No Two Are Alike

   A french press and coffee grounds were among the items that came into the Motel 6 with us last night.  So at check out in the morning we filled the press with hot water in the lobby and had real coffee waiting for us when we got on the road.  But first we drove over to the Village Inn for breakfast which was surprisingly good for diner chain food.  With breakfast of omelet, rye toast, hash browns, and yogurt with granola and fruit consumed, we drove over to the Prairie Museum to view one of the eight great architectural wonders in Kansas.  The hours were clearly posted on the window at the museum so it was confusing that it was actually closed.  Then I remembered it was Martin Luther King Jr. day.  Oddly we did meet two cats who had a camp just outside the door of the museum.  Water dishes contained partially frozen water and a little insulated fort was made for them with hay bales.  Eli shot some pictures of the barn and we hung out with the cats a bit before making our way back to the main drag and heading north on State Route 25.
   After a little confusion with directions it was decided that 25 north was our new road until we reached Trenton, Nebraska where we hung a left on Route 35.  Eli and I continued our hawk count by state and despite the brief time we were in Nebraska, we counted 35 hawks and American Kestrels, far out numbering every other state we'd spent half days to cross.
   Beautiful farm and ranch land spread out all around us for a thousand miles.  The road was flat at times, straight as a ruler.  Other times it would rise and fall over rolling hills and round to the right and then left around hills and other obstacles.
   We pulled into a gas station in Yuma, Colorado to refuel and get some sandwiches.  Yuma boasts to be the home of the largest cottonwood tree in U.S. history.  It was 100 years old and apparently came down in 2000.  What remains is a cross section slab propped up against the wall of a municipal building.  It was really big.  Make a nice table.
   Up ahead traffic was crawling behind a parade made up of trooper cruisers and boom trucks all accompanying a semi slowly transporting something gigantic, so gigantic the utility lines needed to be lifted until the truck and it's gigantic passenger passed beneath.  We couldn't see what the thing was except that it was huge and green.

   Back on the road after sandwiches, it wasn't long that we caught up to the line of cars waiting behind the parade of trooper cruisers, boom trucks, and the truck with the gigantic green thing.  Then we were waiting too.  Eventually the parade stopped and the line of cars were ushered on to pass.  We got to drive right beside the gigantic green thing.  It was still not revealed to us what it was.  The thing was cylindrical and hidden beneath a green tarp.  I could only imagine given the setting and the shape of the thing that perhaps it was a grain silo headed to a farm down the road.  Less than an hour later, we repeated this as we passed the second mysterious and gigantic object on the back of another truck escorted with the trooper cars and boom trucks holding the utility lines out of the way.
   Through Greely and finally onto I 25 at Loveland and moments later the snow started.  Dense snow I first mistook for fog shrouded the interstate.  It seemed like it was pouring down.  We got to our exit in Fort Collins and it was still coming down.  Down the road and a right turn, through town to the other side and then a left, another left.  Soon we were pulling over the truck on the side of the Cache La Poudre River and there was Eli's friend Sarah and her dog Nepo.  We brought a few things inside her house and then out to have some of Ft. Collin's finest beer at Odell's.  At the brewery we met up with Jeanne and her daughter Sprout. When beer was done with, we picked up the ingredients at Sarahs, and went to Jeanne's house to make dinner.   Dinner was a secret recipe for tofu burritos that originated in Bodega Bay, California.  Again we find ourselves thousands of miles away from home, hanging with some sweet peeps and having a great time. 
   It was while dinner preparation was happening that I took a look into the weather forecast for the road ahead.  What I found out was that tomorrow night the winds will pick up in Wyoming with 65 mph gusts possible.  That means we'll leave tomorrow and try to get through Wyoming.  The following day Pocatello, ID is expecting up to 36" of snow.  So our planned trajectory may be changing.  It might come down to a choice between the wind and snow.  It seems winter has finally caught up with us about where I expected to find it. 
   Pictures to follow.
   STATES:  Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado
   BIRD of the DAY:  American Kestral
   Josh's Road Name for Nebraska: Jim Jimmy Jeff Jack Johnson (Nickname: "Shorty")
   DAILY DOWNER: Cattle Stock Yards

Kansas:::

   We woke up this morning at Rick and Hilary's house in Colombia, MO.  We were caffeinated and fed before leaving with Rick for a downtown driving tour and a walk about on the MKT along the Flat Branch.  The trail is part of a state wide rails to trails system that spans Missouri from east to west.
   We wandered through dense forest with gigantic wild grape vines and sycamore trees.  It felt like spring walking in the sun, too warm for a jacket.  In fact, it smelled and sounded like spring.  Trees agreed with the sentiment pushing out leaf buds.  Cardinals, robins, mourning doves agreed.  It was very spring like. 

