Day 3-5/13/08

Gas Price Index: Leramie, WY $3.69

Written on May 14, 2008 

Waking from our slumbers at the Cheyenne, Wyoming Little America we set off for Aunt Brook’s house in York, NE. Our schedule did not allow much in the way of side trips; however, mom saw a Pony Express Museum. Museums from this time period have a strange allure, and space was made in our busy itinerary.  Crossing the Nebraska border was uneventful, as usual.

On the way to this destination we encountered an interesting phenomenon, a mandatory weigh station. The sign instructed all trucks, trailers, and pickups with trailers to exit for weighing. Strict penalties were threatened to any who would dare by-pass said weigh station, and we were in no position to invoke the wrath of the Nebraska Highway Patrol, who had lines of shimmering patrol cars simply waiting to catch freeway miscreants.

In spite of the fact that we were still unsure as to our need to go through the weigh station, we followed the semi-trucks to the scale. There were no people to ask, only a rather impersonal signal light, blinking green, and red, green and red. The window into the booth was tinted, but we could imagine the powers in charge laughing at the ignorant Californians going through their weigh station which was only meant for trucks.  Still, having them laugh at us was better than risking long jail terms. There are a few people in Illinois, and New Mexico that would be disappointed if our trip was cut short by lawlessness.

 Leaving the weigh station, we realized we had gotten no pictures, and were jokingly discussing going back to the last exit and doing it again. Right at that moment, we received a phone call from the Davis family. They had lost their transmission. Yes, bad. Very, very, very bad. While my dad and Mrs. Davis waited for the tow truck, the rest of us went to an old National Cemetery, and looked at tombstones. I know, that is a strange past time, but one the Hector family enjoys.

We left the cemetery, and went to a North Platte transmission shop to meet up with the tow truck. Diagnosis, dead transmission. I am not a car person, and cannot be more detailed than that, ask Thomas. All I know is that it had to be repaired. So, we loaded everybody into our RV, and drove to Aunt Brook and Uncle Mark’s house in York, NE. Dinner was Taco Bell, Thomas’ favorite. We arrived in York late, ate brownies, and went to bed.

Life was hard. But dessert makes the world a better place!!!!