Back Home from the October Thanksgiving Trip

That was a great trip, the adventure lasted one week and I covered 2200 miles in the journey.

I really enjoyed every minute of the adventure, I met some very interesting people on the journey. I will be adding more to the journal along with more pictures over the next week or so, I posted a lot stuff as it was taking place but I would like to update the text and some of the details of the events on the trip.

I got back at 3pm today it was a very long day of travel.

Sunrise in the mountains

 

I had to pull over about 5am there was way to much fog on the highway all of a sudden I found a good rest sop and I fell asleep in my car for a few hours there were a lot of other people that had the same idea that I had, the cars around me were still there hours later when I woke up to this picture that is the sun above the mountains

I am back on the road again headed down the highway still about five hours left to drive today. I had to stop and do some work this morning from a Mc Donalds glad they have those work places setup all over the place for me to work from.

 

Heavy Fog and Rest Stop Sleep Over

Really Heavy Fog at Rest Stop in the mountains

I am in a huge fog bank I found a rest stop I am going to stay at until this burns of, I pulled in with a bunch of other cars in the rest stop, and they were still there hours later, I used my jacket as a blanket and my cap to block my eyes, I slept really great for about 4 hours waiting for the sun to come up and burn off the fog.

Fuel stop

I went to bed early in St Louis, about 7pm and I woke up about 2am and decided that I was not going to be able to sleep anymore that night so I decided to pack up and head out about 3am I made the drive through St Louis which is normally really busy, but at 3am the roads are totally empty.

This was my first stop after I had cleared the city down the highway a bit.

 

Kind of a gross picture that is not snow it is bugs on the window.. 

The place was pretty dead I was the only car at the store.

Early Morning in St Louis

Well it is 2:30 am and I am wide awake I went to bed really early last night so I am thinking of getting the day started and I think I will get back on the road again. I am 8 hours from home with no stops but I of course will be stopping for food and gas along the way. 

I really do not think I could go back to sleep at this point so I am going to take advantage of my rest and head on down the road.

Super loud air conditioner

Well I have a super loud air conditioning unit in my room,  it only comes on every few hours but still,  trying to decide if it is worth trying to change rooms

One thing for sure I will never forget the night I stayed in St Louis

St Louis

I am ready to be home I think, I need to get some sleep, its early but I will be able to get up early in the morning and hit the road, I have a seven hour drive or so and I will be home again, I am looking forward to getting home it will be good.

I did have a great adventure the last week. 

And hey I have Thanksgiving done for this year, can't beat that.

I can see the arch from my room window downtown, as I remember I will be driving right by it tomorrow when I am heading through downtown, tomorrow will be a long drive I do remember the drive from years ago. 

Snack stop

Supper time

I am going to have a burger for dinner tonight

Springfield

Fuel stop

Time for a fuel fill up packed station

Pit stop

Short  pit stop and coffee purchase

Headed to St Louis

I just left Steve's house and was about to get on the highway I stopped at the gas station to get a fill up and this sign was off to the side and I thought I would take picture of it instead of the gas station.

After I left there I got on the highway and headed to St Louis.

Planning the Trip Home

Working on my trip home going to stop in St Louis for the night I am thinking that will be about half way and will be an easy two day drive to get home without any issues.

Going to stay an extra day here so I can go with Steve to his class on Monday, I will be able to get my support calls I get on Monday out of the way with a computer in front of me, instead of trying to find a place to pull over to handle them.

Then on Tuesday morning I will head on down the road and head south first stop St Louis for the night

October Thanksgiving Dinner Party

Dinner was really great today we had two ducks and some great cheese and wine, I got to meet Vicki my cousin and Laura my second cousin and her husband Paul. Also met some friends of theirs that came by the house to say hi.

I was a really nice day I enjoyed it.

Steve putting Ducks going into the oven

Outdoor oven on porch

Ducks coming out of the oven 

Cousin Vicki and myself 

One of several types of wine we tried today 

Dinner Crowd

Dinner is served

Desert

Sunrise

Sunrise going down the highway

Steve Saunders. Blacksmith Shop

Steve's Blacksmith Shop

The Stand Alone Forge

Polishing Station

Exhaust and table top forge

Power Hammer 

Closer shot of table top forge

Anvil

Supper Club

Supper club prime rib,  with dirty martini
Look over the lake really great food and great company I really enjoyed the meal

Have dinner with Steve and his wife

Tasty Prime Rib and potato

Rest stop

Well I am making great time today less than an hour from where I am going

Super America

I am at Super America,  get super gas for my super car  hehe

Friday

Sun Finally Coming Up

Friday

I am up early this morning I am not sure when I am going to get on the road I guess I could head out just about anytime I have a five hour drive today that means about six hours maybe more with stops headed easy this time,  guess I will be driving into the sun this morning not looking forward to that part.

I will be at my cousins Steve place later today

View out my apartment window

View out the arch walkway window from the apartment right before sunrise

Mall Of America Trip with Dennis

Roller Coaster one of several 

Dennis checking out the view of the mall 

The place is really big I have people in the shot to show the size

Many different kinds of rides

Mall of America

Morning

Good morning I'm looking out my River window in my apartment about to get ready to go eat breakfast and start my day we are going to Mall of America today which is supposed to be one of the largest mall in America it has a roller coaster in it from what I understand

Morning in car

Well I'm in the car waiting for the windows to defrost so I can see outside its cold 33 degrees just above freezing by 1 degree the ice in my ice chest has not melted no surprise there all I have to do now is just get on the road