Final Chapter of This "Trek," And An End-of-Trip Surprise

Saturday morning, I wake up after a peaceful night’s sleep.  Compared to 24 hours ago I’m in a great state of mind.  It’s my last day on the road, I’m well-rested and today’s route is fairly easy.  “Fairly easy” to me means 4-lane highway all the way with no significant grades once I make the climb out of the Missouri River valley heading northeast out of Sioux City.  

Brew my coffee, cook the breakfast and have a shower.  Once I’m dressed I commence with breaking camp.  As this campground has full hookups I don’t even need to make a stop at the dump station on my way out.  Once the draining, unhooking and securing are done, it’s get behind the wheel of my trusty Suburban and within a few moments I’m maneuvering my rig into the Cenex gas station, the same place where I picked up my fried chicken the night before.  Top off the tank, and away I go. 

Homestretch!!

First leg is to again head north on Interstate 29.  Once I’m on the outskirts of Sioux City I pay attention to ensure I’m in the correct lane to exit off the interstate and onto U.S. 75.  

Then begins the climb.  I’ve done this route before but never with pulling a camper that weighs a few thousand pounds.  Yet if I have any concerns or misgivings, I just remember my trek from yesterday and tell myself this is nice wide highway with plenty of room for happenstance or error.  And in only a few minutes I’m on level ground again.  Within 15 minutes I’m buzzing through the town of Hinton and once through that burg I won’t have a traffic light or stop sign again until I hit Windom, Minnesota.  

The travel gods are favoring me today as I notice the wind is present yet at my back, most ideal when one is pulling a trailer.  I’m able to go at the preferred speed of 65 and watch the towns pass by in order:  Le Mars, Sheldon, Sibley.  I pass Hawkeye Point (highest point in Iowa!) and less than five minutes after that I cross the state line into Minnesota.  

Just before Worthington I pull off into the Minnesota Welcome Center/Rest Area.  That morning coffee has made its rounds and my bladder thanks me for the relief.  I also make some small talk with a couple of other travelers then it’s back behind the wheel, with the next stop being home.  

Actually, the RV storage lot, but close enough. 

Nothing noteworthy for the remainder of the drive.  Slow down to navigate the traffic circles on the edge of Worthington then resume speed.  Windom, St. James, Madelia and Mankato all come and go and my adrenaline is really kicking in for the final 10 miles.  

In short order I’m at the storage lot.  I text Geogal I’m here and also meet the lot owner/manager.  We’ve spoken over phone but this was the first face-to-face meeting.  He says I can just go ahead and unhitch at the curb and he will use his Bobcat to move my rig to a designated space.  

Fine by me!

Geogal and Geoana arrive and help me unload from the camper.  I tell them, and the lot owner, about not having the electric jack work when I hitched up in Kansas, and Geogal says, “Yes, the switch is right here,” and puts her finger on it.  

And the electric jack hums with life!  

Notwithstanding I could have used that two days prior, I chalk it up to fate.  A few days later I’m describing this very scene to a coworker and he postulates that perhaps with sitting for so long the jack may have seized up just a bit and all the vibration from the driving loosened the gears just enough.  

No matter.  I’m glad to be home and to not have to worry about taking the rig in for service.  

So, despite one rough afternoon in Kansas, overall I can’t complain about much else this trip.  This was the first time I’ve used the Suburban to pull my camper anywhere other than to Tuttle Creek State Park (near Manhattan, only about a 15-minute drive and not going any faster than 45-50).  Nice to get an idea what this combo can (and cannot) do on the open highway.  

Trek "From" Kansas, A Much Better Day

Following up on my February post (now that was a long night’s sleep!)  While my life remains busy I decided the start of May would be a good time to create a more consistent pattern of writing. 

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When we last left our hero protagonist, he hit the hay at Westmoreland, Kansas, with many miles of driving remaining before again seeing home.  

(Switching to first person)

Friday morning, wake up, and surprisingly realize the sleep was more peaceful than I anticipated.  My mouse “guest” apparently is gone.  I suppose if my presence inside the camper didn’t shoo him away, then hitching up and feeling the sensation of moving may have convinced mousey to take a powder.  

I cook myself a leisurely breakfast and then get things situated for travel.  Since I didn’t unhitch, breaking camp didn’t take long.  Make a quick stop at the dump station then it’s onto Highway 99 and the next leg of my journey.  

While it looks straight on the map, this stretch of 99 is rather hilly, with nary a road shoulder to be had.  Normal drivers wouldn’t give it a second thought (in fact they’d appreciate the up-and-down to break the monotony of Kansas prairie) but because I’m pulling a camper I’m more attuned to challenging conditions.  Even before pulling onto the highway I decide I will be one happy guy once I see Frankfort, as this town means the end of the wrinkly section of Flint Hills.  From there onward it’s fairly straight and flat.  

