kind of place most of us only dream of visiting on vacation and they call it home. Look at these pictures! They really don't do it justice. While I was sipping peppermint tea and enjoying the view, Antoinette pointed out a loon right by the dock. How typically Maine is that? I am hoping I can make it back out there again before I leave, because I am determined to go swimming. (If the weather stays nice that is, since I was informed that the water is only 60 degrees right now.)

And speaking of the weather, after days of rain it turned incredibly lovely today - sunny and in the mid-80s. The weather gods are definitely back in my corner. My fingers are crossed that it will stay this way for a while.

I can't believe I'm here

Greetings from Portland, Maine! I am here at last and currently enjoying the afterglow of a dinner and long visit with friends I hadn't seen for six years. It's wonderful to be here and yet I can't help but think that in a few short days I'll be turning around and driving all the way back! Craziness prevails. But at least for now, I can try to develop a different rhythm than that of the past six days. One more normal-feeling and centered on things like regular meals, regular walks, and regular sleep (fingers crossed).

It was a pretty uneventful driving day - still plenty of rain out here, the worst being when I hit Maine. I was really looking forward to taking a picture of the first mention of "Maine" on a highway sign ("To All Maine Points" on 95), but the rain prevented that. Oh well. But I did take plenty of pictures when I had an unplanned tour of Albany, NY (searching for a Starbucks and ending up downtown where I saw some amazing buildings). Otherwise, it was interstate all the way - first through the last bit of New York state, then through Massachusetts, followed by a fifteen minute jaunt through New Hampshire before crossing into Maine at exactly 3:00PM. After that, all the names were familiar beginning with the Piscataqua River, which forms the border between Maine and New Hampshire.

I am happy to report that Toby has hit it off with Oliver the poodle. So it looks like we won't be kicked out due to bad dog behavior. Phew!

I’d like to write more, but I think that finally being where I can collapse has made me want to do just that. So briefly, the highlights of this wonderfully short driving day: It's the sixth day of driving and I'm still smiling. My spontaneous driving tour of Albany. Forgetting the filled water bowl in the back seat (again) and having only a minimal spill (again). Seeing the exit for Old Sturbridge Village, one of my favorite places in the world. Driving through Worcester, MA and remembering the double rainbow we saw as we drove through that city the day we left Maine for Oregon. Trying to take arty photos as I drove through Lawrence, MA. Seeing the “Drive with Courtesy - That’s the New Hampshire Way!” sign. Finally seeing “Maine” on a highway sign. Getting here at last!

Total mileage for the day: 278
Total time in the car: A very leisurely five hours
Total mileage so far: 3171!
Destination tomorrow: Wherever I want!

Can you say "lobster"???

Actually, I don't eat much lobster but am back in the land of the lobster license plate. (Alas, that ugly plate was replaced by a much more attractive pine tree plate after we moved to Oregon.) In any case, I am safe and sound in Portland and will share news of my limited adventures on the road a little later tonight. I am SO HAPPY to be here!

Today is the day!

It's already 9:30 and I am only just now starting to pack up my stuff. Having such a short drive today has allowed me to be lazy in Albany. I stayed up too late (again) but didn't wake up until the alarm went off at 8:00. Actually, Toby had another one of his middle-of-the-night eating binges (3:45 this time), but I was able to fall back to sleep. So I feel much better this morning. A long shower, clean jeans (!), and a Bank of America and Starbucks within a mile or two (and soon to be put in the GPS) has made this a good morning. I figure, I'll get going when I get going and then really enjoy a slower pace today. Maybe even get off the interstate now and then if the urge strikes.

Even though I have been enjoying the drive, it will feel so good to be "doing" more and driving less. At least for a few days. Maine, here I come!

Almost there!

Greetings from Albany, New York! I am finally in the home stretch of what is starting to feel like a never-ending drive.

When I left this morning, I thought there was a chance I might find it in me to make the entire drive to Portland today. Alas, I discovered fairly early on that it wouldn’t be possible. I was just too darn tired. I did find my Starbucks though, which I should add was a perfectly normal Starbucks – clean and not at all threatening. I was also relieved to find my Prius in a perfectly normal state when I went out to load it. I had been fairly confident I would survive my night in Toledo unscathed, but I wasn’t so sure my car would. I’m so glad everything turned out fine in the end.

