Thursday, May 27, 2010

Blowing Like Stink...

We drove about 2/3 of the way to the Tetons today. I don't mean to make this all about the weather, but the wind was out of the south at about a gazillion miles per hour. Of course, I am exaggerating... it was out of the south southwest at about a gazillion miles per hour! shocked We were traveling mostly south, then west. If I had not agreed to show up early, I would have pulled off or never started today. The truck and HH handled it fine... but we did feel passing trucks more than usual. But with the wind gusting consistently above 40, getting out of the truck was a lot of work - the wind had the door "pinned" shut. Speaking of pinned, we had to put the pin in the step today; first time we've used it. With the strong crosswind, it was actually blowing the step out!

On the bright side, much of the drive was in blowing dust/dirt. angry We are down for the night in an RV park in Riverton, WY... I plugged in, hooked up the cable, and called it good. I violated my 2/2/2 Rule, but I may try to make up for it with 2 drinks tonight. Wink

Forecast for tomorrow: less windy (20+), chance of thunderstorms (possible snow at the 9,600' elevation of the pass we have to cross), and a high of 60 degrees in the Tetons tomorrow. Never dull. Roll  Eyes

As always, Izzy took it all in stride. Once we put her in the truck and get ready to roll, we open her carrier. She divides her time between Joan's lap and her blanket on the console... and sleeps through most of the traveling.

With the wind on the nose or a quartering headwind, fuel mileage was atrocious. We were in 5th gear much of the day. Big Red likes to see 60 mph before she shifts to 6th. This was one of the rare times that wind and hills frequently kept us below 60 mph. We passed quite a few motorcyclists going the other direction... white knuckled and leaning a bunch (even on the straight stretches).

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