Plainfield, Indiana... about 20 miles west of Indianapolis.
Nice drive, generally; one major tie-up on I-70 just west of here, in fact, it made me decide to stop for the night.
I started off right at 10:00, on schedule, even! And I do have a short list of stuff that I forgot... my noisemaker, for one. My nitrostat, for another. The latter might prove crucial if I have a coronary... but I'm not planning on it. And yes, I am *that* in tune with my body... although my body is *way* out of tune with the world...
I discovered that I'd never driven on I-70 east of St. Louis... new territory! I love the midwest, it seems to be such fertile land, unlike Kansas, which seems to be marginally desert.
Driving alone gives one time to think about things. Before I heard the news about the initiation of the war, I was thinking that everyone who displayed the flag should show proof that they are registered to vote, or a damned good excuse, and proof that they have voted in, say, 85% of the elections that they could have voted in.
Furthermore, anyone who utters the words, "in god we trust" should be able to prove that they have gone to church regularly for, O, say, five years.
I have a feeling that there would be a resounding silence, except for the swish of our colors being put away...
Sunshine soldiers, most all of them...
Anyway, I have had the opportunity to listen to lots of jazz, from KC to St. Louis and beyond... CDs was something else that I forgot to bring, but there have been OK stations along the way, so no problem.
I stopped just west Of St. Louis and ate at a Dennys, had pancakes and they were OK, but the syrup was excellent. Pancakes and waffles are just vehicles for syrup, anyway. A lot of people don't realize that.
After I checked in at the motel... O'wait, there's a story there... I stopped first at a Holiday Inn Express, waited in line for ten minutes, and inquired the price of a single. $79.95, plus room tax, etc. $90 for a damned room!
So I went across the street and got a king with a fridge and microwave for $45.
Anyway, after I checked in, I went back across the street and went into the Steak 'n' Shake and had a .... steak and a shake. Excellent, really hit the spot. While I was there, a whole bunch of really really fat people came in, I think that they got off of a bus coming from an overeater's anonymous meeting. Or maybe they were going to a meeting. How should I know? They were all really big.
Made me feel positively skinny, it did.
Speaking of which... many of you have seen pictures of Tyler, and have written inquiringly about how it is that I can wear his cast-off shirts.
I really don't know. Really. He liked to wear his shirts big, I guess. Or maybe he didn't like them that way, 'cause these didn't really look like they'd been worn more than once. Maybe his mother bought them for him... she thinks everyone's bigger than they are.
The plan for tomorrow... get up, eat breakfast, get the oil changed and get on the road. I should get in about 15:00, which is check-in time. That should give me time to get everything all straightened out for the week.
O'yeah, I got a room reservation for Chicago! A little expensive, and a smoking room, but what the hell... Von was unable to go, poor lady. I promised her that everyone who reads this journal will read hers, so go!
Well, I've got my shower, and I think that I'll get to sleep... it's 21:32, and it's been a long day, many miles in the saddle... well, 533, according to the trip meter.