1 bus to Minneapolis MN

... spending the night at Grand Island NE

(From yesterday)

We saw our first elk in the wild. They were feeding in a field just west of Whamsutter. A dozen or more. When I first let BB know, she was looking in the ditch for a carcass. Nope, these were still alive.

We also saw a few transporters, including two city buses, likely from NY. But no markings on them to say where they were going.

At the end of the day, BB washed clothes when we got to the hotel. We bring with two weeks of clothes, then this time we had an extra weeks when we stopped in IA between trips, but that still was not enough.

(From today)

We are out to start the bus before breakfast. Breakfast was eggs and bacon ... they also had sausage, french toast and pancakes. Today we were a little faster eating, I was. BB had already eaten the leftover pizza from last night so she didn't grab any breakfast.

We pulled out at 7 AM local, we were about 20 miles down the road when we first saw the sun ... right in the eyes, coming around the corner as a semi was passing me and the thir lane I was in was ending.

Forecast and signs said 55+ winds at only one weather station. Speed limit was down to 55 mph in a couple of places with snow blowing across the road. The only place that looked slick was right at the top of one of the passes for a 100 feet or so.

BB was watching the weather as we drove and also the traffic camera's. When we went past the weather station the last gust had been 46 mph. And it was a tail wind gust so no issue driving. BB thought she may have caught us on a traffic cam but it was hard to see. All the camera's on our side of the highway were looking into the sun so she could only see the ones in the oncoming lanes.

1st stop was 90 miles down the road at the Sinclair in Laramie for DEF. Only one truck at the pumps so I can drive in backwards. Here I can pay at the pump so no need to go inside at all. This time I felt the hose 'buzz' but the pump didn't stop. I ran a little on the ground, but it was full. All the way full.

2nd stop was the TA in Burns. By now there was almost no snow so no slipping and sliding. Thinking about it, yesterday's parking lot was like the ice humps that form under an icicles. Today I was watching my filling even closer but this time it only took 31 gallons. I had gotten 10 mpg instead of yesterdays 8 mpg. I did remember to stick the tank before fueling so I'm pretty sure where I need to be at deliver.

3rd stop was the Runza in Sidney. We had been staying away from them for a while, but we like to eat something different once in a while and we seem to have found things we like. I ordered an 'Itanlian.' But won't again. Last time the Philly was good but that was last month. Next time I will likely try a burger.

Today was Sunday and I noticed that out of 10 tables, there was only one table that only had one family. All the other tables had 3+ adults. It is more often 1-2 people at a table.

4th stop is at a rest area near Brady.

We only have enough daylight hours to get to Grand Island, which is about halfway home.

5th stop is the Bosselman's in Grand Island. Or close. The Arbey's is in the parking lot, not in the travel center. This time I order the monthly special, the burger.

Sitting near the Arbey's on the road bank is a man. Sitting flat on the ground, it is at or below freezing. Sitting there when we got there and when we left.

6th and final stop is the Quality Inn in Grand Island. We are paying $1 less here for two people than the Motel 6 is charging for one person. And tomorrow AM we will get two full breakfasts.

We did see lots of random transporters but no large groups of any. And none of our RV's as they would all be wrapped by now.

This AM it looked like we were meeting about 10 trucks for every one car. Later in the AM I tried counting and never got more than 9 trucks before seeing a car. But it could be that more people were up by that time on a Sunday AM.

Tomorrow will be another full day. Price may decide where we stay. Likely either Albert Lea or Owatonna.