big catch up from Del Notre, CO

I have so much to say when I'm driving all day and then we land and make dinner etc and by the time night comes I can't remember most of the ideas and don't have the energy to type out a post.

 

So we landed in Liberal, KS to visit with our friends the Stockwells for two nights.

Was really great to be able to relax and have my girls connect with their friends.

It was really helpful to "hand off" the kids to Alexandra for most of the 36 hour stay

 

It allowed me to attend to some things that needed attention:

The nose of the sleeping area over the cab had started to peel more of the skin off over the windshield

This was a lingering problem that was minor before the trip began but continually progressed in opening up until the morning we left Amarillo, TX when it opened fully from side to side

This allowed air to blow off the windshield and blow some into the area over the cab and blow dust around

As we drove the air wash from tractor trailer would flex the skin continually so I tried to move to the side as much as possible to minimize the impact

It didn't appear likely that the skin would peel all the way off but I didn't want to take any chances

Upon arrival in Liberal, KS Alexandra took me to the local hardware store so i could cipher and find some fasteners and tools

I pondered the fix overnight and implemented it in the am with help from Christopher and it was a great success

I was proud it only took me one trip to the hardware store to secure all the supplies and tools needed and only returned one tool that I didn't use

I also went up on the roof to check the rubber membrane and add some sealant as insurance

The vent on the bathroom had blown open a number of times of late so I inspected the hinge only to find that the new dome installed by the dealer was never attached on the hinge side and couldn't be attached

So I sealed the lid shut since we hadn't been able to use it the whole trip anyway

While on the roof I removed the old antennae that was just riding up there for no good reason

I figure I didn't need the little bit of extra weight or the rub on the membrane

 

With the nose somewhat open I became even more aware of the air wash of tractor trailers

The dirtiest air wash was produced by the livestock trailers that fly on  the secondary roads to and from the processing plants

The sides of the tall trailers are all slotted and open and I think contribute to the very messy air they produce

 

While shopping at the auto parts store (I'm a frequent customer and like these stores, good things there isn't one close in jay!) I bought a 12v fan for Lucy and installed it

We tried it out today to variable success

Will experiment more

 

I did all the laundry at Alexandra's

And I mean all the laundry including beach towels, bath towels, kitchen towels, napkins and all the clothes we could find along with the bed linens

Was nice to start all fresh again!

 

I never did take the nap I was thinking about

 

I did an exercise with all the kids to trace out the map of our route to date and as planned

It was an effort to reinforce for Mollie and Lucy where we had been and where we intend to go

And to share with the Stockwell kids our trip

Using the GPS is a great convenience but it removes the travelers from the big picture of the route more than I'd like

 

Today we saw lots of wildlife:

Coyote at Stockwells, Mollie spotted it

I'm pretty sure I stirred up a rattle snake off Stockwell's lawn, I didn't go back and confirm after I heard the rattle

Saw a ring neck pheasant cross the road in CO

Prairie dogs in many places today

Deer (not white tail) in CO on the plains

 

It was great to see all the Stockwells and spends time and connect again

My girls got to go to Dorothy's house (Josephine is a tour guide now)

Water park

Mexican Bling shopping

And relax and chill and take bath or paint nails

Read and relax

Was a really great time

All too short but really appreciated

 

Alexandra restocked us on raw milk and grass fed beef!

Thank you so much!

 

Due to time constraints we aren't likely to go to Seattle

We'll evaluate each future segment of the trip

Hope to be back by 7/23 for the Lake Placid Ironman

Lucy and I are working the finish line this year

 

More later…

 

Jay