Today was a driving day, pure and simple. No side trips, except for an inadvertent one at the very end of the day. Toby continued to go with the flow of things and spent more time today looking out the car window. I'm not sure what he thought of the view but like to think he was having a good time.


Basically, I drove toll roads today. First I-80 (the Ohio Turnpike) until I cut off on I-90 a little bit before Cleveland. Then along Lake Erie, cutting through a small bit of Pennsylvania, and then for hours through New York. Right now I’m in a Motel 6 in Albany, which is about 35 miles from the Massachusetts state line. I had forgotten how expensive the toll roads are out here. I need to find a bank first thing in the morning so that I have enough cash to pay for the rest of the trip.

Aside from the drive through downtown Cleveland, the rest of the day was spent driving through either farmland or what I think was the southern part of the Adirondacks. Unfortunately, it rained nearly all day but never so hard that it felt unsafe. Probably the worst rain occurred while I was driving on I-90 through Cleveland. According to Wikipedia, this is “one of the most peculiar and hazardous" stretches of I-90 in the country and is known locally as “Dead Man's Curve.” This section of I-90 also includes a bridge of the same design as the one that failed in Minneapolis. I’m so glad that I didn’t know these facts before I drove through town. In an effort to make my driving even more hazardous in Cleveland, I decided to try my hand at making a very brief video. (“You may think I’m foolish for the foolish things I do.”) Check it out. It gives a sense of what it was like driving today. And it only took three takes!



Even though I didn’t stop for anything besides coffee and gas, I did see exits for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Kent State, Niagara Falls, Attica, the Adirondacks, and one exit for BOTH Oswego and Auburn, New York (!). I crossed the Erie Canal twice and passed some gorgeous factory buildings as well as numerous grand houses (some boarded up) in the middle of nowhere yet smack dab against I-90.

At the very end of the day, when I was reeling with exhaustion (which started around 11:30 this morning!), my GPS took me off I-90. Assuming it knew what it was doing, I followed the directions on the screen and ended up on a "scenic" tour through downtown Schenectady, adding an extra twenty minutes (at least) of driving time to the end of a very long day. Oh well. Perhaps the powers-that-be knew I was too tired to be driving in the rain at freeway speeds and decided to slow me down and keep me safe.

Highlights of the day: Seeing Lake Erie in the distance. The kindness of strangers. Making my video. Crossing the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line at exactly noon. Driving through some beautiful wine country near Westfield, NY (added to my list of places I could live). The small herd of fake buffalo alongside I-90 (which fooled me for several seconds) as one approaches Buffalo, NY. The license plate that read UNAMUSED. Stopping at the Dewitt Service Area on the New York Thruway. (Auburn people will recognize the name - a now defunct state mental hospital in town - and just the place for me to be at this point in my life!) Driving through Schenectady and trying to figure out if there was some "greater purpose" in the detour dictated by the GPS. Arriving at the motel exhausted but intact and only four hours from Portland!!!


Total mileage for the day: 595.5
Total time in the car: 10 hours and 40 minutes
Total mileage so far: 2893 (only 271 miles to go!)
Destination tomorrow: Definitely Portland!

Now if the car is also fine ...

Good morning! I survived the night with minimal sleep. Toby woke me up around 3:00AM when he was trying to eat the remaining kibble that was glued to the side of the bowl by some Ol' Roy turkey gravy. I am showered and packed up. Hopefully, I will be able to carry everything to the car in one trip and be off to the Starbucks down the road and then back on the turnpike. Not sure if I'll have the ooomph to make it all the way to Portland today, but if not at least I'll be ending up in familiar territory. Just in case the Starbucks is also "somewhat scary" ... 1260 S. Reynolds Road Toledo, OH 43615 (419-381-0961).

This makes for a good story, right?

Greetings from Toledo, Ohio! I have just discovered that sometimes there are worse things than driving tired. Like checking into a motel tired. But I’ll get to that later.

