TO LARAMIE

NOTE: There are flaws and errors and all of those wonderfully frustrating aspects. However, I need to hit the road ASAP to make sure today's goal is accomplished, so can't putz any longer. The physical need: My neck is burning... occasionally happens on long trips, but not usually this soon.

Here goes:
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Overall, had a really good day. A couple of challenges, such as a sudden storm between Cheyenne and Laramie that swamped my car as if it was going through an intense car wash, dropped my speed from 75 [maybe 79 -- oops!] to 55 almost instantly so I could see what was around me and not risk hydroplaning. The other largest interference was that I misplaced the paper that had the name of the motel where we would be staying. It took about half an hour, with a helpful clerk at a motel where we weren't and I thought we were, my g-son Dyllon calling all the numbers the clerk gave him, and then finally me calling AAA in Cheyenne to guess which one it was from the tour book. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! It was 6 miles away at the opposite [east] side of Laramie, an exit I had failed to even consider. However, it has been a wonderful place to be. Anyhow, as soon as I called and the reservation was confirmed, my bp and brain both slowed down. Dyllon and I both were thanking and praising the Lord for doing this for us... and thanking the clerk and the AAA helper.

Dyllon and I went bowling. The first time for me in about 20-plus years. When I was in my teens and 20s I bowled fairly often, enjoyed it, and was good at it. WELL, last evening my scores were just at the 100 level for the first two games and Dyllon -- who bowls regularly -- beat my sox off. However, miraculously, I beat him in the 3rd game -- by 2 points -- when I made it to 126. Had a good time, loudly hollering, groaning, wailing... hi-5-ing over the occasional strike or well-done spare. The best part? Dyllon was impressed. [My body is struggling today -- used shoulder, arm, leg, and rear muscles that haven't had such sudden intense movement in some time.]

The best part of the day: We stopped at the Lincoln Monument/Rest area just east of Laramie. The storm had finished, so it was a nice break. When we got out of the car, a couple guys were enticing the gopher-style potato-chip-eating rodents with their bits and pieces. Dyllon became enthralled with this. So, for nearly half an hourhe sat on the sidewalk by the waste bin and tried to feed them his chips. This sometimes over-the-top energetic young man did hardly anything else; took a couple small breaks to hit the bathroom and the display area that had a couple of grizzly and black bears -- and the Lincoln statue -- but other than that, it was hanging out on the sidewalk and very quietly and gently drawing the animals to him.

Today: We drive to Blackfoot, ID, to stay with friends. Hope to take a side route from far western WY up the edge of the Rockies -- hoping for some fun scenery and maybe a small town tourism bit along the way... not so much for me, as for a chance for Dyllon to have a good time. [Oh, and b/c I won that one bowling game, he's buying ice cream today, so I'm hoping to find a gooood shop along the way.]