Over Hill and Over Dale

Alright, no more disasters. I have sprinkled each of us with Holy Water (from the tap), christened the RV and truck with champagne (Capri Sun), warded off evil spirits with smoke and incense (air freshener) so I think we are good now.

At some point in Illinois, we stopped at a tire shop called Pattersons and a very nice young man gave up his lunch time to put new tires on the RV. Thanks so much to the boy with no name.

We stayed an uneventful night in Topeka, Kansas. Matt had been whining about Cracker Barrel for 900 miles. So he finally got his wish. And he and Aidan engaged in a very intense game of checkers. Aidan won. "I had five kings. Dad had four kings. It was a technical win. But I won." Yep, that's my competitive boy.

The next day was a lot of driving. Our goal was to make it to Colorado, but we were all starting to suffer from a serious case of "butt"ritis. So we made it to Goodland, Kansas and stayed in the Goodland KOA. It was a pleasant little place. But the real gem was the town and the people. Matt and I had to make a Walmart run and marveled at the cleanliness of the store and the politeness of all the employees. Goodland is not a very big town. It's main industry is farming and even in 95 degree heat the majority of the people were wearing jeans and long sleeves. I was ready to burst into flames just looking at them! Goodland also boasts the World's Largest van Gogh painting. Because of the abundance of wild sunflowers, Kansas adopted it as its state flower in 1903. So I'll let you guess which painting Goodland chose to erect...

Our next travel day took us into the beautiful state of Colorado. The landscape changed from the fich farmland of Indiana and Illinois to wide open dry prairies of Kansas, and then a more arid almost desert-like appearance in Colorado. But off in the very very far distance, the foothills of the Rockies jutted onto the horizon. We had met our goal. Colorado Springs.

The Comedy of Errors

Really? REEEAAALLLY? Maybe this trip is ill-fated from the start. Perhaps we should have already turned around for home. Here's the story...

8AM: We were all up and moving about in a fashion unusual for the younger half of the expedition party (that would be Matt and me for anyone confused) and actually only a few minutes from departure. Truck was started, purse was in the car, dogs were in the truck - that combination is not usually a problem, unless there is not a human in the vehicle with the dogs, so... doors got locked by dogs. Yep. Locked out by two white furballs who had no idea why we all kept tap tap tapping on the window right above the door locks!!

8:30AM: Call placed to locksmith -- Nope too busy to help.

8:35AM: Call placed to 1-800-"foreign-voice-assuring-help-within-20-minutes"

9:15AM: Call back to 1-800-"you-promised-20-minutes-45-minutes-ago"

9:16AM: Tara vehemently pushes off button on iPhone because "foreign-voice-who-promised-20-minutes-was-a-liar-and-didn't-call-back-to-say-that-their-'service'-could-not-find-an-available-service-person-in-the-area" LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!!!

9:25AM: Call placed to On Star. But alas, it is not activated so they are unable to help. If we could just get in and hit the blue button... If I could get in then I wouldn't be needing On Star right now would I ?

9:30AM Transferred to GM Roadside assistance. Tara has melt down and poor lady on the phone frantically tries to calm the desperate and sobbing girl on the other end of the line.

9:35AM: Transferred to Joe. Help is on the way for a flat fee of $107.

9:40AM: Call placed to Bond County Sheriff Department. Deputy is in court but should be out shortly. Supposed to call back when he is available.

10:05AM: "Knight in shining white pickup truck" arrives from Sheriff Department and has door open in about 30 seconds. For free. The deputy wouldn't even accept a cold soda for his troubles.

10:08AM: Call placed to cancel $107 assistance. Sure hope my credit card isn't charged.

10:12AM: On Star subscription activated.

10:20AM: On the road...Finally.