Today has been full of surprises. Unlike my prediction in my last post, I had a beautiful morning weather-wise. The rain finally came (or maybe I should say that I came to the rain) but not until 1:30 this afternoon. Also, I was wrong about thinking I’d get to a Starbucks. I did find the Starbucks near the motel, but it was located deep in the bowels of a large shopping mall. I did not want to subject Toby to fifteen minutes alone in the car first thing in the morning, so I decided to find my inner stoic and press ahead without my latte. For a person who loves doing new things as much as I do, I can be amazingly stuck in my ways. I really, really wanted that latte. When I didn’t get it, I was discombobulated for at least twenty minutes. I was driving somewhat erratically (varying speeds, making unnecessary lane changes, etc.) until I came up with a new plan.

My new plan was to detour to Grinnell, Iowa, where my good friends, Leslie and Rameen, went to college. (They happen to be the wonderful souls who are putting us up when we get to Maine.) What a beautiful college and town! I have the happy habit of discovering that I could live in many of the places I have visited over the years. Grinnell is now one of those places. Toby and I wandered (briefly) around the campus and then, with help from a friendly cyclist, found our way to the Saints Rest Coffeehouse in downtown Grinnell (population 9,167). It is probably the only coffeehouse in town, but at least it’s a good one. I ordered my usual on-the-road latte (triple shot soy with whip) after asking the barista whether their lattes were any good. Of course she said “yes.” What else would she say? While she was whipping it up, I ran back to the car for my camera, thinking the place was pretty neat and I needed a photo. Then I asked the barista if I could take her picture while she pulled the espresso shots. She seemed a little bit uncomfortable with my request, but I explained that I was on a cross-country trip and was documenting it as I went. When she gave me my drink, she also handed me their business card, which says that Chuck Offenberger of AAA Home Away Magazine said the Saints Rest was “One of the top ten coffeehouses in Iowa” back in January of 2004! She also assured me that their soy milk was locally produced and completely organic. Gosh. My comment about documenting my trip somehow gave me some major cachet. I need to remember that line more often. Perhaps I should have used it when I was checking into this motel. But again, more about that later.


As soon as I got back on the interstate, I discovered that I was able to drive nearly as fast as I did in Wyoming and Nebraska. The day was shaping up to be a good driving day after all. A ways down the road, I passed the turnoff for Mount Vernon, Iowa (population 3390), home of Cornell College. The other Cornell College. Six years ago, when we were driving across the country looking at colleges with Caitlyn, our first stop was in Mount Vernon. Caitlyn wasn’t overly impressed with Cornell, so the visit was quick. Unfortunately, our departure from town was anything but. Some sort of hometown parade was going on and it seemed like no matter what street we turned down, we were stopped by the parade. I turned around in driveways, did U-turns, drove in reverse, and yet we were blocked by the parade every way we turned. It was starting to feel like a very creepy episode of The Twilight Zone by the time we eventually found our way free of the place. Needless to say, I did not stop there this time around.

Some other places I did not stop today: The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum (West Branch, Iowa). The Birthplace of Ronald Reagan (Tampico, Illinois). The Hometown of Ronald Reagan (Dixon, Illinois). The Minooka Distribution Center located along I-80 in Minooka, Illinois. (This place is brand new, currently unoccupied, and contains more than 1,000,000 SF of leasable space. It looked as worthy of a visit as any distribution center I’ve ever seen.) I also did not stop at any of the Starbucks that started turning up along my route this afternoon. (I would have gladly had it not been past my point-of-no-return caffeine-wise.)

So where DID I stop? The rest area in Wilton, Iowa, which hands-down wins the Best Rest Area Award so far! The place was gorgeous. Toby and I had a rather idyllic stroll through the grounds, which looked like a park. There were lovely picnic shelters scattered here and there, connected by a meandering walkway. The theme of the place was centered on traditional quilt patterns and each picnic shelter was identified by one of the patterns. (I didn’t know that rest areas had themes. Did you?) Seriously, the place was plush. I took numerous pictures and thought about grabbing one of the free real estate guides in front of the building to see if this was yet another place I could live. Maybe even in the rest area itself. Did I mention, they had wireless internet there?

I also stopped in Geneseo, Illinois, a high school football powerhouse, according to an informational sign I noticed while driving into town for gas and a cup of coffee. I also noticed that, according to the sign at the BP station where I filled up, Steve was celebrating his 50th. I hope he has an easier time of it than I did.


