Tuesday, May 29, 2007


Well, George and Georgia can rest for a day or so; I-35 will take us to Salina, KS, and I-70 will get us to the Colorado state line – a no-brainer.

Ooops….except for a classic mid-west dust storm. We made it as far as Goodland, Kansas, pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot, and were beset by a dust/wind storm (actually the locals called it a “Norther”), the likes of which I’ve not seen since I was in West Texas in 1967. The big shopping cart bins were blowing all over the lot, (Tom was at the door ready to fend them off) and all the 18-wheelers we were cowering next to, LEFT! We were rocking and rolling; the winds were probably 50-60 mph. Temperatures dropped about 20 degrees. Currently, I’m updating this posting to avoid the anxiety of the fierceness of this storm. So I’ll duck the flying debris and recount today’s events.

We drove a little over 500 miles. Off I-70, west, at Victoria, Kansas, we stopped to drive the 2 miles into town to the Cathedral of the Plains, a magnificent church built in 1908, by Volga Germans who arrived here in 1875, seeking refuge from the Czar, and from religious persecution. You can spot the spires of this cathedral from many miles away on the interstate.

I-70 west through Kansas is a smidgeon better than I-35 north through Oklahoma. We found out that Georgia, the female mechanical navigator, makes a “boy-oy-oying” noise when approaching gas stations, and a “ding DING dong” noise when approaching camping areas. This is great! One time we heard “boy-oy-oing ding DING dong” as we approached an exit with both gas and camping. Cool. This really helps to break the monotony of 511 miles of prairie driving.

We are here for the night. All 10 tires are still on the ground, although the storm still rages, and the skies look ominous. We are still being buffeted by about 50 knots of wind; and there’s rain, and lightning for special effects. The parking lot is almost deserted. Tom has braved the storm to go buy jam, raisins, and scissors. When we stay in a Wal-Mart lot, we like to patronize the store. Signing off.

Tripometer: 1040 (Drove 511 miles to Goodland, KS)