Two more days

Focus

While I was sad the ending of the trip would be soon last night, today my focus was 100% on getting home.  I missed my family and I’ve been on the road long enough for me.  Although I was taking a slightly different route than I have in the past, I knew the best sights were probably behind me, and even if they weren’t, home was really where I wanted to be.  I wanted to leave about 0900, but I was up and ready, and could only sit around for so long.  It was 0750 when Lucille and I hit the road.

Though I wasn’t thinking about seeing anything, I was sucked in by the scenery.  My country really is beautiful and I am so grateful that I was getting to see so much of it.

Second near miss

I’d like to think it’s because I was getting so eager to get home or because my mind was on the sights, but I can’t.  I had my second near miss of the trip today.  My first was in West Virginia with a coal truck running a stop sign.  This one happened when some jackwagon in a fat hurry decided to pass a pickup truck that was pulling a travel trailer.  The problem with this idiot was he crossed a double yellow line (forgivable sometimes), in front of me and the two cars behind me (NEVER forgivable).  And this guy was CLOSE.  I slammed on Lucille’s brakes and moved to the shoulder, driving on the wake-up bumps, hoping the car behind me wouldn’t hit me.  He also hit his brakes and went beyond the wake-up bumps into the gravel off the shoulder.  The butthead in a hurry passed me in my own lane and managed not to hit any of us.  I hope natural selection catches up to him and he manages not to take anyone else with him.

Idaho was pretty.

Wildlife

I did see a couple of pronghorn while driving through western Idaho down the U.S. 93 before hitting Interstate 80.  There were also some wild horses, but they were in Nevada.

It really is almost over.

Hotel

I keep forgetting about time changes when I leave, and I forgot about the one from Mountain time to Pacific time.  As a result, I got to the hotel really early.  Since I’d been turned down a few times when asking to check in early, I figured I’d sit outside in the shade, as it was pretty warm, about 86 degrees Fahrenheit/30 Celsius.  I grabbed some water from Lucille, took off my motorcycle jacket, and gratefully sat in the shade.   I thought I’d rehydrate some lunch as soon as I cooled off a bit.

A woman came out of the office with a bottle of water and asked me if I’d like it.  I told her I had some warm water, so I would be okay.  She offered me the bottle and told me it was cold.  Then she asked if I was okay.  I explained I had a reservation, but that I was early and didn’t want to trouble the office until check in time.  She was the manager and offered me my room on the spot, even telling me where to park so I would be able to see Lucille and have her on camera.

I continue to get so lucky on this trip!  She managed the hotel with her man and they had a million questions for me about Lucille and the trip.  I was happy to talk to them, and answered all their questions.  I parked Lucille where they told me and made lunch because I was really hungry, then walked to the gas station next door and got a soda.  This bird, which I’d never seen before, but turned out to be a yellow-headed blackbird, was at the station.

   

Yellow-headed blackbird.

The final night

I went back to the room and took a shower.  This was to be my final night on the road, and I was quite eager to get home.  In fact, after eating and showering, I almost checked out to do the final stretch!  I knew I shouldn’t be eager and should slow down and savor every minute, but this close to home on a trip I really didn’t think I’d be able to complete, my excitement was off the charts!

I’d try to sleep and do the final press tomorrow.  Only about 325 miles to go before I’m home.