Driving trip to the NW

July19, 2007

WE left Gulf Breeze this morning, July 19, 2007 at 10:55 am and headed to Jackson, MS . WE used the new GPS , the Garmin and it worked well although sometimes I think it made us go backward . After passing Memphis (no Graceland visit, naturally)we stayed on I-55 to St. Louis, MO . It was around 6:40 and we were looking for a place to stay.
Don missed Exit 127B because of a big truck so we continued going and then he turned right to an unknown highway, started worrying of getting lost . I said just look for a place to stay first and worry about it later . I turned on the Garmin and it still said that we are still on I-55 . Saw Hallmarc Inn on the right, we turned in and Don went inside to get a room . When he came back out and handed me the key and receipt, I was delight to see the price, very reasonable for a double bed room . Local call are free and they provide high speed internet. The room was large and the vanity is separated from the bath room so two person can both use the sink and the bathroom when needed. It also has a refrigerator and a microwave oven. The desk clerk told us that they would have continental breakfast in the morning Later I learned that the area name is Marion, AK, just off of Memphis. We order pizza from Pizza Pro for dinner. It was very good, then I had my last piece of cake which I took along with me. At this point, D discovered that he left his Coumadin at home (blood thinner drug) . Later I heard another shriek, he thought he forgot his deodorant , I offered mine but he found it . Now we will have to look for a pharmacy to get it.
7/20/2007
Got up at 6:30 AM and around 6:46 my husband went to the lobby to see if breakfast is ready yet, it was not there so he thought they lied . At 7:00 am I went back since most motels would serve the breakfast at 7.00 . I was right! I had a doughnut and D had a cinnamon roll . I heated them up in the MW.
We left Marion at 8:15 and drove to Kansas City. The road was straight and gasoline price was low . 2.77 for unleaded and 2.99 for premium . He drove the first 160 miles then I drove. At 11:30 he said he we should eat something, although I did not need to eat anything else but agreed anyway. He wanted waffle since he saw Waffle House sign along the road. I finally found a Waffle House in Blythville and turned in . He had a pecan waffle and eggs. I had a small bowl of grit , it was very good. Don ordered two eggs straight up meaning to be sunny side up but the waitress heard as scramble. Don was so easy, he accepted it anyway. When I got out of WH, I opened my purse to get the car key and found it’s gone . I was frantic but told D nevertheless . He got worry. I searched everywhere still could not find the darn thing so I guess I left it at home. Continue to drive to Kansas City until 4:30 PM, D got tired so we were looking for a place to stay. Followed the instruction from Garmin, we turned to 435 . Traffic was heavy as it was going home traffic. Saw a sign for motel at exit 55A. Took it and it took to nowhere . We drove for a good 3 miles before we saw La Quinta and America Best. We picked out AB . What was a disappointment for the price . Got out of the car, took the key off the ignition, D was dumb founded to find another key already in his pocket. We did not remember how my key got to his pocket but I sighed with relief as it would cost at least $500.00 to have a duplicate key
The room is small, no internet connection, double bed and the vanity is inside the bathroom and so small . However, it has a good point: behind the motel there was a little forest and full of birds and wildlife. WE saw couple of deer in the evening
We went to CVS in N. Kansas City to see if we can get Coumadin. He had not gotten this medication from CVS for a long time and although they found his record in their system, they could not do anything. Luckily, before leaving the hotel, I suggested that he took his doctors’ phone numbers with him. He gave the clerk at CVS the number and they called Dr. Langhorn office. He’s gone for the day but the nurse was able to ask another Doc to fill the prescription for him.
When we left home, he took some CD with him and put at front seat, then he put them away. Later we look for the CDs in vain but could not find them. We looked all over, still no. We went to Arby for dinner and on the way back, I told D I will search the car one more time . We finally found those CDs
Tried to run the CD in the card, the CD player does not work .
