Well, I made it to Des Moines, IA, but what a long travel day it was. After close to 400 miles I arrived at the motel with the heat index being 128! OMG! It is simply oppressive outside. I was going to fill the gas tank before checking in, but decided that it has to be a little cooler tomorrow morning.
It didn’t take too long to drop Emma off at the kennel, once it opened. I was chomping at the bit to get moving this morning, so we arrived about 15 minutes before they opened. I’ve been telling her that she will spend a few days at a spa. 
After I finally got on I-80 and into Illinois, there was a construction slow down that brought traffic to a near stop. Don’t you just hate those people that ignore the merge signs for two miles in order to get a few cars ahead of everyone else? It’s one of my pet peeves. That’s what stopped the orderly move down the road.
After two hours on the road, I had barely made 50 miles. Once I got past this jam up, things moved along smoothly until the 100 mile long torrential downpour. With the wipers going at top speed, I could still only barely see the lane markers. I haven’t been driving in a downpour like that in a very long time. When the rain finally slowed down, I pulled into a rest area to have lunch inside the car.
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Along about 1:00, I finally crossed the mighty Mississippi and pulled into the Iowa Visitor’s Center. It was already way up into the 90’s by then. In the Welcome Centers in Louisiana and Mississippi they will make motel reservations for you, so I asked the Iowa woman manning the center if she would do the same for me. That’s how I ended up at the EconoLodge in Des Moines.
I can tell you that this establishment certainly has good air conditioning. As a matter of fact, I have had to dig out my sweatshirt and put it on! I’ve turned the AC down, but I’m not sure the controls are working. From one extreme to the other it seems. Good thing I packed that sweatshirt.
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
I often don't even turn the A/C on in a motel room, and I always turn it off when I go to bed.
ReplyDeleteStay warm tonight and cool on the road tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWowza that's some heat index!! Thank goodness for A/C!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about that pt peeve. I really hate when people do that. It's just stupid.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not necessarily glad you're there in that heat, but I'm glad I'm not!!! Mercy, that's just awful! As for the a/c, I guess I'd rather put on layers and extra blankets to get through the night than to have to deal with the opposite!!!
That was definitely a long day of driving. This heat is really oppressive and doesn't seem to want to go away. Keep yourself hydrated. I probably wouldn't have thought to pack a sweatshirt in this weather. Smart lady.
ReplyDeleteThat used to be a pet peeve of ours too, but now here in MN they have you do a "zipper" which means cars stay in both lanes until you get to the point where the merge is - then you take turns merging. It actually works quite well 98% of the time. Hope you have a safe trip and "try" to stay cool in this heat! Lucky Emma!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a long tough travel day. Sounds like you might need a few extra blankets tonight.
ReplyDeleteWith a heat index of 128 I bet you appreciate that A/C, even if it is freezing. Travel safe and home Emma enjoys her spa treatment!!
ReplyDeleteI would like to see how that "zipper" merge works. I have the same pet peeve you do about cars waiting until the last minute than "butting" in line. If I tried that maneuver, no one would let me merge in.
ReplyDeleteKeep warm tonight, keep cool tomorrow. And may the traffic and road work be non-existent.
California has to be the ultimate state for this kind of "elbowing" in just to get ahead of a few cars. However, the truckers here have a way to deal with this: As the traffic slows and narrows down to the one lane bottleneck area, trucks straddle the center line so no one can zip past them. Makes ME cheer!
ReplyDeleteEmjay
we call that traffic behaviour..'rat running'!!..dang it!..my pet peeve too!
ReplyDeletehope you are warm and cozy in your bed tonight and cool and comfortable in your car tomorrow!!
I normally escape the 150 miles to Iowa to get away from the St Louis heat and do some train shooting,it is usually ten degrees cooler. Not this year, I will wait until fall to see scenic Fort Madison.Have a great trip and be safe out there. Sam & Donna....
ReplyDeleteYep, know what you mean by those kinds of rude drivers. Two thumbs up for the truck drivers & I think it was Retired Rod who just did the same thing a short while ago with his Class A. Smacked everybody into line behind him. Yaaaaay for RV'ers:))
ReplyDeleteI think it is unanimous, we all get peeved at those drivers who "butt" in. I don't think hotel air conditioners work very well at all - either they won't come on or the freeze you out. However, being in Iowa right now too, I'll take the cold over the heat. You can put on more clothes but there is only so much they'll let you take off (at least publically). :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you made it safely to Des Moines. Wow, that was a lot of miles for one day.
ReplyDeleteBe safe on the road AND in the heat!
ReplyDeleteIt is called zipper merging and "nice" people are too polite to try it. Leave it to the highway dept to try something new, then not explain it--that is where the trouble comes in when everyone is expecting something different. Uff da indeed! Nerves fray in temps over 80 . . . . .
ReplyDeleteStay cool during the day, and warm at night. You are a smart cookie to bring warm clothes. I hope when you arrive at your destination the mosquitoes aren't too bad.
ReplyDeleteMinnesota has roadside signs that explain zipper merge. They tell you to stay in your lane until the real merge point, which is marked by signs saying "Merge here," then take turns. Traffic flows better because no one is merging too soon then getting irritated at those passing them making their wait longer. :)
ReplyDeleteIt used to be when I was driving I would sometimes get in the lane others were using for passing but then pace the vehicle beside me so those who would otherwise pass have to wait their turn. I stopped doing that when road rage became too common. :(
Linda Sand
I think you deserve some pampering at a spa, never mind Emma. Not the same treatment as Emma of course!
ReplyDeleteWell done you - that was a long day behind the wheel.
I always thought that leaving a lane empty was a waste and slowed traffic even more. Plus, it allowed a few to take advantage of the system. I hadn't heard of MN zipper merge. It's a great idea. Here's a video on it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcPby71TNC0
ReplyDeleteStraddling two lanes is unsafe and shouldn't be done by truck or RV. I say don't leave a lane empty and when you see a turn signal let the person merge.
Glad you made it to Des Moines safe and sound.
Maybe I need to get a bumpr sticker. Zipper Merge, Merge late and alternate!
ReplyDeleteYou never have a dull moment, what a pain, those rude "me first" drivers. You certainly did a full day on the road. You'll be glad when this trip is over!
ReplyDelete