Was it worth it?

Have passport, will travel!

     After I posted about the Eclipse on facebook, a friend commented, "Was it worth it?"
                                                                          Y.E.S.
     I'm writing this on January 17, 2018, and I still think it is worth it. It is worth it even though:

*  I put at least 6,000 miles on my 12 year old Malibu Maxx (now affectionately known as "Miracle Maxx"). Maxx climbed the Rockies, traversed the plains (twice), and endured the rigors of rush hour in several metropolitan belt-ways without engine trouble or a flat tire. After returning home, he needed 2 quarts of oil, replacement of a turn signal bulb, and preventive maintenance.

*  The cover of Maxx's gas-cap is misaligned, held on with duct tape. (another lesson: always have duct tape!)

Miracle Maxx back home in PA

*  I had severe back pain after the return trip of 6 days straight in the car. I learned I now have arthritis in my back. But hey, that arthritis was probably developing for a while, and I would have it if I went on the trip or not. BTW, anti- inflammatory meds and back exercises are helping now.

*  I had to work extra hours both before and after I left to meet all the deadlines due during the 3 weeks I was away. (about 50- 65 hours/ week June-July-October & November)

*  My yard went to rack and ruin. I had someone cut the grass, but the weeds just went wild for 3 weeks and I had no time to get them under control (see "work extra hours" above).

     WHY is it worth it?

*  BECAUSE seeing the Total Eclipse of the Sun is a once-in-a-lifetime, totally AWESOME experience.
*  BECAUSE spending 3 weeks with my son is probably something we will not do again. He saw America as only you can on a Great American Road Trip, and I was there with him.
*  BECAUSE I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, daring to plan, and pray, and finally believe that this amazing trip could happen.
*  BECAUSE I now have this as proof that I can pray, plan, prepare and DO something that seems too overwhelming. The goal of seeing the Eclipse was enough to spur me on to accomplish things I didn't think I could do.
*  BECAUSE now, in the aftermath of winter storm Grayson, as I look out my window and see ice, snow, and bare branches tossed by the frigid wind, I can imagine in my mind's eye the beauty that I saw in the summer. It sustains me and gives me hope. I do not think I could drive all that way again, but I have been perusing the Amtrak website, checking fares for the Empire Builder route that will take me back to Glacier Park.

   
 And then again, there is another Total Eclipse in North America  April 8, 2024. I'll keep you posted!
     https://www.space.com/37878-solar-eclipse-2024-path-of-totality-maps.html 
         

Lessons Learned

Hello everyone,
     It's been 5 months since Jesse and I left for our Eclipse Adventure. I've had time to reflect and sort out what really has remained with me from this experience. I wanted to share it with those who have followed along with us.
     First of all, I realized I have wonderful friends who encouraged and prayed with me all along. My husband Mike supported and encouraged me, and remained home to hold down the fort. I want to thank you all. Without your prayers and practical help, I don't think I would have ventured out.
     Here are some other nuggets:

*  AMERICA is an amazingly beautiful country, not only the National Parks that people flock to see, but every state, even if all you see is from the Interstate Highway.

*  The CULTURE is very different west of the Mississippi. Kate called it "the code of the West." If you see someone on the road, you stop to help, because you are literally out in the middle of nowhere: no AAA truck, no phone service, and no town for miles. We drove 97 miles from Shoshoni WY to Casper WY and there was literally no gas station between those two towns. I never let the gas tank go below half full after we left St. Louis.

*  WALMART is everywhere. So are other chain stores, to a lesser degree. In some ways it is welcome/ familiar/ convenient, but also monotonous.

*  ONE visit to Wall Drug is enough. I would return to every other place we stopped. I would like to go to Chamberlain SD again, but it is very remote and can only be included on a road trip like this.

*  Driving 85 MPH in South Dakota is VERY different from driving 75 MPH on the PA Turnpike.

*  ALWAYS have a plug and cord to charge your phone in the car. If you don't have one, stop at the next Walmart and buy one.

     See my next post, "Was It Worth It?"

Be it ever so humble....

There's no place like home...

Today's Travel: Ashland KY to Philadelphia PA= 500 miles
TRIP TOTAL= 5, 840 (actually, at least 6,000 if you add in the search for the sunflower farm and Jesse's accidental trip west on I-70 when he missed the turn for Walmart)

     After three weeks on the road, I was truly wishing that I could just click my heels together and be transported to home sweet home. This stretch would be 500 miles, the longest since the leg from Cheyenne WY  to Salina Kansas, with more traffic and more connections to make. Fortunately, having made the trip to and from Ashland before, I considered this home turf. For the last time, we packed up, I filled my travel mug with coffee, and we hit the road.

     Here is a beautiful rest stop in Maryland. I took a picture of the information plaque.

     Like Dory, we "just kept going, just kept going..." and finally, we were on the PA Turnpike.

  A familiar sight, heading EAST on the PA Turnpike.

     Clouds over Pennsylvania. Montana does not have a corner market on beautiful clouds.

     Hills of Pennsylvania. We were home after dark, but at least, we were HOME.
LOOK FOR FUTURE POSTS: "Was it worth it?" and "Lessons Learned."

