We're Packed and On The Road

Well yesterday two guys showed up with a big truck at 9AM. They worked their fannies off until 8:30PM, we couldn't believe it.  The truck was stuffed full and we were all exhausted.  We had visits from friends wishing us well and bringing us Road Trip Booze (which I'm partaking in right now, Barrie).   Bill kept the piano from taking a dive off of the ramp which was a good thing.  So the truck is pulling out onto our road and of course it isn't a normal road!  They cut it too tight (probably so they wouldn't fall into the ditch) and hit the side of the truck on the telephone pole and actually get the truck stuck!  At that time Bill & I were standing, watching the angle of the truck thinking "it's not going to make it".  We were standing with car doors open ready to go to Joe & Robyn's who had patiently been waiting to have dinner with us.  I had visions of other HUGE tow trucks, cranes, all kinds of stuff to "unstick" the moving truck.  Somehow, the got it backed up - scraped it a couple more times and got on down the road.  I could have cried I was so happy. 

We had a great meal with great friends, drank all of their wine, and had Erin drive us home.  Unfortunately it was 1AM and we had to get up at 6, yikes. 

We managed to get up and with some serious pushing from Bill, all of our crap ended up in our two vehicles, dogs and all, and we were on the road.  I thought I would have a gut wrenching horrible departure from my home.  I guess I have processed all of those feelings because I left with a very happy heart, thanked the house for the good times, and locked the door.

I haven't traveled with dogs since our youth when our parents showed Bullmastiffs and we, of course, came along and thought all families did this.  Sophie our Rottie and Zeke our Border Collie mix are having a grand time.  Rest stops are the bomb and they couldn't be happier.  They are spending their first night in a hotel room and are being very polite.  I was worried that they would bark all night but they seem to be happy as long as no one knocks on doors.

We drove through Wyoming today, yawn, and it was the norm.  Windy, boring, flat.  Of course there are beautiful clouds in Wyoming all of the time.  Erin & I enjoyed that view.  We almost died when a semi didn't see us and pulled into us - luckily that youngin' has quick reflexes!

Of course this wouldn't be a road trip of any magnitude if we didn't have some kind of car trouble, right?  Erin is driving the Sports Trac and when she was accelerating the engine would start racing and we couldn't accelerate at all.  So we switched vehicles with Bill.  We managed to make it to Golden, CO and have an early appointment with Ford.  Holy crap, let's hope it's fast and cheap but what are the odds of that?

So we got to go to dinner with Alex & Erin at Bono's Italian Restaurant which is always fantastic.  Bill & are are convinced that the best Italian restaurants are in strip centers.  Very friendly people with great food and the owner is from Sicily and was a second cousin of Sonny.

Erin is spending the night at the dorm with Alex (Colorado School of Mines) and Bill is already snoozing.

On to Kansas City tomorrow.  If you think Wyoming is bad you've never driven across Kansas.  Our stop to Alex's school saved us from Nebraska! So wish us luck tomorrow with the truck and I'll let you know what happens next~