RUN FOR THE BORDER

Visiting my son Aaron in Denver was the last thing on the trip agenda, and with that now completed, we have nothing left to do except get back home. I can remember the days when I would do the Denver – Toronto drive in two days………two long days on the road………but that is not going to happen with Plan B out back. After looking at the map, I figure we have to cover just over 500 miles a day, for 3 days and we will be home………anything we can do over 500 will just reduce our drive time on the last day. So up early…….shaking off the effects of those margaritas, and we are on the road home. Jutta comments on the scenery, or lack of it, as we move into eastern Colorado……..I said just get used to it baby because it doesn’t change much for the next thousand miles………pretty boring stuff.

I have targeted Omaha, Nebraska, for our first stop on the run for the border, but realize we can probably do a lot more than that……….I call the Timberline Campground in Waukee, just west of Des Moines, that I stayed at on the way out, and they figure I can make it in a couple of hours…….they have space available……..so we push forward. It is pretty hot outside…….we reached triple digits on the thermometer! Awesome place once again……..made us feel so welcome……..I bought the T-shirt! We have a traditional Plan B meal that night……..homemade chili over baked potatoes w/sour cream and grated cheese of course………yummy little depth charge.

So with 650 miles in the bag, our next target looks like Lansing, Michigan……it is so tempting to try and make the border Day 2, because Lansing is very close, but we are not getting home tomorrow night, so better to call it a day than fall asleep at the wheel. We notice there is a huge dark cloud behind us that looks pretty ominous, but so long as we maintain good speed on the highway we seem to be able to outrun it. The wind is moving us around but Plan B hangs in just like always, and handles it pretty well. I stop for gas, and the wind is just howling outside, and this is when tie-dye hippie guy comes over to let me know there is a severe weather warning in our area, calling for high winds, thunder storms, and hail. He says he has pulled his rig (vintage Winnebago) off the road and he is going to ride out the storm right here……..”I’m just trying to save lives” he says, as he wanders over to the next gas pump to scare the shit out of the next guy in line. Jutta and I get the radar up on the phone, and it looks as though if we keep doing what we are doing, we will outrun the storm, so contrary to tie-dye hippie guy’s advice, we boot it outta there and get back on the road. All turns out well……we outrun the storm, and are back in semi blue skies in 90 minutes. The campground in Lansing is selected because it is close to the highway, and nothing else……..the gal at the desk gives me directions to our site (next door to the Clampett’s), and informs that we can go fishin’ in the pond even though we don’t have a fishin’ license, cos it’s private, and also that the washrooms on the back of the buildin’ are open 24 hours……she will rent us a fire ring if we wanna do some outside cookin’. We are up and outta here pronto in the morning

GPS tells us about 320 miles remaining on this journey, and we are happy to see signs for Canada……..crossing the border into Sarnia, and coming the back way home to Blue Mountains to drop Plan B before heading over to the cottage. Somehow I missed the turn for Duty Free, but I know there is a welcome scotch waiting for me at home.

Before leaving we guessed the trip would take a full month, and it has turned out to be just that less a day………we have seen some amazing things, played some incredible golf courses, and had great times along the way………..it is always fun for me to keep the blog going, and the best part is always reading your comments, and knowing you are out there following along. Until next time amigo’s.