Not much of a sight-seeing day to be sure, yet it was enjoyable nonetheless. I listened to some great music and spent money at three separate toll booths (Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio). I got stuck in some very slow traffic near the Illinois/Indiana border, but otherwise the drive was pretty easy.




Toby has resigned himself to spending the rest of his life in a car. For the most part, he curls up in the front seat, but sometimes climbs in back or stands right next to me seeking some affection. Or at least acknowledgment that he is a fellow creature who really should be allowed a bathroom break every now and then. He is almost pathetically happy every time I let him out of the car, even if it is only for the two minutes it takes to fill up the gas tank. He has most definitely earned some major walks once we get to Portland.

Highlights of the day: The Saints Rest Coffeehouse. The rest area in Wilton. Seeing some flooding along the Rock River (Milan, Illinois). Listening to two of the most beautiful songs I know as I drove through peaceful farmland (Tá Mé 'Mo Shuí by Altan and the song I only know as Track 07 by Apocalyptica).

Not-so-great part of the day: It’s kind of humorous in retrospect, but apparently I was more tired than I thought earlier today. Several times I found myself fumbling for the appropriate controls in the car. At one point, I saw a state trooper in the median area of the Indiana Turnpike. I was only going 75 in a 70 MPH zone yet started to panic. I reached for the cruise control lever to slow my speed but only managed to increase the speed of the windshield wipers. Then I tried to toggle the little gear shift knob into engine braking mode to slow the car without hitting the brakes. A split second before I realized what I was doing, I pushed instead the button that puts the car into park. I am extremely happy to report that when you do that in a speeding Prius, you only put the car into neutral. Otherwise, I might be writing a somewhat different narrative right now.

Worst part of the day: As I mentioned earlier, it isn’t good to be too tired when choosing your motel for the evening. I was feeling fine all day (or so I thought) and was hoping to make it to Cleveland tonight. But thirty miles out of Toledo, I completely hit the wall. I knew I had to stop when it took me several seconds to remember how to turn down the volume when a song came on too loud. I took the first Toledo exit off the Ohio Turnpike and quickly located the Motel 6, got a room, and drove to the appropriate entrance. It was only when I started to unpack the car that I noticed that this isn’t a very nice Motel 6. In fact, I’d honestly have to put it in the “somewhat scary” category. I seriously considered walking away right then and there and chalking up the $38.20 to experience. But I have decided to be brave. I quickly carried everything in and immediately called my sister to tell her exactly where I am, in case I should disappear. (And in the same vein, I’ll repeat that information here. I am at the Toledo Motel 6, just off the Ohio Turnpike. The phone number is 419-865-2308. Please tell the police to start looking for me here if I’m never heard from again.) When I realized that I really had to take Toby out to pee one last time, my mace was in my hand with my finger on the trigger. Really. I even tested it when I got outside – just in case. I am also armed with a very large Maglite, which I brought along just in case I need to hit someone with something heavy. I figure between the chair and suitcase I’ll have in front of the door, Toby who will sound the alarm, a non-opening window, the Maglite and the mace, I will probably survive the night and make it back on the road in the morning. So stay tuned.

Finally, I don’t want to end this post on a bad note. Probably the best part of my day (which came just minutes before I left the turnpike) was when the car that was passing me in the fast lane slowed down alongside me. That always gives me the willies. You never know if someone might be pointing a gun at you (which actually happened to me once in Portland, Maine). Anyway, I turned to see if I had anything to worry about and noticed the woman in the passenger seat was looking at me and laughing. This was the first time (at least that I'm aware of) that I was able to offer amusement to one of my fellow motorists. Pink Cadillac happened to be playing on the iPod just then. Need I say more?

Total mileage for the day: 585.5
Total time in the car: 10 hours
Total mileage so far: 2297 (only 860 miles to go!)
Destination tomorrow: Maybe all the way to Portland!

Monday Morning Commute

I'm getting ready to pack up the room and hit the road. Unfortunately, both the sky outside my window and the weather report indicate that I'll be driving through rain today. When I realized last night that I have only 1400 miles to go, I told myself I could do it in two more days if I push. My record driving day of recent years was 800 plus miles (Veradale, WA to Auburn, CA), which I did last year with Toby. But I don't think there is any way I can do 700 miles a day in the rain, driving through the more populated areas that I'll be entering today. Oh well. I always told myself it would take five or six days. Six days will mean averaging less than 500 miles the next three days. Much more sensible. Plus, what a handy excuse I have for not running - I would be running of course, if only it weren't raining. That sounds pretty believable, don't you think? I love finding the bright side whenever possible.

