
The Road East: Day 3
Day 3 dawned this morning with clear beautiful blue skies and we were on the road to our retirement by 8:00 a.m. And our first stop is what I’m going to label as step 4 on my 12-step retirement program. Treat yourself to something yummy for breakfast, even though you know it’s really not good for you, because sometimes it’s just fun – and yummy – to do so.
Step 4: Treat yourself to something yummy for breakfast.

And be sure to get the one with sprinkles because sprinkles make everything better.
If I were to define today’s drive I would use the word, monochromatic – containing or using only 1 color. Yep. That pretty much describes the drive across Wyoming along Hwy 80. And this is the 2nd time we’ve made the drive. There are occasional landscape highlights, but for the most part there’s just not a lot going on. The most amusing moments for us were the, “Oh yeah, I remember being here!” as we zoomed by.
The speed limit out there in nowhere land is either 75 mph or 80 mph. We learned though that we cannot set the cruise control higher than 70 mph and Big Betty actually won’t go faster than 75 mph, which is probably not a bad thing.

Monochromatic landscape across Wyoming
Step 5: Do something really big right away.
I think when you’re ready to retire, ya gotta shake it up right away. Do something really big, even if you circle back to your starting point. Our something really big is moving to the east coast. We went back and forth about taking on this drive but in the end we decided it was the perfect way to decompress from the sale of the inn. And since neither one of us has ever lived on the east coast, we think it definitely qualifies as really big.
And, it’s working. Today on the road we were at peace and the monochromatic landscape was calming in a way. But this is not a sight seeing journey for us – other than the obvious sights we see from the cab windows – rather it is a marathon drive from coast to coast because we only have the truck for a total of 12 days from pick up to return. And driving Big Betty is not exactly conducive to anything beyond highway driving. But that doesn’t matter. We are together. We are happy. And by the time we reach Washington, D.C., we’ll be ready to start the next chapter. Actually, I guess we already have!

Big Betty parked for the night
Day 3: 470 miles. 42 gallons of gas
Travel Tip:
Tonight’s accommodations are brought to you by The Hampton Inn in Sidney, NE, at a rate of $40 and 8,000 points. Our American Express card is associated with the Hilton Honors points program and we bank our points for travel. With a little bit of research, the deals are there to be found.
To view more photos from The Road East, head over to the blog’s Facebook page.
I whole heartedly agree with Step 4. The landscape kind of reminds me of Kansas.
Gaelyn recently posted…Bought a ticket to…
I know, right? It’s very important! 😉
For some reason, I love that photo of your truck outside the window. I guess you haven’t tried parallel parking 😉 We look forward to welcoming you to the east coast.

Suzanne Fluhr recently posted…“You went where?” – A Visit to Luang Prabang, Laos
Ha! Parallel parking in Big Betty is not an option unless there is a whole lot of empty space in front and behind!
Yes, you have started the next chapter and it sounds so exciting. I’ve traveled I-80 from California to Chicago many times. Just reading about you passing through Wyoming and spending the night in Sidney, NE brings back great road trip memories.

Cathy Sweeney recently posted…Traveling with Another Sweeney: A TWA Air Hostess
That’s one of the great things about road trips, making the memories.
I have started to pay MUCH more attention to my blogger friends (yourselves included) who find deals like you did here, Patti. I’m not much of sweets person usually but a day can never start out bad with a yummy donut, right? 🙂 I’m so glad you got that horrifically boring (to me) drive from Reno to destinations up to Twin Falls or Salt Lake City. It’s all fascinating to me beyond that because I’ve driven the former easily over 500 times in my lifetime. Keep driving safe, please 🙂

Mike recently posted…A Friend Is Missed Around The World
Completely agree about the drive from Reno to Salt Lake City – except for the salt flats – it is mind numbing. Every time we do it I hope it will be for the last time. I think this trip really was the last time, but never say never! 😉