Nineteen Hundred and Sixty-One Miles

1,961 miles is a long way to drive and we did it twice in the past 2 weeks. That is the distance from the Palm Springs area to Kenyon, Minnesota.

After assuring myself that mom was doing well and after visiting with family, we repacked the car for the return trip. Early this past Tuesday morning, we hit the road.

The snow is gone in southern MN and the roadside is that early spring drab when nothing is really growing yet. It is not the season the spotlights the beauty of the state. We took I35 to I90 and then US60 south to Sioux City, Iowa where we got on I29. The scenery was much the same as MN.

This could be Nebraska or Kansas or Oklahoma. Along The Side Roads in those states we saw green fields of winter wheat and many elevators and water towers in a distance. Trains were our traveling companions. On the way up to MN, we saw one with 11 engines spread throughout the train - wish I would have counted the number of cars; it went on forever.

I spotted this sign on a gas station in that little bit of Texas we drove through. I had to take a picture of it as "Life Is Good" is the motto of our good friend Richard - this one is for you! (I think it is actually a soda advertisement. Go figure.)

For the most part, Interstate driving was just boring with the trucks providing just the right amount of frustration to keep us awake. This congestion happened on a stretch of I40; it was the result of an accident in the east bound lane.

We did encounter some bad weather while in higher elevation. But nothing the Jeep couldn't handle.

The lower temperatures were NOT welcome; I refused to wear anything other than flip flops.

Then we started to go down and the sun peeked through and made for a scenic drive.

Then we were on The 10 and it was like walking through someones garden. I do love the yellow flowers that adore the freeways this time of year.

We reached our home in time to unpack, shower and head for Maundy Thursday services. Today, we relaxed and did some shopping for fruit and vegetables; our diets suffered on the road. There is something about eating and a car trip that just seems to go together. In total, we spent 4 nights in motels - got fleeced at a Holiday Inn Express ($116) and got a bargain at a very clean and well kept Travelodge ($49). I'm hoping it is a long long time till we have to drive long distances and stay in motels again; the motor home is a much more pleasant way to travel. Tomorrow we move our home to Yuma. We will be there four days and hope to visit the flea market, get dental work done in Mexico and meet up with our friends Bonnie and Barry for our trip to the Northwest. Till then...

May you be Blessed with

Easter Joy!

HAPPY SPRING!