On The Road Again...

Wednesday 9/22/21

Packing, packing, packing!  Checklists used and revised and updated.  We are getting ready to leave for an epic trip to the wedding of our son, Dan, to Loti.  Such a great couple!  But first, we have to get there!  We are taking the trailer and driving to Montana, staying for about 10 days for the festivities, then driving into Utah to visit a National Park or 2.  Then up to Truckee to see the kids and grandkids there and see how their new home is shaping up!  So we have a trek ahead, and plenty to remember (or forget) to do!

Bob realized as soon as he woke up that he forgot to get the oil changed for the truck yesterday, so he got out early to get in the line for that. Also discovered the rear brakes needed to be replaced. Back at home, we finished up whatever was left to do.  The trailer was pretty well packed and stocked yesterday, but the pickup was the main thing for today.  We always end up arranging and rearranging what stuff goes where in the pickup bed and backseat.  That storage space is key to bringing many of the things we desire to have with us.  We have very little outside storage space in the trailer, and the inside storage space is already occupied.  So things like grill, generator, bikes, tools, etc., have to go into the truck.  We did try to improve things for this trip by sorting and boxing some of the key things.  We created a "First out, Last in" box for the basic things we need to get parked, leveled and unhooked from the trailer.  That seems to be helping.

​Finally got underway about 1PM.  Driving on I-94 west, stopped at the Freeport exit to meet Leisl to pick up the forgotten belongings from our recent sewing outing, and give her a bag of books for the little library.  Driving through Red River Valley, very flat, big fields, big combines, big dust clouds for soybean harvest.  They have semi trucks in the fields to haul the beans, a lot different than the tractprs and wagons we had 50 years ago! The road was pretty smooth and straight, so I did get a stocking cap cast on. Drove 331 miles to a county park near Jamestown.  We had thought we might be sleeping at a rest stop but the park was much better, we stayed hooked up this time. This little park was a good find.  We're worn out so early to bed.