Reason 8

Reason #8 for a Road Trip—Signs or Spider Pig, Spider Pig


Driving into the Florida swamp we came across this warning sign. Hmmm, we wondered, exactly what is it we are too look out for? Could be a bear, but it could be a pig. After all, we were going into swampland, pig country, not forestland. Down the road we found another sign that clarified the issue. It was the same strange animal, with a baby following. No doubt here, it was a cub not a piglet. We got a lot of conversation out of this sign

The other sign that we saw was at a rest stop in Missouri. Well, I said we, but only I saw it. Jen just saw the picture I took. When I saw this sign I took it to heart and stood there until I could not wait another minute. It is not true. You do have to use your hands!

To Infinity and Beyond

Pause in the reasons for driving while I share the reason for going at all. We were headed to Orlando to see our son and grandson. We had three great days with them. One day to Walt Disney World, one day to just play around, and one day to the Kennedy Space Center. These we would have done whether we drove, flew, or walked.
It is tough to live 2500 miles away from your only grandchild. You have to make the most of every second you have, so every visit is cram packed with activities and little time to just relax together. This time though, he said, “Hi Grandma,” as soon as he saw Jen. He is beginning to remember us from visit to visit.
He seems to be into something different every time. Last summer it was race cars. We raced cars on the floor, in the pickup bed, at the beach, at the restaurant. He had a race car with him everywhere we went. This winter it was hockey. We played hockey down the hall, we played hockey in the street, we played hockey on the mezzanine at the E Center while a real hockey game was going on. This weekend it started with a race car, but it was quickly surrendered for an airplane and then a rocket ship. After our trip through pirates of the Caribbean, we played pirates for hours. I just hope there wasn’t anyone in the room below us as our little pirate hit the floor after being shot or stabbed, over and over.
We are on our way back west now. More reasons we are glad we drove later.

Reasons 5 & 6

Reason # 5 14,000 foot Mountains.(from the bottom up)
The mountains we drove through are the same mountains we fly over. They look different from the top. There is something amazing when seeing them from an airplane window. There is something awe inspiring when seeing them from the ground. At one point, while tooling along the highway, Jen was reading aloud from our devotional book. As we were meditating on the author’s words we could see four of the 14ers and the ground sloping up to them unmarred by anything man made. The view caused both of us to regard the magnificence of creation and of the mighty God we serve. Wow!

(Picture is Mt. Massive from the 2nd Fairway of Mt. Massive Golf Course, Leadville, Colorado)

Reason #6 Stars
Reason number 6 is similar to reason number 6. When we walked to our cabin last night it was late. Well, it was late for us, around 9:30. Looking up into the sky, we could see millions, maybe billions of stars. It was a night sky invisible to us at home in the city. But in Lake City, really misnamed, it should be Lake Village, the night sky more closely resembled the sky Abraham observed. It was while looking into a starry filled sky that God promised him descendants more numerous than the stars.
We went on in the cabin. Profane person that I am, I turned ESPN on to check the day’s events. Jen found her hat and gloves and went back outside, lay back on a bench and played like an astronomer. There is something about looking into a black night sky, sprinkled with the light of the stars, to make a person think of eternity, and the eternal one.

ROADSIDE SERINDIPITIES

ROADSIDE SERINDIPITIES

Reasons 2,3,4 not to fly cross country.

2. Lunch. Look at this lunch spot and compare it to the city diner in any airport and tell me, which is the better lunch site? This isn’t even taking into consideration the homemade chicken salad sandwich vs the sterile deli bought one.

3. Golf. We have stopped twice now along the way for a stroll around a 9 hole golf course. By the time we get to the east coast and back, Jen may be a golfer.

4. Fresh peach. Need I say more? Colorado peaches are in season, there are roadside stands all along the way. I saw a vendor selling fresh apples in the Albuquerque airport once, but only once.

By the way, saving money is not a reason to not fly. My bookkeeper tells me we have already spend enough to have purchased two round trip tickets.

SMALL TOWNS

SMALL TOWNS
You have to love small towns. They have an ambiance and a pace of their own. We drove into Meeker, Colorado about 4 pm. We didn’t know whether we were going to stay there or 38 miles on down the road at Rifle. When we passed the golf course Jen suggested we play nine holes for a little exercise.

We went to the golf course; no sense turning down the opportunity, especially if Jen suggests it. It was described as the Meeker golf course and steak house. There were workers putting a stucco coat on the outside of the building. We wandered in the only open door and found ourselves in the steak house. We wandered around and found the pro shop but no Pro. We looked around, waited, tried to look conspicuous, but no one showed up.

Finally we went back into the restaurant and asked the bar tender. She said, “Oh, Jim is probably out playing. Just go ahead and play and you can pay when you finish.” We ran into Jim on the first tee. He said to play and settle up after we were through. Jim was about to play the back 9. (the back 9 and the front 9 are the same 9)

After golf we went looking for grub. The Meeker Café, located in the Meeker hotel in downtown historic Meeker was advertised in our guide book as an excellent chicken fried steak. Theodore Roosevelt is said to have stayed in the Meeker hotel. When we walked in the door, we realized that there was some kind of an event in progress. The Meeker medical community was welcoming their new doctor to town. I had a nice visit with the hospital CEO and Jen with the director of planning and development. They invited us to just get a plate and visit their buffet. It is a good thing, because the restaurant was closed, due to “a special event.”

Alas, when we found a Motel, there was someone there to take our money and assign a room. Pretty normal there.