Thoughts From the Road

The trip started out really quiet.  Like almost no traffic until the midwest.  I saw lots of cows, horses and sheep.  I saw one goat and one antelope.  

Heading east I had my grandson with me.  He is the best travelling companion.  Every gas station that boy got out and washed the windshield.  He takes his time and does a fabulous job.  Me, on the way back, just did enough to get most of the bug guts off the window. I missed him on the way back.

Outside of the PNW the price of gas was much lower.  I never paid more than $3.45 a gallon.  Even paid under $3 in South Dakota.  Best gas was Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota.  I don't know how my car knows when it is bad gas before we drive but it sure knows upon start up.  At home a fill gives me just over 300 miles for the tank.  Good gas in the midwest gave me over 350 and bad gas gave 260.  

I took the youngest granddaughter to Chicago for her trip.  She said the best part was the zoo.  Lincoln Zoo and it is free.  We spent three hours there.  We also went up the Willis Tower.  She liked it but the ledge kind of scared her.  She is afraid of heights, but she still got in it and looked out. I'm not sure she looked down, but I did. We also attended the color factory and ate one night at the Navy Pier.  Tried to find a fountain to play in without success.  The one I knew about was shut off for the day due to an event in that park.  Oy.  We walked a lot and had a good time.

All of my grandchildren are maturing and becoming more self-sufficient.  I was mostly amazed at what they asked for.  The oldest wanted socks, toothbrush, toothpaste and a new brush.  The second wanted body wash, deodorant and socks.  The third didn't ask for anything specific, but she got to go to Chicago and got socks.  The youngest wanted shirts and got socks.  And of course, they all wanted snacks.  

On the drive back I stopped at the aunt and uncles.  They are doing okay.  Sugar came right over to me and stood up and put his front paws on the table.  He is such a big boy, and he seems to remember me from previous trips. Spent the first night in Minnesota with my cousin.  Day two showed me a whole bunch of buffalo in North Dakota.  I look for them every time I drive by and have only caught a glimpse of a few.  Saw a whole bunch this time.  

There was more traffic going home.  Maybe school was getting out in more places so more people were finally travelling.  It was a nice trip and now back to my regularly scheduled life.