Road Bests

I didn't have too much time to write about the actual drive, because I was busy driving, so for posterity's sake here's a small recap. A little list of the "greatests" that I came across on my trip across the country. In order of occurrence (or first occurrence, as the case may be):

Greatest Irritation: Dollar limits on gas station credit card transactions, forcing you to execute two transactions to fill a large tank.

Greatest Religious Sign: On I-74 in Indiana, "Abortion Is Forever. Choose Life." Yeah, because, y'know, that life thing is pretty temporary. Or maybe they're implying that you can always change your mind and whack the kid later... ??

Even Greatest-er Irritation: Gas stations that don't let you use the same card over again for the second transaction, forcing you to use a different one.

Greatest Factoid from NPR: The three most popular flavors of ice cream in Japan are eel, cheese and octopus.

Greatest Radio Annoyance: Coming across the Pina Colada song three times, all within Missouri.

Greatest Roadkill: Coyote

Greatest Moment of Disgust: Realizing that the first hotel room I got in Tulsa had apparently been used as a daytime refuge by employee, friend of an employee, or some other resourceful stranger. Most of the room was OK, but the bedspread had been pulled off of one bed, and most lovely was the pee on the toilet.

Second Greatest Moment of Disgust: Hopping out of the truck to get gas in western Oklahoma and landing in a big wad of chew that had been spit on the ground.

Greatest View of Weather Phenomena: Seeing virga from miles away across the landscape

Greatest Scenery: New Mexico Route 185 heading north from I-40 to Santa Fe.

Greatest Circus Sideshow: Digging Tiki out of the boxspring that she hid in while in Santa Fe.

Greatest Town/Exit Name: To'hajiilee (New Mexico)

Greatest Understatement: Said by woman wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt at a rest stop in northern Arizona at 5:00 in the afternoon in August, "It's hot here."

Greatest Shock: Agricultural inspections at the California border. I had no problems, but it was somewhat jarring to have a checkpoint where all cars were stopped and searched (albeit lightly), including the official asking to take a look in the back of my truck. Makes you realize how much we take for granted the concept of free travel within the country.

Greatest Success: Getting the cats across country with little incident or difficulty, scarcely a month after they couldn't even go to the vet's without ending up covered in their own excrement.