Hinkson Creek

   By the time we got back to Rick and Hilary's apartment it was 1pm.  We loaded up and were back on the road by 2.  Eli drove our rig back out to I 70 and westbound.  The wind was whipping us around on the road and Eli kept us upright and moving forward.  We pulled off at Oak Grove to fill the tank and switch seats.  We got back on the road and headed towards Kansas City.  I thought getting through both Kansas Cities would be tricky with dense city traffic and a winding freeway with merging traffic from all sides.  Really the traffic wasn't so bad.  The freeway was rather empty in fact.  We did manage to catch up to and pass another 16' Penske pulling a car with New York plates.
  We drove into the sunset and then beneath the stars.  The road eventually flattened out and the wind finally gave up.  I kept the needle between 70 and 75.  Not many other cars or trucks out on this stretch, central Kansas. 
   We finally reached our goal at 10:30pm Central time; Colby, "Oasis on the Plains".  I write this from room 204 at the Motel 6.  It's late and we're exhausted.  The room isn't bad.  A table with chairs, microwave and fridge.   Quiet when the heater's not trying to meet it's obligations.  Tomorrow we'll get back on the road for our last leg of I 70 to Denver.  Maybe we'll check out Kansas' largest barn first, one of Kansas' 8 architectural  wonders.  Or maybe the Prairie art and history museum.  Or maybe we'll just get a bite to eat and leave this oasis for what lies ahead.  The grass is always greener and so we hop the fence. 
   Independent RADIO: KOPN Columbia, and KKFI 90.1 fm; Kansas City area radio featuring a Native American show intermingling traditional American Indian ceremonial songs with contemporary music; Intense! 
   Birds:  Coopers Hawk

Flat Plains Driving

   I am so tired writing this.  The day started in Richmond, IN.  We made a french press of Dancing Goat coffee and drove across the street to fill the tank.  A tire looked to be low so we drove over to the truck stop.  Not until feeding the vend compressor did I realize that the compressor chuck would not reach the valve on the dually rear tires.  The woman behind the counter at the Pilot sent us over to the big rig shop behind the island of diesel pumps.   A young dude in his shop shirt and pants helped out and topped off all four tires on truck and trailer.
   Once that was done we were off, back on I70 westbound.  The terrain continued to roll for a few hours slowly leveling off until we were driving on the flattest of flat highways surrounded by empty flat fields that reached into the horizon occasionally interrupted by a clump of trees or a mound of dirt.  Eli spotted a hawk every so often and pointed it out.  Many of them were a beautiful rust color on their chest with dark wings.
   Eli got behind the wheel for the first time on the trip.  I was perfectly happy to continue driving but hadn't realized I had been depriving Eli of the experience.  She took over at teh Love's somewhere in Indiana.  We had gotten coffee and sandwiches there.
   Then it was time to drive more.  We drove through Indianapolis and then eventually St Louis with it's crazy huge silver arch.  Then more flat.  Our highway time concluded at exit 146 in Colombia, MO.  Eli had some friends from New Hampshire seacoast living there.  Rick and Hillary are really sweet and brought us in with smiles.  I had met them once briefly at an event at the BUOY Gallery in Kittery.  We drank wine and then Hillary, Eli and I walked around the area a bit talking and looking at these interesting houses.  A great dinner, conversation, hospitality.  My eyes dry, my mind fading.  Time to crash for the night.

STATES: Indiana, Missouri
BIRD of the DAY:  Ret Tailed Hawk
CROPS:  Corn and crucifixes

Friday The 13th:::

