"Central America" - Mid-West and Great Lakes States
	Day 1:  Saturday, October 5, 2002

Before you think this is an insane amount of driving on just the first of 16 days, bear in mind that:

• We have already seen California, Nevada, and as much of Utah as we cared to so far in my short life
• We're only 6 miles into Wyoming, so it's not as though we've really driven through four states -- just three.
• I tend to refer to this as fast-tracking to the point where we actually get where we want to be... which actually starts here in Wyoming.

We were off to a late start when I suggested, as a joke, to check the weather in case it would snow on us.  When Tubby found the weather in some places was in the 30s at that hour, he packed an extra bag.  (For some reason, his logic is as long as we're warm, when we get back in academic.  But then again, he's apparently sitting on something like seven weeks of vacation time or some such silliness... then again, he has no life, so it makes sense, actually.)

Right.  At 4:24am, we pulled out.  You may be wondering how we left on a neat, round number.  I'll snitch on this one.  Last night, some brilliant balding individual drove around the block five times to get to that number.  I will admit, though, that it did help out doing the math at the end of the day.  For everything else, there's Visa Excel.  Sorry... was watching a credit card commercial as I'm writing this, between COPS segments (but it's on an hour earlier, at 7pm Mountain, 8pm Pacific; wacky).  But bonus - it ran for two hours... woohoo!

Since I've already offered the disclaimer that we fast-tracked through three states, there's not much to tell.  But that's not to say there's nothing to say.  We hit a really cool fog bank around Donner Pass in California, which we got a picture of, but it's a distant second to how cool it looked there.  Then, two minutes later, we got to drive though it (this was just before we hit the beginning of it all).  It was way cool, but we did have to drop down to 65 miles per hour at that time.

Don't worry -- we made up for it by driving 100 MPH (um, I mean, it was 100 kilometers per hour, which is a decent 60 MPH, whew), so it didn't affect our overall travel time.

Around 7:35am, we stopped in Reno for gas, and to marvel that things in Reno are apparently a LOT more expensive than they are anywhere else in the United States.  Just before 11am, we passed an accident... which is about the same place we passed an accident coming home during our Lewis & Clark Expedition in May 2002.

It seems I can't win.  Even when I'm a passenger, people stare, point, or occasionally, smile.  Very occasionally, but I think that's because they get sight of the boy, and their amusement turns to stark horror.  Or maybe it's me.  Nah... it's gotta be him.  As we got closer to Utah, we began seeing mountains with snow on them... reinforcing the theory that cold weather clothes were probably a good thing to bring.

Just before 1pm (which then became 2pm due to the time zone change), as we were crossing from Nevada to Utah at Wendover, we passed the last casino along the way.  I just opted to snap a picture because the casino looks to me more like a prison than a place to spend money.  Just my opinion, of course.  We stopped around 3:30pm (Mountian, mind you... it's only been 90n minutes since we hit the state line), grabbed snacks, and were on our way to Wyoming.

We arrived at the stopping point of Evanston, Wyoming around 4:30pm.  Given both places were good enough to post their prices, we went to the Motel 6.  We checked in and then stopped in the room and unloaded the bags, and found that they apparently aren't expecting many people, because we've got more space than usual, and a sofa that folds out to a bed.  If only I had two other friends, or alternately, the boy and I each had one.  But none are present, so let's move on.  (Oh sorry, the room is here and here).

The one gas station had to put up a sign to let you know they are closed, but a second one needs no sign.  The bowling alley was even abandoned - and that can't be a good sign... it's not as though this is a coat-and-tails, white wine sort of town.  Once we crossed into the main part of town, things were looking up.  The rodeo grounds were in excellent shape, as was the baseball diamonds.  Population is 11,500 people, and there are four diamonds that are lighted for night games, the works.  Funny park name, too.  Be careful where you park, by the by.

I'm not an expert in jewelry, but I hear a princess cut diamond ring is quite nice.  I'm curious as to what sort of cut and setting this ring would be placed within.  We also saw both cops on the same traffic stop.  (Why do I say both?  In a town of 11,500 ratios dictate about 12 patrol officers spread across all shifts.  The national standard is 1:1,000 for officer-to-population).

We found a street called City View Drive, so we went -- and hey, they weren't lying.  How many times have you been on Ocean View or Valley View, and you can't see jack squat?  Exactly.)  Pretty tree-lined streets, and it's every street we saw.  And even found that apparently, the officers take their cars home.  (The police car mid-block, on the left, had a fair number of leaves settled upon the hood and windshield.)

And, isn't River Walk in San Antonio, Texas?  If so, what's River Walk doing in Evanston?  in San Antonio, Texas?  Copyright infringement issue?  Dunno... I'm no attorney.

So, we stopped and loitered around the traditional place in any new town.  We found a few necessary items (day-glo orange cap with tie-down ear flaps, notebook, Dr. Pepper beverage for Tubby), and the clerk decided he'd like to chat.  Jason asked what we hunt; the boy apparently went into a stall, and without thinking (obviously), said possum.  Jason just stared at us... it was the same confused/frightened look that you'd get if we'd answered cute little kittens.  Apparently, possum isn't something people hunt.  Ashamed, we left.  And found at least one guy that does hunt, or makes a mess while painting near his truck.

If you've ever dreamed of owning a closed Wal-Mart store, here's your chance, right here in Evanston.  Call Wal-Mart Realty for more information.

They also have a happy name for the grocery store.  It made me smile, in a ducky sort of way.

From there, we came back to the room, and I figured I'd model the hat for you.  It's very nice.  I'm wearing it, but it's a large, and I'm no swollen-headed individual.  But visualize it on your head.  There... now isn't that better?  I thought so.  Now open your eyes, or your boss will think you've fallen asleep at your desk at 9:12am.  Which is just sad, if it were true.