So off I go in another fifteen minutes or so, knowing that there is a Starbucks 1.5 miles from here and very dear friends a mere 1400 miles away!

Leaving the West behind

Greetings from Des Moines, Iowa! I made it to my ideal destination today and am oh-so-happy to be here.

First thing this morning, I drove into downtown Cheyenne and got my soy latte. That alone would be enough to set the tone for an upbeat day, but I was even more fortunate. The Starbucks was only a few blocks from the Wyoming Capitol Building, which is absolutely lovely. I spent fifteen minutes walking Toby around various state buildings. He even got to chase a squirrel, which made everything right in his world as well. The sky was mostly blue, and it promised to be a good driving day. But apparently the weather gods, who have been so solicitous of my journey thus far, decided to take the day off today.


We weren’t that far out of Cheyenne, when the sky began to look a little ominous. When we stopped at the “Sidney Eastbound Rest Area” a hundred miles from Cheyenne (a very nice rest area, I might add), rain was looking imminent. And eventually it came. And then it decided to stay awhile. We had rain until mid-afternoon, but luckily for us it wasn’t ever very heavy. Several times I had to turn the wipers to the fastest speed, but otherwise visibility was fine. The main trouble with the rain was that it made the world around me seem very small and closed in. For much of the day, no distant vistas were to be had, even grey ones. I was cautiously optimistic when we had a few non-rainy patches, and then quite happy when the rain stopped for good. The skies remained overcast the rest of the day, but at least I could see into the distance once again.

Even though the weather gods abandoned us for a while, the motel gods took up the slack. I am staying at a very nice Motel 6 tonight. One doesn’t usually put Motel 6 in the “very nice” category, but this one is. It is tucked between a Marriott’s and a Candlewood Suites in an office park kind of area west of Des Moines. After two nights of noise (the first room was a stone’s throw from I-80 and the second half a stone’s throw from a railroad track), I now find myself in a quiet room on the second floor (interior corridors here!), which is on the other side of the building from the interstate. It feels like a little bit of heaven. I even have a bathtub tonight!

I don’t know if it was the latte this morning or the extra hour of sleep, but I managed a longer driving day today. I stopped for gas twice, visited a Wal-Mart for some supplies and a McDonalds for a cup of coffee.

Not much to report scenically. I saw quite a few mini oil wells in western Nebraska, which is mostly rangeland. There were also numerous isolated (and very picturesque) small windmills pumping water for cattle. Much later in the day, I passed several large-scale wind farms. At some point today, I left the rangeland of the west and entered rolling farmland. The landscape is much more “civilized” here but no less beautiful. When I crossed the Missouri River and entered Iowa, we left the west behind.


I suppose I should mention that Toby continues to settle into the trip. He was pretty mellow today and is totally sacked out as I write this. Besides chasing the squirrel this morning, the highlight of his day was getting a surprise for dinner. He is not a food-oriented dog and has been on a hunger strike since we left Friday morning. When I was at the Wal-Mart, I bought a couple of pouches of Ol' Roy’s Mini-chunks with Gravy. When he smelled the “Savory Chicken Dinner” hidden under his kibble, he dove in with a vengeance. He has been a surprisingly good travel companion.


Highlights of the day: The Capitol Building in Cheyenne. My latte (simple pleasures and all that). Driving behind a sheriff who was stuck behind a semi that wouldn’t budge out of the fast lane. (The sheriff rode the truck’s tail for miles. I was sure the guy would get a ticket, but Midwesterners are mellow people. Eventually the trucker moved over and the sheriff went on his way.) Crossing the Nishnabotna River twice - another great name! A little bit east of Omaha, I was listening to the Counting Crows and heard the song Omaha – “somewhere in middle America.” And so we are.


Total mileage for the day: 631.6
Total time in the car: 9 1/2 hours
Total mileage so far: 1712 (only 1400 miles to go!)
Destination tomorrow: Hard to say. Somewhere between Chicago and Cleveland, depending on traffic.