Road Trip!

 

"Aren't you in the middle of a road trip to get back home?" you ask.

Yes, thanks for asking.  Today, we are sitting in one place, taking our time to do this last stretch for home.  I am talking about the next likely trip for the Aspect: the trip back to the Winnebago factory in December for the needed repairs.  I have complete faith that they will make this rig right again.

In the meantime, there are logistics: I have to get the coach back to Iowa, in the winter, and be there on a schedule.  Oh, we often set "schedules" for ourselves, but the factory has a block of time booked for this repair, making this arrival date more "set in stone."  Getting there is less of a problem - I'll drive the coach.  Then, what to do with the next couple weeks while they are working on it?

Joan is the consummate planner; it's why she was so good in her job with San Juan Safaris: she did more than book whale watch trips, she helped people plan and schedule their time in the San Juan Islands.  She said to me, "I can get you on a plane out of Mason City, Iowa, to Chicago, Houston, then home... for less money than you can rent a car and drive back."

I have avoided traveling by air for over a decade, but this makes the most sense.  We had already decided that I would take the coach solo, while she stayed home with Rufus.  The three of us can then drive back to Iowa to get the coach when it is ready.  Really, this whole thing involves a lot of logistics.

I think some people are concerned about me making this trip solo.  Talking with my music partner Mark a couple days ago, he said, "I can meet you in San Antonio and we can make it a 'guy's trip'."  I told him I wouldn't wish that trip on anybody - I sure wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't a necessity.  And, thanked him for the offer.

Last night while we were at the casino, I got a phone call from Steph.  I stepped outside to visit with her, and she said, "I think you need someone along on that trip - in case you need a second set of hands.  Someone to hold the ladder if you need to get on the roof to make more repairs.  I have plenty of time off accrued - we can make it a dad-daughter trip."  Like my discussion with Mark, I told her there would be nothing fun about this haul.  She was rather insistent - I don't know where she gets that from.  When she and I finished our conversation, I went back in the casino and found Joan.  Good timing: she was ready to call it an evening.

When we got back to the coach, Joan and Steph started texting back and forth.  Then, a phone call.  In a few short minutes, they had all the flight connections and timing for this trip worked out.  Joan handed me the phone and said, "Steph wants to do this with you."  Time and expense aside, I explained to Steph (more earnestly this time) why this would not be a pleasure cruise.

She came back with: "Remember when Grandma Nellie had the stroke and you told me not to come because it wasn't going to be pleasant?  And then when I got there you told me you were grateful to have me there?  Well, I think you need to have me along with you on this."

She has always known how to work me emotionally.  I don't know where she gets that from, either.  Even though she has often been told: "You are just like your Father."

She and Joan worked out the flights.  This will be sort of in place of getting together at Christmas... which we had previously agreed wasn't going to work out this year.  Only thing left to figure is how to get from Forest City, Iowa, to the Mason City Airport (24 miles).  Uber?  Airport Shuttle?  We have plenty of time to work that out.  Steph will fly to us, she and I will make that drive together, we'll fly out of Mason City together, then part ways in Chicago.

Man makes plans, Mother Nature laughs.  Just the thought of this whole trip wears me out.  And, tomorrow, we point this rig south again.