So, did you recognize those lyrics? If not, you were not “of age” in the 70’s. Guess.

Anyway, here I am so very close to the Indiana/Ohio border I can almost brag that we’ve put the “I” states behind us. Tomorrow will still be a long, hard drive but we hope to be home by at least 7:00 p.m. Driving on a Sunday should hopefully help some. But then again, maybe not.

Some snaps from the road over the past two days. Sorry, last night I was too tired to do much of anything. (Note: Apologies in advance for the quality of the following photos. All were shot either out of the windshield or my side window, both of which I’m afraid were spattered with bugs.)

Pine Bluffs, Wyoming and we have history. It’s a vortex of bad karma, it really is. On the first occasion we ran out of gas in the middle of the night while coming home from a dog show (which one I do not have a memory of). Here is the hill (taken from the opposite side of the road) just a few miles on the East side of Pine Bluffs where I sat with at least two dogs and waited while Rick hitched a ride into Pine Bluffs to get gas with some trucker. It was dark and I was scared you-know-what-less. He eventually returned—with gas enough for us to make it into Pine Bluffs.

Let’s call this unfortunate incident #1.

Unfortunate incident #2 happened a few years later, only this time headed East (again to another dog show—Lincoln NE) with our nearly new 21-foot travel trailer and our equally brand new (of 2 weeks) Chevy Tahoe. We lost control of the travel trailer while passing a semi truck in the wind and ended up jack-knifing the travel trailer and pretty much totaling our Tahoe. This stretch of guard rail should have a memorial in our name since it is the only thing that stopped us from going over this elevated section of highway. The grand state of Wyoming also charged us for the guard rail we mutilated. I think we should have a plaque bearing our name along this very stretch.

Is it no wonder that I make the sign of the cross as we go by this god forsaken town even though I am not longer a practicing Catholic?

Our next point of interest after making it safely past Pine Bluffs (at least this time we were spared) was the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument in Kearney, NE. We have never stopped at this even after passing it by many many times.

We spent the night in Council Bluffs, Iowa, just barely over the Nebraska/Iowa border.

Here it the sunrise over Iowa countryside this morning.

More wind turbines. Sorry, I just can’t help myself. They are so darned poetic.

The old Miss (again).

Somewhere in Illinois. Not really sure just whose mailbox this is. The residence of Mr. & Mrs. Corn?

And last but not least, a yummy lunch just West of Chicago at Culver’s. Those of you who have never experienced a Culver’s hamburger have something to look forward to. Unfortunately for us, it’s a Wisconsin based chain that doesn’t exist outside the Midwest corridor, or at least as far as we can tell.

And that’s it for tonight folks. This road weary person is going to get horizontal for change. Catch you back on the flip side in New Jersey. Thank you all for taking this journey with me.

Good night.

I love wind turbines, too!  Whenever people worry about the aesthetic impact, I am baffled!  I would much rather see wind turbines that big honking power lines marching across the desert!

I hope the rest of your trip continues smoothly.  I know you will glad to be home!

We’ve got a Culver’s in FC now.  Do you think I need to try it?

We have just returned from visiting friends in Toronto where we had the best beefburger I have ever eaten - not sure the make of the burger as my brother-in-law bought them in.  Enjoy a safe journey home with the family.

Jan, yes, it’s good to be home and without incident!

Becky, lucky you! Yes, you should really try them—they are different than the other chains. They handmake all their patties and cook them fresh as you order. Some kind of special sauce too that makes them really good. I am jealous! They will never make it this far East!

Joyce, thanks we are home safely. I wonder what kind of burger your BIL brought back?