7/21/2007
Got up at 6:30 again and went down stair for breakfast. All they had was just cereals and muffins. I hate muffins but ate one anyway, one cup of orange juice and one cup coffee. Saved on chocolate muffin for later. Drove all the way to Laramie, Wyoming. First we planned to stay in Cheyenne but could not find any place to stay so we drove to Laramie. Motel rates are high price here . We checked with Comfort Inn, they wanted $140 a night . Went to motel 8, 90 So we settle at Ramada In with the hope of having the internet . $85. They did have their own Ramada hotspot but it did not work with my laptop . So much for that . Had dinner at Subway .
$8.24 total with drink .
7/22/2007 Left Laramie at 8:15 and drove all the way to Bozeman, Montana through Yellowstone National Park .
Before getting into the park, we went through Jackson and Jackson Hole, Wyoming . Jackson is a big tourist trap. The city is steaming with tourists as they had all kinds of activities to entertain people. Saw some Japanese tourists there too. We drove out of Jackson, stopped to look at the Grand Teton and then proceeded to the park. The entrance fee is $25 but we did not have to pay as we had the Golden Eagle card for Senior citizen. At Yellowstone, we skipped turning into the Old Faithful, the biggest geyser in the park but along the road, we saw many small ones . They are so interesting, hot water just spew out of the ground . The road inside Yellowstone have so many turns and twists. Driving along nicely suddenly the traffic came to a halt. We had to wait for at least 30 to get through. Thought it was an accident but it turned out some tourist just stopped at the middle of the road to look at an Elk who happened to eat in the wood nearby. Such an idiotic action .
Got through Y and got to Yellowstone city . Everything is booked up. We would not care anyway since the price is out of reach .
Continued driving until Bozeman and we settle at Best Western hotel , the price was pretty high, but I did not see the bill. It has a big room with two queen beds, refrigerator and microwave. The hotel has a good size swimming pool but I did not bring a suit with me so I had to skip.
That evening we had Wendy for dinner. It was a big mistake to order a chili salad there. Too much to eat. I should have stayed with my initial decision to have milk shake and coffee.
Breakfast was not too bad. They served apples, bananas, juice and granola bars and coffee.
7/23
After having a continental breakfast we left Bozeman. Don let me drive from there until Missoula to fill gas . The road from Missoula to Idaho was treacherous to me, and I was thankful that Don drove. Too many curves downhill .
At 12:49 arrived in Sander Beach in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho . It is so sad to see the beach had been fenced off as private properties, only one small section is for public use. I remember we used to stop by this beach to swim with the kids, although I did not know how to swim those days . Left Sander beach and drove around the old house where Don lived with his first family before.
We got to Spokane around 4PM and stopped at Howard Johnson to check in . They provided us a nice room. The public computer at the lobby is not free so I used by lap top in the room. Sometimes it did not get connected then I went to the lobby to use. HJ has a nice breakfast bar with waffle iron so visitors can make their own waffle, cereal, milk, fruit, hard boiled eggs, juice and coffee . For a price of $68/night, it is a good deal . HJ also has a swimming pool so we went to Wal Mart for me to get a suit. Luckily, I got one on sales and fit me perfectly. However, they did not have one piece suit, I had to get bikini.
Don called the Roberts and later had dinner with them at Cathay Inn . Terrible Chinese food but they thought it was good so we did not say anything.
7/24
Went to Colbert to visit the Roberts’ farm. Nice piece of land about 1 acres which they bought in 1955. After that, we drove to Springdale to visit Don’s mother grave. Cleaned it up a little then left. Drove back to Spokane, went to Greenwood cemetery to see his uncle Walter’s last resting place. I miss uncle Walter, he was such a fun person to be with. Then we crossed the street to look up for his father , grand parents and uncle Wayne’s graves. We found them all in Orchid section. This cemetery is so big and well care for, the lawn is continuously mowed, looks so beautiful .
However, I feel a big sadness, thinking about all these people when they were alive and thought about someday we will be the same. After that we went up to Park Place to visit Bonnie . She just finished her lunch so we saw her in her apartment . Wow! She got very thin and forgetful. See was so frustrate for not remember people names and events. Don thinks that was sign of early Alzheimer.
Went back to the motel , I went for a swim and later we had Subway sandwiches for dinner . I had to go up to North Division to get it.
7/25/07