Getting there is 1/20th the fun! - 3/28/2010
I don't know that it's actually 1/20th the fun, but it's certainly not 1/2 the fun. Driving 930 miles straight down the middle of the country is definitely interesting, that's for sure. This is our 5th trip to Bennett's Ski School, but the 4th time I've driven. I've done the drive in 3 different cars and I don't think that we've stopped at the same town twice during any of these trips. Each trip has been crafted with a different driving strategy based on weather, work, and the kid.
Let's start with the scenery and topography of the drive: a mix of about 50/50 flat farmland and moderately hilly woodlands. The drive is basically comprised of Illinois and Mississippi, with relative cameos from Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Louisiana. As much as I love Illinois, we have to have one of the most boring states to drive through, lengthwise, in the union. The terrain is generally flat and dominated by an endless parade of farms and fields. Put it this way: the car did not have to downshift out of OD until about 530 miles south of Chicago. I've done this drive 3 other times and I still nearly wept when the tachometer hit 3K as the cruise control prompted the 5spd automatic to kick down to 4th gear. Mississippi is definitely more scenic, and quite frankly I-55 seems to be a much smoother road than I-57. The asphalt has an orangeish hue to it as well, which tells you that you are definitely not anywhere near Chicago.
Stopping at weird and unfamiliar gas stations is certainly an interesting aspect of the drive. Everybody unfolds out of the car, strutting and stretching around as if we were desperately trying out for the part of the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. I will say that we stopped at the weirdest gas station ever yesterday. It is, literally, a gas station in Arkansas with a full Indian restaurant in it. I've officially seen it all. I won't tell you where it is because I don't want to spoil the surprise. Really.
Being trapped in a tin can for 15 hours straight also makes for interesting intra-familial situations/tests. During one stop, I emerged from the gas station shop to see Beth attempting to open the rear hatch of the 4Runner. I practically saw the whole thing unfold in slow-mo: "Noooooooooooooo, don't open the haaaaaaaaaaatch!!!!" Keep in mind that I packed the truck such that if there were a crank on the side of the thing it would be the worlds largest jack-in-the-box. Luggage exploded from the hindquarters of the truck, including, of course, a nice bottle of Chardonnay, which met with the pavement in a particularly spectacular explosion of glass and spirits. Not exactly a mood-enhancing event for either party. Didn't have a chance to tell her to roll the rear window down in order to access anything in the back of the truck.
Let me also mention the Hampton Inn. This is one corporation that really has their shit together. I'm not kidding. Every Hampton Inn (or, affectionately, "Hambone") that I stay in is well run, clean, new, and spectacular. It's really refreshing to see a corporation these days do such a great job fulfilling the core principles of their business. Breakfast every morning. Great beds and pillows. Great bathrooms. Great linens and towels. Great and modern marketing (although they are a little heavy on the whole "all lower case" typography technique IMO). I just get the feeling that they want to do a great job, and that is why I always look forward to seeing that blue sign on the highway. They will always get my buisiness for short-term residency until I feel otherwise.
So, we're here. Apparently there are about 20 students this week so it's pretty full. We are the only Americans in the bunch. Nationality aside, I'm fairly certain that nobody here knows about this site. Which is fine. I suppose I could come up with a secret handshake or call sign to see who's heard of the site— like, if you've heard of the site, draw one half of a slalom ski in the sand, and I'll complete the other half. Or, speak to me in Latin on the dock. Of course, since I don't know Latin I'll respond by knocking "a shave-and-a-hair-cut" on the nearest post. Something like that.
Tomorrow, we ski. Stay tuned.
Comments:
h2oski1326, 3/29/2010: Reading your driving stories is a riot. Getting ready for the wedding we made the drive three times in six months. Mississippi and Illinois never got any shorter on any of the trips.I think you have an extra 150 miles or so in Illinois to deal with too.
It is funny you should mention strange gas stations. There have been a couple of memorable ones on our trips too. Like the one right off the interstate with no other civilization in sight. It had bars on the windows and posters of strippers holding 40's of Double Cobra all over the outside.
We were taught a new word the last time we were there. It is used in the same context as we might use the word 'redneck', in adjective form. http://tinyurl.com/yffp78x
blackdog, 3/29/2010: I can hear "Holiday Road" playing as I read this.
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