Country Roads, take me home

Today's Travel: Nashville TN to Ashland KY= 336 miles
TRIP TOTAL= 5, 340 miles

     We felt a little travel weary, but were getting back in familiar territory once we were in Kentucky. We had dinner with my Uncle Ova & Aunt Minnie, their daughter Melissa and her husband David, and her son Matthew. I keep up with them on facebook, but it was great to see everyone and give hugs. I've seen a lot more postings since Matthew's daughter arrived just before Christmas. Peyton is just off the scale when it comes to CUTE! Megan wasn't feeling well that evening in August, due to the pregnancy, so she couldn't join us. Congratulations, everyone, on the safe arrival of your daughter/ grand daughter/ great-granddaughter!

Nashville TN

   
Today's Travel: Wentzville MO to Nashville TN= 355 miles
TRIP TOTAL= 5,004

     We arrived about 3 PM to meet Jesse's friend Lisa on the campus of Lipscomb University. After a tour of the campus (very nice!) it was downtown to see the Nashville Public Library (that's right, the library). The children's section has a scale model of downtown Nashville, and there is a garden courtyard and Civil Rights Museum in the building. Just look at these pictures and you will see why this library is so amazing.

      The Reading Room has copper relief panels all around the room like crown molding.

 Close- up of one of the copper relief panels. There were three different panels above each book case.

In another area, there were several display cases with marionettes and figurines.

 

The AT &T Building has the nickname, "Batman Building."

Since the library has free parking for 1 1/2 hours, we walked through downtown Nashville, down Broadway to the river, and took our "tourist" pictures on the Pedestrian Bridge.

Broadway, full of bars with country music, just as dusk is falling.

My tourist picture on the Pedestrian Bridge.

Lisa & Jesse on the bridge. Jesse in his beatnick phase.

I was intrigued by this statue on the other side of the Cumberland River. It looks like DNA to me.

After our walking tour of Downtown, Lisa took us to Edley's Barbeque Restaurant. When I saw rolls of paper towels on the tables, I knew it had to be good. "Good" doesn't come close.

TIP: If you're going to Nashville, eat at Edley's. We arrived at 7 PM on a Thursday, and the brisket was long gone, so plan accordingly. I recommend splitting a meat platter and ordering extra sides.

More Kansas

                                                SEE THE USA IN YOUR CHEVROLET!
      Today's Travel: Salina Kansas to Wentzville MO (outside St. Louis) 378 miles
     TRIP TOTAL= 4,649

     We were making good time, so I convinced Jesse to take a small side trip to try to find a sunflower farm advertised in the Kansas State brochure. We followed the directions to the letter, but did not find the farm. Jesse was good natured about this misadventure. This says a lot, because after 19 days together we could have been at each other's throats. Speaking of throats, mine was still recovering and it was time to buy some serious (but non-drowsy!) allergy medicine. Every field of hay was being mowed and the very dry conditions combined dust, hay and pollen for the perfect allergy storm.

                                          Typical Kansas.

                                          More Kansas.

                                          Kansas City, MO.

FUN FACT: We did not use GPS for the trip! I used my trusty AAA maps and then Mapquest to plan the trip for the next day. Looks like the map of Montana & Idaho here. This method has pros and cons. No pressure to reach a certain destination each day, but lack of certainty about accommodations. We did book ahead in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. In more populated states, we just looked for a Super 8 or budget motel near the Interstate. I did plan a general itinerary before we left and notified family members. Due to cell phones, it was easy to keep in touch.  TIP: AAA maps usually have 2 states, one on each side, so they are less detailed. Stop at the first Tourist Info Center when you enter a new state, and you can get a free map of the state that usually has enlargements of major towns and more detail.

BEAM ME UP!

                                                          Beam me up, Scotty!

     Who would have thought there could be a traffic jam in Wyoming, the most sparsely populated state? The totality lasted only about 2 and a half minutes, so the group began moving out. We thought a half day of travel would give us a head start on our trip back east. We left about 1:30 PM. It was fine until we got to Casper, WY, a town also in the Path of Totality and a straight shot to Denver on I-25. It seems everybody and his brother had the same idea.

     Notice the bumper to bumper traffic. No danger of going over the speed limit. We averaged 2 to 30 miles per hour for 9 hours.

     Uni-cycle man was a bit of a diversion as we inched along. As night fell, the tail lights on the slow moving traffic looked like a river of red lava winding through the valley. I texted my church friends to pray that we would not run out of gas in the middle of no-where [we did not!]. Meanwhile back at the ranch, Kate was searching online for someplace for us to stay. There was not a hotel room to be had, due to the overwhelming crowd. We were saved from disaster by the kindness of strangers. Kate's brother Patrick, who lives in Wyoming, contacted friends in Cheyenne. Gary and Mary graciously took us in for the night (we arrived shortly after midnight).

Today's Travel: 290 miles (it took us 11 hours, normal time would be 4 hours 15 minutes)
Shoshoni Wyoming to Cheyenne Wyoming
TRIP TOTAL: 3,748

     Tuesday 8-22-17 we were up and on the road by 9 AM. We drove down I-25 to Denver, then took I-70 east. Today we actually saw bison, but they were domestic in fenced fields. Probably fattening up to be served as bison burgers at Wall Drug.

     What a difference a day makes! Here is the absolutely empty I-70 in Kansas.
Today's Travel (8-23-17) Cheyenne WY to Salina Kansas= 523 miles
TRIP TOTAL= 4,271 miles