30 May.

It’s here. Months of planning are over, the rig is packed, and whatever is forgotten will stay forgotten. The house is so clean that I asked Patrice if we were planning on selling it. Now the house is in the rear-view mirror, as we embarked on our 10,000 mile odyssey.

 

It was a gorgeous day for a drive, and beautiful country to drive through. The Smokies of Tennessee, the Appalachians of southern Kentucky, and the plains of southern Indiana.

As we entered Indiana, the weather started to close in, and we ran through rain on and off, but the bulk of it held off until after we parked in Columbus, Indiana.

31 May.

Another late start, but better today than yesterday. Only 90 minutes late, instead of 3 hours. A cold front came through during the night, and we left Columbus in a cold gray drizzle. Patrice drew the first shift, which gave me the stint through Gary and Chicago. I drew the short straw; 3.5 hours and 140 mile. I definitely do NOT want to come back this way.

But as we left Chicago, the sun finally broke out, and we had a beautiful afternoon drive.

Finally settled in in Oakdale, WI, in a little camp off the interstate.