6-29-2025 INTRO TO THE SUMMER TRIP

 

6-29-2025 INTRODUCTION TO THE SUMMER TRIP

Hi family and friends.  It’s that time of year, again!  105F in the shade here in the desert.  Time to get out of Dodge.

 

This won’t be a big cross-country extravaganza like last year.  We’ve decided to keep it more, “local,” if you will, and take a loop around the western states.  Our route takes us through northern Nevada to Idaho, west to Oregon, north to Washington, back down through Oregon and California (just a touch in California) and then on to the homestead at 1640.  If all goes well, the loop will last exactly 8 weeks, God-willing and the Creek don’t rise.

 

(And in case you wonder about that expression, it is attributed to a fellow named Benjamin Hawkins, a politician and Indian agent.  In the late 1800s, when he was battling with the Creek Indians (also known as the Muscogee tribe), he was summoned to Washington by the President.  He replied that he would be on his way, “God-willing and the Creek don’t rise,” that is rise up and attack.  And you thought the Creek was a body of water.  Surprise!)

 

We’re all packed up and on our way to our first stop:  Ely, Nevada.  This is the most aggressive leg of the trip, 340 miles.  In an unprecedented, miraculous move, we drove out the driveway of 1640 at 9:58AM!  An all-time record.  We’ll share the driving load so it won’t hurt too much and it will situate us well for our next few stops which includes sitting in a lawn chair at the 4^th of July parade, always one of our goals.  Rob took the first shift behind the wheel and I’m glad because the freeway through Vegas is a hateful experience, even in a car, let alone a 53 foot-long billboard.  And speaking of the Vegas freeways and people who drive like lunatics, a car in the farthest left lane decided, “Oh shit, that’s my exit!”  He zoomed over to the right across 5 lanes and before our eyes, launched over the rock berm and landed on another car that was already on the exit ramp.  He missed Noobee by about 100 feet.  Ugh…. I’ll take over on the country roads.

 

Six hours and forty-five minutes later, we are parked, hooked up and sitting in the shade with a cold martini, thanks to Toonie Boy.  It is a balmy 80F.  Lovely.  Much more to come, my friends.