   We finally departed Deborah's Rock Farm this morning at 10:45 am after some back up lessons from Uncle Sam.  Sam led us through the maze of windy country roads to the Wawa for a fill up and then on our way on Rte. 322 towards Rte 10 that would ultimately get us to the Pennsylvania turnpike.  Taking a day off at the farm yesterday was completely worth it and we recharged our batteries with quiet tranquility, family hospitality, good food and a comfy bed.  But today was all about the quest for miles.  The roads got a little hairy south of Pittsburgh as the snow was pelting down and high winds tried to whip us out of our lane especially crossing the massive Susquehanna River outside of Harrisburg.  But we took it easy and kept focused on coloring within the lines.  Driving this massive rig requires more concentration than a regular loaded van.  Especially with wind having its way with the truck eyes have to stay on the road ahead except for occasional glimpses at the elephant ear mirrors to see who's back there.  The Ford F450 Super Duty is really an incredible platform for this truck though.  It's impressive what it can manage as we wind up and down these rolling Pennsylvania hills. 
   We drove until 10:15 when we pulled into the Bob Evan's parking lot where the Yellow Beast would rest until tomorrow morning.  Our room was cheap and one wall is painted this very strange hue of blue.  The plants are happy to be out of the truck as are we.
   WORD OF THE DAY: friggatriskaidekaphobia
   BIRD OF THE DAY:  Turkey vulture
   RADIO STATION of the DAY:  WYSO 91.3 fm; Independent radio with Rev Cool playing International psychedelic rock, ska, hip hop in the middle of Ohio.
   STATES: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana

Wake Up Surrounded By Love and Beauty

Overlooking the pond, Brandywine RIver in the background.  

  The farm is a special place in my mind that has been the scene of various moments in my life that are unforgettable.  It is a sanctuary of peace, an beautiful oasis that I am able to revisit on occasion.  A lived in museum soaked in ancient history that is utilized, lived in, comfortable.  While formal in appearance the atmosphere at the farm is welcoming and casual.  Aunt Mary Ann and Uncle Sam are extremely gracious hosts, young and flexible.  They had no contention with us pulling in at 12:30 am and even stayed up with us until small hours visiting before we all needed to collapse in bed for the night. 
   Today we watch the weather channel.  Snow is falling in the void we left behind in Maine.  More accumulating around the Great Lakes.  Forecasters on the Weather Channel are very excited to have something to report on and dramatize each snowflake and every salt truck on the road.  We have been invited to stay another night which sounds nice.  But tempered by the call of the road which we have only begun to heed.  The snow is falling West of here and appears we will encounter one of two minor fronts no matter when we depart.  All to plot now is how to hit the snow during daylight.  
  

This Is Happening:::

   Wednesday was a reminder that plans should be adaptable.  The alarm woke us up at 7:30.  We still had more cleaning and packing.  It was noon when we were finally saying goodbye to our neighbor, friend, landlady.  Eli in her truck, me in the moving van, we drove out of the driveway and down the road, leaving our secure reality behind saying goodbye to every tree, road, and house that had been the back drop of our lives for these years.
   More goodbyes around town needed to happen.  So we managed to disregard our original departure time goal and accepted that we were going to start late.  Finally at 3pm we had the pick up on the trailer, trailer hooked up to the moving van, and we rolled out.  Goodbye Kittery, goodbye Maine, goodbye Piscatiqua, farewell Portsmouth, bridges, New Hampshire.

Eli Took This Photo of the road at sunset in Connecticut, 01.11.12

   Seven states in that first day.  Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.  Rain started somewhere in New Jersey.  Into Pennsylvania it picked up with wind until we were barreling through the hose sharing the highway with semis and cautiously avoiding the texting drivers.  It was slow going into the rolling hills of the Keystone State through the inclimate weather and we eventually lost our way missing a connection.  Exhaustion and a long day of driving were wearing on Eli and I as we tried to right our tangle and find our way to Deborahs Rock Farm in West Chester, PA. Finally we arrived, driving the long way along the Brandywine to the farm.  In the doorway were my Aunt Mary Ann and Uncle Sam cheering us on.  What a relief to be there.  And the sight of the big barn, the old house, reassuring.  We were inside with beers in hand within 5 minutes.  Day one concluded.

Last Night in Kittery Point:;

    After a day of packing the truck with help from our awesome friends, we were still cleaning and packing remaining details into wherever they would fit.  Finally at 10:30pm we left the apartment to take a farewell walk down to Seapoint Beach.   The air was frigid with a wind picking up, the sky clear with leftovers from a full moon a few days before.   There were no cars on the road to the beach, and the night was so quiet that we could appreciate the whisper of wind through the pines and the rattle of a few remaining oak leaves still clinging to the trees.
   At Seapoint the sea was so calm, with the most gentle, tiny waves lapping the shore.  We sat on a driftwood tree trunk and looked out at the majesty of the place and the moment we were sharing.
   Back at the house we realized our sleeping bags were at least half way back into the packed moving truck.  I was able to hook mine with a gardening implement.  In the garage below our apartment I found an old comforter and a rag sheet that had been in the back of my van for covering precious cargo.  With these we made our bed on the floor, on the mattress, surrounded by the empty apartment where we had lived for 4 years, and Eli had lived for five years before that.