Adventure 773: Herbie Joe on the Go/Home Sweet Home/Tale of the Tape

Fourteen days on the road. Nine stops: Billings, Fargo, Madison, Goshen, Archbold, Manhattan, Scottsbluff, Big Timber, Home. 4335 miles covered. States traversed: Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming. Relatives enjoyed: Micah, Kim, Wes, Scott, Kate, Kel, Karen, Rod, Karen, and Arlene. New acquaintances: Anne-Laure. Startling moment: Early morning Scottsbluff meeting- as the elevator opened-the living stereotype of what Hillary called "deplorable". He had the requisite scraggily gray beard, camouflage clothing, and a matching ball cap emblazoned with a sparkling red, white, and blue TRUMP. We exchanged a pleasant,  "Howdy" and went on our way. I thought about him. He was congenial enough, and if it wasn't for his political bent, it's not hard imagining that we could become friends. And if not hm, then any of the other folks we ran into. After traveling the farm roads of the midwest I can easily see why the good conservative folks living there would like things to stay the same. Life is good. People understand the rhythm, the rules, the expectations. Everywhere we went we observed good people working hard, living the dream. People like us: wholesome, honest, faithful, and industrious. Most of the communities and small towns we passed through also demonstrated that they were a place to raise children. We saw lots of ball fields and swimming pools, well appointed schools, and manicured parks. Mostly we saw people working, especially truck drivers. They say we're suffering from inflation, but it's not stopping traffic or commerce on our highways. And as we traveled, I felt the foundation of our history, the bravery and spunk of our ancestors, the legacy of their excellence and effort. They worked hard to create the "American Dream". We'd like it to remain constant. And I think it could. I've come to believe that most people's lives won't change much regardless of which party controls the power. The everyday guy, gal, kid, and retired folk is just trucking on. It's all of us, regardless of persuasion just working to make life happen. And it's what makes life good, especially today.

Trucks, trucks everywhere.

Driving means finding space between these guys.

The Bozeman area got about five inches overnight. By the time we got there, this was what was left.

We left at seven, so the sun wasn't up. It was fin to watch the light chase us West.

The light made a painting of each hillside.

Go West,  young man. There's golden opportunities out there.