In May/June of 2008, Kim and I took a vacation - Back to Wisconsin to visit with friends and family
Day 1/23 May: We had approximately 3 or 4 hours of sleep. It's hard to get a good nights sleep when you've got a big day ahead of you. We were up by 0400, packed up the Passat, and headed out onto the highway by 0530. We started driving and didn't get very far before we encountered some nasty weather. Just as we entered the North Eastern corner of Colorado, we ran into the western edge of a nasty storm front. Unfortunately, it was moving nearly as fast as we were, and it stuck with us for a large portion of our trip.
Rain - Lots of rain, and thunder, and rain, and rain. Our first gas stop was North Platte Nebraska - at $4.35 per gallon (mid grade). This is going to be an expensive trip. Later, I realize that this gas station was definitely gouging travelers. The holiday weekend, combined with a spike in gas prices led to this exorbitant price, and an unscrupulous gas station just off the highway. During our drive we encounter very little traffic. There's a lot of semi traffic, but very few holiday travelers. Unfortunately, we had one death defying encounter during our drive.
Approximately one third of our way through Nebraska, we were passing a semi in a light rain. Just as we're halfway past the truck, I saw the blinker come on! Holy crap! "He's turning! he's gonna crush us!" Kim was driving, and I was watching the truckers side-view mirror while we passed. He never checked his side mirror, just flipped on the blinker and started pulling into our lane. On this two lane highway, we didn't have anywhere to go. Kim took the Passat out of gear and slammed on the breaks. As we aimed for the shoulder, the semi trailer continued to force us off the road. Kim doesn't have any time to blow the horn, and now we're in the gravel. Hoping and praying that we don't hit that flooded median, flip the Passat or end up stuck in the mud. As the truck pulls away, Kim is able to get the Passat under control, pull back onto the road and continue driving. Excellent driving! No blow out, we didn't flip, crash, or end up mired in the flooded median. Eventually, we pass the semi - This time we're gunning it to pass in as little time as possible. I hate driving beside semis. It's not bad enough that they could crush you like a fly, can't see very well, and take up a large amount of the lane; you also have to worry that the driver might be half asleep, or simply inattentive. As we pass, I roll down my window and flip this SOB the bird. It's about the only thing we can do.
We stopped again for gas and food in Council Bluffs, Iowa. At $3.95 per gallon, the premium was cheaper than the mid grade in North Platte. Another stop in Swisher, Iowa at 1840. It's getting later and we're starting to feel some fatigue. Gas here was also $3.95 per gallon (for premium).We stopped once more in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. We're really starting to feel the drive by now. It's 2150, but we commit ourselves to a trip completion in one day. We gas up one last time; at $4.13 for premium, Wisconsin is usually more expensive than Iowa. We in De Pere, Wisconsin by 2345.
So we arrive a day earlier than planned, but it isn't really worth it. We were very tired when we arrived, and it was nearly midnight. In the future we will not attempt this 17 hour drive without stopping for the night. It doesn't really matter where we stay the night. We have to sleep eventually. A stay at a hotel will help eliminate the chance of exhaustion causing an accident. Kim and I crash by midnight, and we sleep well.
Day 2/24 May: We shower and have breakfast at the Kuchta's. After a brief chat we're off again. We're headed up to my parent's place. The traffic is very light, and we make good time. The route up to my parent's place is along the new US41/141. The GPS is occasionally confused, as the route is slightly different than the one programmed into its map database. The GPS unit eventually routes us down some county roads, some country roads, some secondary back roads. It's a great trip through the North country, and we enjoy the scenery. By 1130 we've arrived. Just in time for some lunch.
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