Days 9-11 Going Home




Just one little glitch on the trip home; after spending the night in Laramie Wyoming Tuesday, we had to drive into Cheyenne and get the oil changed. It afforded us a nice breakfast, and a slow start to the day. Strangely enough, we stopped to sleep at all the SAME places -- Winnemucca NV, Laramie WY, Grinnelle IA -- funny.

Nevada Cows vs Nebraska Cows
Nevada cows really have to spread out to find some grass to eat amidst all the sage brush. No clumping together in one big cow mass for them. Nebraska cows like to mill around together, there's plenty of grass, so they don't really wander far apart.

Nevada and Sage Brush
Nevada is just one huge sage brush factory. It's a pity we can't use it to make alternative fuel or something. Lou suggests we grind it up and sell it to China as a rare, healing herb.

I figure the only really useful feature about Nevada is that if you wanted to conduct covert activities and/or avoid EPA inspections -- you're all set! You see signs in Nevada that speed is enforced by aerial inspection -- Duhhh! pick a road to watch, and you'll only see one or two guys a day! Besides the entire state is a speed trap.

Living Dangerously
In Coalvile, UT there is this house/farm right at the base of a huge earthen dam. How'd ya like to live there, your yard is walled of by a 30 foot earth bank and a spillway at the far end. When would it crack and flood your world? Oh probably at about 2:00 a.m. on a cold winter's night with no visible moonlight, in the rain! That would be just TOO much fun!



Final Thoughts
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your front door" quoth Bilbo Baggins.

Three to Four 10-12 hour days in a car can teach you that you can feel pain in all kinds of weird new ways.

Food on the road sucks -- just stick to salad with grilled chicken for dinner, and nuts and Lattes for breakfast/lunch.

Don't give in to the mad desire to hang out the car window, waving your arms madly and screaming incoherently.

Have an Ipod FULL of more music than you could possibly listen to.

Buy a new car just before leaving so you can listen to XM 151 -- the comedy chanel, just for a change of pace (you'll get a 30 day free trial if you're lucky -- it's not worth the $10/month)

Bring lots of stuff to do/read, even if you don't use it, just knowing it's there for you is a comfort. Hell just thinking about it is a time filler.

Bring a computer and blog the trip with photos and witicisims. Just remember -- don't blog late at night, you won't be funny and you'll leave stuff out and make spelling errors. If you send everyone you know the blog address, just keep in mind that they might start making requests -- mistaking blogging for other forms of entertainment.

NEVER look too far ahead when travelling. Enjoy the moment and remember the words of Harry Chapin "Its got to be the going, not the gettin there that's good"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What I did This Summer

Image
I feel like the kid going back to school, and the teachers says "OK class, I want a 1-page paper about what you did this Summer". I got news 'teach' one page just won't do it! Of course, you know about the great western adventure / road trip. After that experience, I had to regroup and find my true center -- FIBER. Yep -- there's nothing like the feel of wool, mohair, silk, alpaca, running through your fingers, being spun, plied, dyed. It's an addiction, a true obsession with me, and I proved it this Summer. As summer was arriving, I was putting the finishing touches on Spinning the Wool/Alpaca blend From Ramifications for Jim's sweater (Which I called Skippin Stones), while simultaneously spinning up the FreeneCreek Farm Mer ino with the Craftsman Hill Mohair which I had just finished blending, while at the same time, spinning some cormo/angora blend from Valley Mill Fibers on the drop spindle. (YES I'm NUTS) The Merino/Mohair project would not ...
Read more

THERE be Spinning Wheels!

Image
Well -- last Thursday the new Ashford Traditional wheel arrived to grace our home and keep my little Majacraft Rose company. One does need more than one spinning wheel -- especially if there are students to teach spinning to! There's hubby, helping to put together the "mother of all" (no I'm not swearing!). I put on 3 coats of Watco Danish oil on Saturday, got up at the CRACK of dawn Sunday and applied 1 coat of paste wax, and 1 coat of Howards feed and Wax. It looks LOVELY in its natural color. Once together it was time to try it out. I had a sample of Pygora fiber from a friend in Oregon. This is a goat breed with VERY soft fleece. I pulled a tad out of the bag and let it lay on the floor while I fired up the 'ole treadle on the Ashford. Everything was going well, no rubs, no clangs, the peddling was easy. This is great. Then Sushi (remember her??) made an appearance, with stealth and agility, she grabbed a wad of pygora between her teeth, I started scr...
Read more

Cottage Industry!

Image
Well, the decision has been made -- A name has been found! "TomBoy Yarns: hand spun, blended, natural fibers by Dakota Skipper" Most of the yarn will be $7.00/oz. If you leave in the Cleveland area, drop by Knitting on the Square in Chardon, and enjoy!!! I will also do custom spinning from fiber that you choose. The cost of the fiber will be deducted from the job, if you buy it yourself. The Price will vary depending on the spinability of the fiber, and how thin you need it (the thinner it is, the longer it takes!), and whether you want it plied or not.
Read more