The road west

Ted. Judy and I knew we’d get itchy feet after a few weeks back in the US so we decided to take a road trip west to visit with friends and family and, once again, marvel at how beautiful our own country truly is. 

Early Wednesday morning, May 14, we piled our stuff into Raymond, our beloved 2004 Toyota Tundra pickup truck, and hit the road. On the way to our first destination, we enjoyed one of our favorite road trip activities - eating like locals. You can’t get any more local than Gus’s Hot Dogs in Adamsville, Alabama. Based in Birmingham, they are a local legend. 

Arriving that evening in Memphis, we met up with Judy’s older brother Billy and nephew Marty for dinner at a Moroccan restaurant and I had my first couscous in a while. After lots of catchup conversation and hugs it was off to bed. 

The next morning found us back on the road and we stopped at the Sugar Shack in West Fork, Arkansas for lunch. They featured a very limited menu and were not taking credit cards that day because “It’s over 100 degrees in the shack and the machine don’t work when it’s this darned hot!” Still - the food was good. 

One of Judy’s good friends lives near Wichita, Kansas so we ended our day with a home cooked meal at Terry’s. 

In the morning, I left Judy to visit for a couple more days and drove solo to Colorado, stopping for tacos at a food truck in the town of Burlington. Again, it was cash only so I forked over my remaining $7 and was handed two tacos. 

Over the next couple days, I visited with my two sisters and their husbands and also met long time friend Rick for ribs and beer. 

Ted & Cindy (I forgot to get a photo with Kathy)

On Sunday afternoon, I drove to the Denver airport, meeting Judy who flew from Wichita. We flew together to Seattle to spend a few days with good friends Terry & Sue. One day we explored the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. 

Wednesday morning we bid farewell and flew back to Denver, where Raymond the truck waited patiently. The next morning we met for breakfast with Rick and Margot before heading east to Kansas.

Lunch was at a Mexican mom and pop in Colby with a name that translates as “Like at home” and then it was on to Topeka.

 Our wedding anniversary dinner consisted of deli sandwiches and wine in the lobby of our hotel where we chatted with the assistant manager, Jahy.

The next day was another long drive, crossing the Missouri, Mississippi and Ohio Rivers before ending up at our hotel in Ft Campbell, Kentucky where we enjoyed a Vietnamese dinner.

Our last stop was at our son Stefan’s house on the west side of Atlanta. After a fun night playing with his two boys we made the final push to Athens on Sunday, May 25. 

As we relaxed over a celebratory glass of vintage Madeira wine, we concluded that the 11 day journey was well worthwhile but also exhausting. No more expeditions are planned till we leave for Europe on July 8!