Fast-forward about 20-30 minutes or so (it doesn’t take that long to drive the distance but I had to wait for a pilot car as there’s road construction occurring).  I get to the outskirts of Frankfort and yes, I am one happy guy.  Slowing down and driving through town at 20 mph is no problem!  Clear Frankfort and it’s again up to highway speed, with an unremarkable straightaway all the way to U.S. 36.  Turn right, then fight boredom while being mindful of the rig I’m pulling.  I’ve driven 36 its entire distance across Kansas (although, thankfully, not in one whole stretch) and it will never challenge California 1, Interstate 70 across the Colorado Rocky Mountains or U.S. 1 from Miami to Key West as one of America’s scenic byways.  In fact, it’s pretty frickin’ boring.  

As I have satellite radio, finding something to maintain my attention is no problem.  Finally I see the overpass for U.S. Highway 75, which I will take north into Nebraska.  I pass by Sabetha, knowing I’m counting down the miles to the state line.  

I make a mental note of the time.  At 10 minutes past 10 a.m. Central time, I cross into Nebraska.  Will I ever again enter Kansas?  Uncertain.  

I’m a little familiar with this highway, as I used it twice before on my way to Minnesota.  It’s an easy drive, even with pulling a camper.  Pass through Auburn, then tick off the miles until I’m nearly at Nebraska City.  Just south of the town proper, I make a right onto Highway 2, knowing in another couple of minutes, it’s cross the Missouri River and enter Iowa.  

Where Iowa 2 and Interstate 29 meet is a Sapp Brothers truck stop.  I decide this is a great place to both gas up and then find a not-very-heavily used section of the parking lot to pause and have some lunch.  While pulling a travel trailer doesn’t make for fast driving, it does have the advantage of using the galley to prepare lunch.  And use the dinette to consume said lunch.  While I’m eating (and relaxing), Geogal calls, needing to vent over a difficult issue at work that day.  I’m glad I had the chance to talk with her right then and not be a distracted driver.  

After a bit less than an hour, I get back behind the wheel and direct the Suburban north on 29.  Again, I’m thankful this a a stretch of mainly flat terrain with no significant grades to make my truck huff and puff.  Wake from 18-wheelers passing me has me extremely mindful of keeping control of this rig and doing the self-talk of “I’m in no hurry.”  

Going through Council Bluffs (a.k.a. the eastern edge of the Omaha metro area) is non-problematic.  It’s the middle of the day and traffic is only moderate.  (Much better than some years ago, when I picked up the camper from being serviced and had to negotiate not only Omaha rush-hour traffic but also snow falling!!)  Before very long I’m again in the country and now it’s just a matter of not missing the exit for Onawa.  

Why is that?  Because Onawa is my destination for the day.  And of course, because I’m wanting to get there and relax, it seems to take longer than heck before I see the green sign marking my desired exit.  

I’m sure that’s all a matter of perception.  Just a short hop from the freeway is On-Ur-Wa RV park, where I’m camping for the night.  Check in is super easy, especially since I had a reservation.  Seems to be run by nice folks, and the fact they just opened for the season probably didn’t hurt.  Just like last night, I didn’t unhitch the rig.  Once the water and electric are connected I decide it’s time to really relax.  I buy a frozen dairy treat from the campground office and kick back.  

Shortly thereafter, I crank up the TV antenna and do a channel scan.  Given my interest in reception (which any regular reader of this blog will know), this perhaps the most enjoyable part of the trip so far.  And I’m not disappointed.  Just using the camper’s batwing antenna, I get all of not only Sioux City’s full-power stations but also the ones from Omaha.  I will have plenty of viewing choices tonight!  

The campground is in easy walking distance of a few fast-food places, but I already have a thought for tonight’s meal that will be both fulfilling and less expensive.  On-Ur-Wa backs up to a Cenex gas station.  Which sells Chester Fried Chicken.  I walk back to the camper with just-out-of-the-fryer-warm-and-moist dark meat poultry.  Pair that with bag of salad and ranch dressing (left over from last night’s repast) and some potato salad and I am one happy camper.  (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)  For my viewing pleasure, I watch Iowa PBS channel 27.3 (the World channel), which was showing a two-hour biography of L. Frank Baum.  

So, to wrap up my second day with the camper, it sure beat the heck out of the first day!

Next post:  The homestretch!  (And I promise I won’t be so dilatory this time!)