Mike Washburn

We’ll I made it, 3,197 miles. Kingsbay, GA to Port Orchard, WA. Left around noon on Oct 2nd and arrived a little after noon on Oct 7th.

Damn that was fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was kinda funny, considering that I’ve been commenting on all the construction, then from the time I got off I90 to just before Chrissie’s house – it was nothing BUT construction. Somebody up there just really loves to mess with me!

Coming back, the only exciting thing was – and I kid you not – our flight was kept on the ground for almost an hour after we boarded because (according to a conversation overheard between the flight attendants) our captain could not find his way from his hotel to the airport. He bloody go lost navigating a few city blocks, and we’re suppose to trust him to find his way from SeaTac to St Louis?!?!?!?!

We’ll he did show up, and did find his way to St Louis, and I made it home safe and sound. Did I learn anything from this journey? Nope. Not a blessed thing. But I did have fun.

Sorry for the delay in getting this last entry written/posted. I’ve spend the last several days recovering from the trip, and getting back into the swing of work.

Thanks for reading, I hope you all enjoyed this, cya.

This morning coming across the mountains a Bald Eagle took off from the side of the road right in front of me, and started flying at about windshield height and then zoomed up about 10 feet in front of me. I swear it had a wing span a wide as the car. If it hadn’t… I’m not sure which, the car or the eagle would have regretted it the most.

Well I’m in Ritzville, WA tonight. I could have made it to Port Orchard, but I wouldn’t have made it there until 8ish and I didn’t relish trying to find their new house in the dark. It’s about 200-odd miles from here to there, so I should make it by sometime around noon tomorrow.

The scenery was beautiful today. Very nice driving. Diving across South Dakota and Montana traffic along the interstate was very light, there were stretches where I didn’t see another car heading west for over 10 minutes. It’s picked back up to “normal” interstate traffic since I passed Spokane.

Well, tomorrow I’ll be done with this drive. I’ll try to think of something pithy for my post tomorrow.

Tonight I wound up in Livingston Montana. Actually have wireless here!! And cell phone reception – so long as I’m on the second floor of the hotel.

This morning I ran into the trailing end of the storm that dumped a lot of snow up here yesterday/last night. Didn’t really snow much this morning, but the wind was blowing bad. There were some places where drifts were starting across the road. On that topic, and for those who have never driven up north, at every town I passed there was a sign “When lights flashing I90 is closed ahead. Exit here”. There’s part of me that just, has trouble accepting that a major interstate is closed often enough that they need these signs.

This morning I took a actual stop for touristy reasons. I stopped in Deadwood. It’s a town of about 10 hotels and 20 gift shops – and every single one of them had slots. Even the diners I saw had slot machines inside. Most of the hotels had about 50-80 slot machines and 3-4 card tables. I spent about an hour wandering through the down town looking around. I didn’t make it to the “historic” stops because of the weather and time, but it was still kinda cool.

Anyway, it’s 10 pm MST and I think part of me is still on eastern time so that’s all for tonight. Later all.

Ok, I’m 1800+ miles into my trip and have stopped at Wall South Dakota for the evening. No internet access in the room (although plugged into the lobby I’m getting a strong wireless signal that might be coming from another motel, I’ll have to check that out later), and no cell phone signal. I’m making good time, I should make it to Port Orchard sometime on Friday. They’re still calling for snow to the west, but listening to the weather on the radio today, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. I’m going to watch the local weather in a little while and see what they say. It was drizzling all the way across SD today, temp somewhere in the 40’s. (don’t worry Chrissie, I’ve put your plants in my hotel room so they won’t freeze tonight )

Just an observation: I’ve gone through 10-12 construction zones since I started this trip, and all except for 1 have had the left lane closed. Is this national left lane maintenance month????

Believe it or not, I’m having fun. The days are long, my ankle is killing me (mutter mutter cruise control mutter) and my butt is asleep half the day, but I’m enjoying it. Also, as amazing as this is, I’m also missing every one at home.

I’m running a bit ahead of my initial plan/itinerary, I might make it to Butte Montana tomorrow, depending of course on the weather.

Til next time, same Mike time, same Mike station.

I’m tired. I made it to Higginsville tonight. Crashing at my good friends Dr. P’s house. Not having cruise control sucks.

I did make it by my house for a brief stop. Dumped off my dirty laundry , picked up some more soda, and added a few more books onto my ipod. (I’ve burned through two since I’ve started.)

The weather people are predicting snow up along I90 where I’m scheduled to go. I checked the National Weather Service reports, and I think it’ll be ok. My other option is taking I80, where I had problems crossing the Sierra Nevada’s in my last trip west.

After checking the NWS, I think I’m going to stick with the original plan. I’ll let you all know how wise this decision is later.

Well, Yesterday we worked more on packing and got the majority of it done. Then we took off and hoped across the boarder into Florida to Fernandian beach on Amelia Island. Twas nice and windy on the beach. The water was very warm and felt very good. (ya hate me yet? )

On Amelia we went to a old down town area and did some tourist type shopping. There was this absolutely amazing bookstore – not the largest selection, but a damn good one. I *cough* also found a fudge shop that had these white chocolate covered oreo cookies… words can not describe them.

Anyway, the movers arrived this morning and started loading everything up. While they were loading the big stuff, we started loading the car. Rowan, My cousins little boy, was more upset to see the car being loaded without him in it then in the prospect of me leaving. Memo to self: start bribing him with chocolate sooner next time.

I left Kingsland around noonish and started driving. I made it to just past Chattanooga before I felt compelled to find a place to stop for the night. Roughly speaking about 500 miles today. Tomorrow should see me stopping somewhere close to home in Missouri.

Gotta go now, I found a hotel with HBO and the new episode of Rome is about to come on. later all.